This is kinda funny

[Kool]

http://aecnews.com/news/2007/09/10/2377.aspx

It's about how Autodesk is putting a license agreement inside the shrinkwrap box of AutoCad saying if you open the box you agree to the agreement LOL.

[Two-Toe Tom]

by reading this post you agree to give me one billion dollars.

[Red Kittie Kat]

That is pretty interesting ... will love to see how this one turns out.

Some of the comments are great too ;)

[morea]

oh man, that's nuts.

This is one of the reasons that people hate lawyers.

[budafist]

When I was an angsty teen I put a disclaimer on my bedroom door. It had something along that lines of anything brought into the room became property of me and by entering the room you automatically agreed to the terms.

[Virgo Nightingale]

When I was an angsty teen I put a disclaimer on my bedroom door. It had something along that lines of anything brought into the room became property of me and by entering the room you automatically agreed to the terms.
That might come in handy as a horny college student living at a dorm. Put that notice on the door and any cute guy who dares enter... POUNCE! Sorry, by entering this room you have agreed that anything you bring in here become my property and that includes your BOO-TAY!

Bow chicka bow-wow...

[hewligan]

When I was an angsty teen I put a disclaimer on my bedroom door. It had something along that lines of anything brought into the room became property of me and by entering the room you automatically agreed to the terms.

Yeah, but sadly I'm not sure I can see the difference between what you did and what Autodesk did. Well, except that they probably have better lawyers than you...

[PrintDriver]

The notice is inside the box. Does anyone know if the disk itself is sealed in an envelope inside the box? Usually that type of notice is accompanied by software in a sealed jewel-case or tyvek envelope and by "opening this software' you agree to to whatever terms or on the click-wrap. Once you open the envelope, you don't even have to install the software, you've agreed. I have never took it to mean the box itself...

The contention is the reselling of the license. By purchasing the software you are paying for the right to use the code of the software much in the same way you purchase the rights to use an image in your design. You can't transfer the image to a different person without renegotiating the usage rights. Someone on that blog brought up the interesting point about reselling a collection of royalty free images. Part of the licensing agreement on images or collections of images is that you will not resell or provide for download any items in the collection. If part of Autodesk's agreement is that you cannot resell the software, and it's in the fine print, you agreed.

This lawsuit isn't about the notice in the box. It's about reselling a license the software company doesn't allow you to resell. It's their code. It may be greedy and short-sighted, but it is their policy. And you certainly can't sell old software you own, even if it is obsolete, if it is part of your upgrade path.

It's always a good thing to actually read the licensing agreement fine print that comes with all the images and fonts and software you use. You'd be amazed at what you can't do with it. Font click-wrap has just recently changed. Image resources have a heck of disclaimer now regarding how 'not responsible' they are for any copyrighted, trademarked, or privately owned objects that may be in the images posted on their sites and by clicking their agreement you indemnify them from all lawsuits arising from your use of their material. It's enough to give you technolockjaw.

[morea]

It's enough to give you technolockjaw.

ooh, that's a great word!