RTM = legal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Draper
  • Start date Start date
i admit i have downloaded vista RTM (v6000) torrent, but dont want to
how is it piracy if i havent yet used the program?
what is the LEGAL point of view between downloading it via MSDN or
torrent?
thats like saying i deserve a speeding ticket just because i have a fast
car. the car maybe capable of doing over the limit, but i've not acutally
broken any laws yet. - just because i have software, doesnt make me a
pirate, because i havent yet used it.
Click to expand...

Just for the sake of argument, I think that's a bad analogy. Your fast car
has other uses than to break the law. There's no way you can do anything at
all with your downloaded RTM version without breaking the law, so what was
the point of downloading it to begin with?
 
Tim said:
is using RTM legal if your not on MSDN/technet/similar?

from my understanding, RTM = release to manufacture = retail version,
and thus it should be paid for.
i'm seeing pleanty of people on the net reporting their using RTM but
since its not yet on MSDN and only available via torrents/similar then
no-one should legally have it?

clarification please!
tim
Click to expand...

Well, it is certainly not illegal, as MS cannot make laws. If you were
to ask if it is against the EULA? That is a different question.
 
Kristan said:
Windows Vista is currently available through a Microsoft Select
Licensing Agreement, MSDN or TechNet subscription, or if you
participated in a Windows Vista Technical Beta program. Any other method
of obtaining the software is illegal (for instance - BitTorrent).
Click to expand...
It is not illegal, that is false!
 
Richard said:
To directly answer your question - there's no way to tell (unless someone
volunteers the information) whether someone running an RTM version is
running it legally or not. There are channels other than MSDN and TechNet
that have the RTM version of Vista available now, so simply using MSDN or
TechNet as your criteria isn't enough.

But yes, anyone running the RTM version of Vista that didn't get it, along
with authorization from Microsoft to use it, is using it illegally.
Click to expand...

Sure there is a way to tell, it's easy. Since it is not illegal to run
any version of Vista from any source, then noone could possibly be doing
anything illegal.
 
Tim said:
ok, screw this...... forget my 1st post.....

try this: is running RC2 key on RTM illegal? the 'trial' period is still
active. if it is illegal why didnt MS block pre-RTM keys from working on
RTM release?

if it is indeed illegal to have a copy of RTM on my machine WITHOUT an
illegally obtained cd key, does that still make it illegal? why have the
30 'free trial' activation period?
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No, it is not against the law to do any of that.
 
Adds said:
There is no 30 day free trial.

It simply gives you 30 days before you have to active your product. The
fact you can enter your product code at install time, or later, is neither
here or there.

Just because you can, doesn't mean it's leagal.

A.
Click to expand...

But it doesn't mean it's illegal either. The EULA is not a law.
 
Homer said:
Just for the sake of argument, I think that's a bad analogy. Your fast car
has other uses than to break the law. There's no way you can do anything at
all with your downloaded RTM version without breaking the law, so what was
the point of downloading it to begin with?
Click to expand...

ok, put it this way..... my XPhome upgrade key doesnt work on XP home
retail. nor will it work on any of the XPpro installs.

basically, i've seen it mentioned on here - running RTM with a RC2 key =
runs till the RC2 key expires. thus your able to run RTM build until
june07. i might have it wrong .... could just allow RTM to install, but
needs a RTM key to be ran for more than 30days.

also, doesnt the MSDN RTM only legally allow dev/testing uses? yes it
*can* be ran as a 'production' desktop/office OS, but it's against the
current T&C's? ...thus your view on a bad analogy is somewhat void
(although i know what your saying & have taken note)

anyway, my RTM build has been deleted.
 
Mike said:
Yes as you are using a paid for product without paying for it.




The RTM retail product does not have a trial period. The 30 day grace
period for activation is not a trail period.




They did - you are using a cracked illegal pirated copy you probably
got from torrent or elsewhere. Which goes none functional at the end
of the RC2 period anyway, or maybe your pirate friends on torrent
forgot to mention that.
Click to expand...

