Mac software on PC illegal???

[Henri Arsenault]

I was flabbergasted to learn that the Office: Mac license forbids
running Office for Mac on anything else but a Mac.

Is this legal? If I pay for a program, why couldn't I run it on any
machine I want to? Assuming that there were a program to run Mac
software on a PC, why couldn't I run Mac Office on my PC? Aside from
support questions, of course.

Not that I would want to - I have licenses (institutional)for both Mac
and PC and I use both...

Henri

 

[Michel Bintener]

I was flabbergasted to learn that the Office: Mac license forbids
running Office for Mac on anything else but a Mac.

I'm not sure it does; I have never read the EULA which every user has to
accept before they start using Office, at least not in its entirety. As far
as I know, however, Apple does not allow you to run Mac OS X on non-Apple
hardware. That's at least what I've read.

Is this legal? If I pay for a program, why couldn't I run it on any
machine I want to? Assuming that there were a program to run Mac
software on a PC, why couldn't I run Mac Office on my PC? Aside from
support questions, of course.

Yes, it is legal, that is if Microsoft actually states that you cannot use
Office:Mac on non-Apple hardware (see above). You don't pay for a program
per se, you actually pay for a license to use a program. And that license is
regulated by the EULA (end user license agreement), which lists a number of
things that you are/are not allowed to do. You can only start using software
after you've accepted the conditions of the EULA, and if you do not agree
with them in their entirety, I believe you can return the software and ask
for a refund.

As I've said, I don't know if Office:Mac's EULA states that you are only
allowed to run it on Apple hardware; however, since Office:Mac requires Mac
OS X, and since Apple does not allow you to install Mac OS X on anything
other than Apple computers, you are bound to break some laws by using
Office:Mac in an non-Apple environment, even though technically speaking,
you "own" the software.

PS: Do not quote me on any of this. This post reflects my fairly basic
understanding of the situation, and I might be wrong, due to a lack of
proper legal knowledge. Anybody who knows more about this, feel free to
point out where I'm wrong.

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

***Always reply to the newsgroup.***

 

[Henri Arsenault]

Yes, it is legal, that is if Microsoft actually states that you cannot use
Office:Mac on non-Apple hardware (see above). You don't pay for a program
per se, you actually pay for a license to use a program. And that license is
regulated by the EULA (end user license agreement), which lists a number of
things that you are/are not allowed to do. You can only start using software
after you've accepted the conditions of the EULA, and if you do not agree
with them in their entirety, I believe you can return the software and ask
for a refund.

Strange...but thanks for clearing it up.

That would mean that if the EULA states that I can only use a program
while standing on one foot with my right hand over one eye, then I could
be sued because I violated the EULA if both my feet touch the floor
while I am using the program? I bet lawyers would have a field day with
that!

And FWIW, I never read the EULA for any program I buy (I just click on
agree). After all, the store where I buy my software only takes back
purchases if they are still in the unopened box, and reading the EULA
requires opening the box, so if I disagreed with a EULA my only option
would be to attempt to return the software to the provider and ask for a
refund (good luck!...). And when I buy a new program (especially games),
I want to use the program, and not to have to consult my lawyer to tell
me if anything in the EULA fine print is against my politics, my
religion, or my preferences.

In an age where pirated versions of most programs are freely available
on the web before the programs hit the shelves, it seems to me that
EULAs as well as protection schemes are dinosaurs of the past whose only
function is to harrass conscientious buyers and to keep the lawyers of
program producers busy...

I recognize that your statements are your own opinions and may not
coincide with those of your employer - so are mine!

Henri

 

[Michel Bintener]

Strange...but thanks for clearing it up.

That would mean that if the EULA states that I can only use a program
while standing on one foot with my right hand over one eye, then I could
be sued because I violated the EULA if both my feet touch the floor
while I am using the program? I bet lawyers would have a field day with
that!

