Dance Sucka!

Anyone who has used a software application of most any type has dealt with licensing the application, and I am sure we would all agree that some vendors do it really well, putting the interests and convenience of the customer first, and others not so well, putting the interests and convenience of the customer somewhere well below their own.

Let me start by simply stating the following: I believe if you purchase a software application you should be free to install and use it on any computer you own or use, and on as many computers as you own or use, such as a home computer, another computer at work at different location, and so on, without having to uninstall the application on other computers first. Further, it should be easy to do so and the software vendor from whom you purchased the application should be willing to enthusiastically assist you in the process.

Now I am not saying you should be able to buy a single license of an application and install it on multiple computers for multiple people to use at the same time, but if it is a matter of necessity or convenience to have the application installed on multiple computers such that the license is never in use simultaneously by more than one person, then such use is completely in line with the the spirit of the license agreement – or it should be! Technically, you should be able to keep the software in use continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as long as it is not used by two people concurrently. Further, if it would be legal to use the software on one computer if you uninstall it from another computer first, when the use would be the same either way, then it seems punitive to force the honest customer to inefficiently uninstall and install the software over and over again. This reminds me of the outlaw villain in the old west who shoots at the victim's feet making him dance, but in this case the "victim" is the customer.

Here are a few examples of software license agreements that explicitly prevent common usage that is both convenient for the customer and typically completely adheres to the intent of the license agreement:

SolidWorks
“If you have paid the license fee for a single user license, this Agreement permits you to install and use one copy of the Software on any single computer at any time (i.e., if you change computers, you must de-install the Software from the old computer before installing it on the new computer)”
Link to SolidWorks license agreement.

Autodesk's AutoCAD“…You may Install and Access one (1) copy of the Software on one
(1) individual Computer, solely for Your internal business needs. You may not allow the Software to be Accessed, operated, or viewed from, or Installed or uploaded to, other Computers through a network connection. Except as otherwise explicitly permitted, You may not Install or Access the Software other than on one (1) Computer at a time.”
Link to AutoCAD license agreement.

Now here’s one that puts the customer first:

The TurboTax license agreement (End User License) for the Basic, Deluxe, Premier, and Home & Business versions allows you to install TurboTax on all computers owned by you (at home or work).

And here are the operative sections from Alibre’s license agreement:

You may install, use, access, display, run, or otherwise interact with ("RUN") this copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, or any prior version for the same operating system, on a single computer, workstation, terminal, handheld PC, or other digital electronic device ("COMPUTER"). The primary user of the COMPUTER on which the SOFTWARE PRODUCT is installed may make copies for his or her exclusive use on other computers.

Alibre, in fact, provides a simple and automated process for obtaining additional license grants for additional computers.

Most vendors rationalize extremely restrictive and inconvenient licensing policies as necessary to prevent illegal use and piracy, however, anyone who plans to pirate software can easily obtain a “crack” for essentially any application from a number of sleazy software pirates on the web.

This brought to mind that old saying associated with gun control that goes something like this: “Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns.” Here’s a twist on the saying directed at software vendors that I think is fitting to the topic being discussed:

“Make software licensing restrictive and inconvenient and only honest customers will be restricted and inconvenienced.”