Re: [dvd-discuss] Microsoft Lies About Donating Computers

[Steve Bryan <steve_bryan(at)mac.com>]

On Tuesday, April 30, 2002, at 01:19  am, Seth Johnson quoted:

> -------- Original Message --------
> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 18:01:09 -0400
> From: "Peter D. Junger" <junger@samsara.law.cwru.edu>
...
> Microsoft asserts that it is a legal requirement that if one
> donates a computer to a school it must be accompanied by its
> original operating system, rather than, say Linux, or no
> operating system at all.

Although it does seem as though Microsoft is trying to pull a fast one I 
don't see it in quite the way portrayed above. For example as I read the 
Q & A given later in the message I would imagine there would be no legal 
objection to a computer that has had Linux installed (I suspect they 
would claim a Linux box would not "play nice" with the school's existing 
network of computers, but that is another argument). What I see them as 
claiming is that the previous owner would not have the option of 
alienating the license from the donated computer. So even if the 
computer has had its drive formatted, Microsoft would not accept the 
validity of the donor claiming he has a Microsoft license for a 
license-free computer he later acquires.

I don't see how this claim can be upheld ultimately, but it seems less 
ridiculous than the apparent claim that a machine is rendered an outlaw 
when another OS is installed.