Well, yes, theoretically. Think of all the fun that could be had with such
EULAs! ;-)

And FWIW, I never read the EULA for any program I buy (I just click on
agree). After all, the store where I buy my software only takes back
purchases if they are still in the unopened box, and reading the EULA
requires opening the box, so if I disagreed with a EULA my only option
would be to attempt to return the software to the provider and ask for a
refund (good luck!...). And when I buy a new program (especially games),
I want to use the program, and not to have to consult my lawyer to tell
me if anything in the EULA fine print is against my politics, my
religion, or my preferences.

In an age where pirated versions of most programs are freely available
on the web before the programs hit the shelves, it seems to me that
EULAs as well as protection schemes are dinosaurs of the past whose only
function is to harrass conscientious buyers and to keep the lawyers of
program producers busy...

I don't read EULAs, either. However, EULAs are the result of an
ever-increasing bureaucratisation of our society; unless a company states
explicitly what the consumer can or cannot do with its products, it'll be
sure to get sued for the most trivial reasons. This is why EULAs tend to be
so exhaustive, as they have to cover almost every conceivable issue that
consumers may encounter when using a company's product. There's this famous
urban myth of a woman who decides to dry her dog into the microwave (of
course the dog does not survive this treatment) and subsequently sues the
company that makes these microwaves since it does not explicitly state in
the user manual that you are not supposed to dry animals in them. What I'm
trying to say is: things that may seem obvious to you and me may not be so
to others, hence the ever-growing EULAs.

I recognize that your statements are your own opinions and may not
coincide with those of your employer - so are mine!

Just to clarify: I do not work for Microsoft. MVPs are volunteers who
participate in these newsgroups and are recognised by Microsoft for their
efforts. That's all there is to it; MVPs are in no way forced to defend
Microsoft, so it doesn't matter if our opinions coincide with Microsoft's or
not.

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

***Always reply to the newsgroup.***

 

[Jim Gordon]

Hi Enri,

The license for MacOSX says that the operating system may be used only
on Apple's hardware. Yes, I did read the EULA.

The question "is it legal" is much harder to answer. I'm not a lawyer.
In the US you can put all kinds of terms into a contract. There are
federal and state laws that are applicable. Sometimes if a term is not
allowed by statute then that portion of a contract or the entire
contract could simply be ruled unenforceable by a court.

From a strictly technical operational point of view you can run MacOSX
on any hardware that you like.

From a legal point of view you would need a lawyer, a large amount of
research and possibly a test case or two before the question can be
authoritatively answered whether or not it is legal to run MacOS on
brands of hardware not supplied by Apple. In your jurisdiction. With
your particular unique set of circumstances. Etc. Do you want to be the
test case?

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

 

[CyberTaz]

I was flabbergasted to learn that the Office: Mac license forbids
running Office for Mac on anything else but a Mac.

Please let us know where you see this in the Mac Office EULA. As Jim says in
an earlier post, Apples license for Mac OS X prohibits running *it* on other
systems, but I have reviewed two versions MS Office EULAs and seen
absolutely no such restriction.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Henri Arsenault]

From a legal point of view you would need a lawyer, a large amount of
research and possibly a test case or two before the question can be
authoritatively answered whether or not it is legal to run MacOS on
brands of hardware not supplied by Apple. In your jurisdiction. With
your particular unique set of circumstances. Etc. Do you want to be the
test case?

Well, I'm already running Mac OS as well as Windows XP on my Intel Mac,
which doesn't count, OSX and Virtual PC on my G5 dual, which doesn't
count either, which leaves my P4 PC at home running Windows XP. So I
guess it would have to be that one, and lemme tell ya that it gives me
enough trouble running XP that I have no interest in trying to get it to
run Mac software. As a matter of fact, as soon as I am satisfied that I
have transferred to my Intel Mac all the software (read games) that I
want to transfer, the PC will be replaced by the Intel Mac.

So for a test case I am afraid someone else will have to volunteer
(perhaps an Apple employee?...).

henri

 

[Henri Arsenault]

Just to clarify: I do not work for Microsoft. MVPs are volunteers who
participate in these newsgroups and are recognised by Microsoft for their
efforts. That's all there is to it; MVPs are in no way forced to defend
Microsoft, so it doesn't matter if our opinions coincide with Microsoft's or
not.

Oh...I though MVP meant "Main Vice-president"...

Henri