September 26, 2008, The Computer Corner, By Charles Miller

In an earlier column I related the story of how I had removed Windows Vista from a new computer and replaced it with the older Windows XP. I prefer the newer Windows Vista, but in this case the user was forced to continue using an old program that was incompatible with the new operating system.

An astute Atención reader wrote to point out the illegality of doing this and I have to admit that using software not licensed for use on that computer is technically a violation of the end user license agreement. I promised the Atención reader I would elaborate a bit on this subject.

Over the years I have attended many presentations of new products. Typically, when an audience of several hundred professionals is in attendance, the top salesperson or company executive will do the presentation. One such event I attended years ago left an indelible impression on me.

The speaker was on stage with his laptop connected to a video projector that allowed the audience to see his computer’s screen. He demonstrated how well his product worked in conjunction with other major software products such as Microsoft Word, Act!, Lotus Notes, Photoshop, and so on.

The show went well and the speaker had good reason to expect that members of his audience were impressed enough to go out and buy his product. That was right before the roof fell in on him.

Listening to the presentation a few seats down from me was a learned friend of mine. When it came time for question-and-answer, he calmly asked, “Who are Tallmadge Simmons, Pat Bailey, William Henderson and Rodney Blackwell?”

The speaker absolutely blanched and began to stammer. My learned associate is a very keen observer and had read each of the “splash screens” of the software programs the speaker had demonstrated. By reading the “registered to” announcement as each program was started, he had noted that the software was legally registered not to the speaker but to other individuals.

With the blood draining from his face the presenter tried his best to recover. “Well, uh, uh, well, uh.… I have been on the road nonstop for months. When I get back to headquarters, I.T. is supposed to reinstall all my software with the correct serial numbers.” It was a plausible excuse, but the damage had already been done.

In front of scores of knowledgeable witnesses, the CEO of a software company had been caught red-handed using a laptop loaded with hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of pirated software belonging to those other individuals my friend had named. It goes without saying that this was not a good example for the CEO of a company with a vested interest in selling software to be setting. It is, however, a perfect example of how pervasive is the use of illegally obtained software.

My point here is not that this is okay because “everybody does it.” Pirating software is wrong. My point is that the software companies should realize how omnipresent this problem is and take action to change their policies and practices that have created this environment in which “everyone does it.”

Next week I am going to continue this subject with some suggestions on how the software industry could possibly improve the situation should it wish to do so.

Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-101-8528 or email FAQ8 (at) SMAguru.com.

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