The OP can't be sure if it's a cracked copy or not if he gets it from an
alternate source. It's also not illegal Mike. It is a breach of
contract with the EULA possibly, but there is no law against doing so.
 
Carey said:
FYI - All those current illegal "Windows Vista RTM" downloads are
not the "retail version", but the "volume license" version of Vista.
Since Microsoft only sells "retail version" licenses (Product Keys),
they will not work with the illegal "volume license" downloads
of Vista. Retail product keys for Vista will not be available until
January 30, 2007.

In other words, if your intent is to download Windows Vista RTM
from an unauthorized web site, and plan on purchasing a retail product
key in the future, that product key will not work at all. A prudent
person would wait until the retail version of Windows Vista becomes
available so you have the correct and genuine installation CD.
Click to expand...

Carey, it's not illegal!
 
Nina said:
Carey, it's not illegal!
Click to expand...

people just seem so hung up on torrents = hacked/hacker tweaked versions.
YES its a possibility to get a dodgy copy.
YES it might have tweaked code.

but depending on who releases the torrent, then it will be JUST as good
as a copy of RTM (or any peice of software for that matter) obtained
from microsoft.
maybe you should actually TRY and open your mind that the torrent
community is not always about piracy and hackers and virus's. for every
1 bad file that goes on torrents, there are 1000 files that are legit
and direct copies of their source files - without modification.
torrents do have a bad aura about them, sometimes for good reasons.
there is an awful lot of warez on them.
it depends what your obtaining. like i previously mention alot of linux
distributions are freely and actively encouraged to be passed around via
torrents. i personally think the RIAA, microsoft, and other anti-piracy
companies shouldnt be trying to take down torrent sites, but should be
working with them to incorperate anti-warez measures.

you cannot deny one slightest iota that downloadable content IS the way
forward. majority of the 'technology' countries in the world have ADSL
or faster net connections. sweden has their silly fast 10mbit+ lines, UK
has their 8meg+ dsl lines/cable, USA has dsl/cable/t1/t3 lines.
downloading everything online will become the normal.

just because it is not a source microsoft wants to be seen supporting
(torrents), does not make it any less a legitamate download option.

tim
 
RTM=Riches to MSFT and No Competent Recovery Mechanism from 300 OEM named
partners secondary to the pressure from one Scott Di Valerio and his
homeboys and girls --the CPA who has no engineering background whatsoever
who is ironically OEM VP--and it shows. There isn't an OEM system builder
on the planet who doesn't forget more about hardware and software than
Valerio has ever known in his life in an hour.

It's a real insult to system builders that someone with this poor of an IT
background is directing their program at MSFT, and it was a real insult to
them and a terrible reflection on MSFT when system builders asked why OEM
named partners and in fact Microsoft who pushes this policy aren't required
to provide all the code of the OS on media for repairing or recovering (any
word you want to use) the OS reliably and the smart assed reply was "when
you guys are selling 50, 000 machines we'll waive the requirement to provide
decent recovery media.

This came from a softie who of course works for Scott Di Valerio who did far
and away the most disjointed low quality presentation I've ever seen from a
Softie. Usually they're well done. Not from this parody of a speaker.

CH


Richard G. Harper said:
To directly answer your question - there's no way to tell (unless someone
volunteers the information) whether someone running an RTM version is
running it legally or not. There are channels other than MSDN and TechNet
that have the RTM version of Vista available now, so simply using MSDN or
TechNet as your criteria isn't enough.

But yes, anyone running the RTM version of Vista that didn't get it, along
with authorization from Microsoft to use it, is using it illegally.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Tim Draper said:
is using RTM legal if your not on MSDN/technet/similar?

from my understanding, RTM = release to manufacture = retail version, and
thus it should be paid for.
i'm seeing pleanty of people on the net reporting their using RTM but
since its not yet on MSDN and only available via torrents/similar then
no-one should legally have it?

clarification please!
tim
Click to expand...
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