Are you buying that software...or only licensing it?

[thatcrazycajun]

Former eBay Member Sues AutoDesk for Getting Him Ejected Under False Copyright Violation Charge
Courtesy of TechDirt via Digg.com. This has more than a passing interest to me, as resale on eBay or elsewhere is often the only way I can afford to buy the big-name, over-sized, over-priced software programs work in my business demands. I know my friends list has at least a couple of code monkeys talented programmers on it, not to mention a legal eagle or two; what do y'all think?

Comments

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

Convert to some flavor of Linux if you can; much of that software is open source. I don't know what software you're using, but you can usually find lower cost alternatives. I have.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, Linux is not an option for me professionally; I have yet to run into any company or freelance client using it, and my own boxen use Mac OS and Windows XP. (Compatibility with your client's systems is usually mission-critical in graphics work.) I am aware of open-source alternatives to Illustrator, Photoshop etc., but they tend to have certain limitations and bugs that the commercial programs don't (requiring Java/X11, awkward interfaces, can't use common file formats/filters, etc., etc.). Even the most generous reviews of The GIMP, Scribus and Inkscape I've seen have judged them not quite up to the Adobe/Quark standard yet...and my own experience with them bears this out.

[mdlbear]

I hope he wins -- this is an important case. If the software was purchased, then the principle of First Sale should apply.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

yeah, following the case with great interest