Do you consider this software licensing practice ethical? I am furious!

Long version: http://techfettish.wordpress.com/wp-admin/index.php?page=stats

Short version:

EQ, the makers of EQ6, have decided that EQ6 users can only reformat
their hard drive and reinstall EQ6 a maximum of 4 times. Subsequent
reinstallations require a $40 surcharge.

EQ justifies this policy by stating that they are being generous
compared with other companies since they are allowing for 4 concurrent
installations.

I think the company is being unethical by referring to concurrent
installations and activations as the same thing. Most companies may
not allow concurrent installations but usually do not restrict the
number of reinstallations, especially if they are being performed on
the same machine. Even Microsoft only begins to limit reinstalls if
the motherboard or chip have been changed multiple times.

At the very least I believe EQ should market their software as "4
activations of EQ6," not simply "EQ6."

What do you think?

Is it ethical for them to market the program as "EQ6," and surprise
their users when there are no activations remaining?

What do you think of this software licensing practice?

If you know of other software companies that do such a thing, please
let me know the company and software names.

Again, I am not referring to companies that require a phone call to
reactivate when computers are swapped. I'm talking about companies
that may refuse to activate when the user is using the same equipment
or charge for an activation when a computer swap occurs.

You can read the exact details of EQ6's activation policy here:

http://www.electricquilt.com/Shop/EQ6/EQ6activations.asp

-tech
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Do you consider this software licensing practice ethical? I am furious!
    ... What is EQ6? ... installations and activations as the same thing. ... number of reinstallations, especially if they are being performed on ...
    (misc.consumers)
  • Re: Do you consider this software licensing practice ethical? I am furious!
    ... compared with other companies since they are allowing for 4 concurrent ... installations andactivationsas the same thing. ... number of reinstallations, especially if they are being performed on ... I found it when I was searching for other EQ6 complaints. ...
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  • Re: Warning regarding EQ6 by Electric Quilt
    ... i dont think he did buy it in the end or returned it. ... i didnt buy EQ6 cuz i've had this puter crash 3 times in the 3 yrs i've had it. ... isnt long before i'd run out of activations. ... complaint on this group and one other forum I read. ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: Warning regarding EQ6 by Electric Quilt
    ... Here's what EQ has to say about when and what activations are used for, ... "nzlstar*" wrote in message ... i didnt buy EQ6 cuz i've had this puter crash 3 times in the 3 yrs i've had it. ... complaint on this group and one other forum I read. ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)