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

tekfetish@xxxxxxxxx wrote
Rod Speed <rod.speed....@xxxxxxxxx> wrote
tekfet...@xxxxxxxxx wrote

You mention below that I can use a repair install to uninstall the software
in question before a reformat, ensuring an activation is not used.

I have been trying to figure out why some people are saying that
this would prevent an activation from being used after a reformat.

Presumably because what EQ has to say is a bit ambiguous on that.

Here is the chart:
http://www.electricquilt.com/Shop/EQ6/EQ6activations.asp

I numbered each entry here for easier reference:

These DO NOT USE an activation:

1. install and activate, uninstall and reinstall on the same computer

Thats the one I was commenting on.

(without making any system changes)

Its less than clearly what 'any system changes' actually means in practice.

2. install and activate on one partition, uninstall and
reinstall on a different partition on the same drive
3. install and activate on one drive, uninstall and
reinstall on a different drive of the same computer
4. install and activate as one user profile (Jim),
uninstall and reinstall as a different user profile (Sally)

All of those are also covered by the comments I made,
using the repair install to ensure that you can do an
uninstall if the OS install goes completely pear shaped.

5. install and activate, rollback using System Restore, reinstall and reactivate*
6. Windows is installed on C drive, install on EQ6 on D drive,
reformat D drive, reinstall
7. Reinstall Windows using the same Windows key without reformatting
the drive, reinstall and reactivate*
8. Move C drive from computer A to computer B

Looks like most of what you would normally want to do doesnt use an activation.

These USE an activation:

9. install and activate on a different computer
10. Reformatting the drive on which Windows is installed
11. Reinstall Windows using a different Windows key

And you still get 4 activations, so you're unlikely to do too many of those.

Above the chart there is a note stating that "After installing [EQ6],
the program must be "unlocked" by activating over the internet so you
can use it." After reading this note, I realized that "unlocking the
program over the internet" is not listed in the "uses an activation"
list. The action of "removing EQ6 from the box, installing, and
activating on the first computer" is not listed in EITHER list!

Thats just splitting hairs, its obvious that those would use an activation.

By looking at #1, I should be able to open the box, install the
software on my computer, activate it, uninstall it, and reinstall it,
all without using a single activation. I should still have all four
activations remaining.

Only if you mindlessly interpret what they say.

Now #9 covers a "different" computer. If I install and activate on a
different computer, my first activation would be used.

However, #10 and #11 are pretty straight-forward. If I format my
primary partition or reinstall Windows using a different key, an activation
will be used. In this case it seems I don't even have to have the box
opened or have performed an EQ6 installation in the first place!

You're just being silly now.

As Spinner suggested, the chart is ambiguous.

Only if you are very mindless about what it says.

Even with its ambiguity, I don't see a way to
get around #10 and #11, as you suggest Rod.

I never even commented on either of those two scenarios.

You do get 4 activations and thats obviously to allow that sort of thing.

Although #1-#5 do not use activations, #10 does.
If I reformat the primary partition, I use an activation.

ONLY if you dont uninstall EQ6 first.

Done. No amount of repair installing, restoring, uninstalling,
or pleading for mercy will stop #10 from using an activation.
There is no "returns an activation column."

So you get a clue and do #1 instead, and the repair install of the OS
is available so you can be sure you can uninstall EQ6 before reformatting.

What are your thoughts on this Rod?

I've given up on those, they just make my head hurt.

I would like for us to be able to reach an agreement here.

Thats unlikely given that you appear to be committed
to sledging EQ and I can see why they want to make
their program difficult to pirate using online activation.

Look it the other way. If you accept that they are entitled to
make it hard to pirate their software, what do you suggest they
should be doing thats different to what they are currently doing ?

The only real alternative that I can see is to attempt to use a human to
vet requests for more than 4 activations, and I can see why they have
decided that thats going to be too expensive to be viable and that it
makes more sense to allow 4 activations and charge $40 if you want more.


.

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