Quote:
Originally posted by jaguar
Hmmm from my understanding you own the CD it is on but not the software itself, only the right to use it.
The data is yours. The viewing software on the other hand....
Of course if you sent the file over MSN though they when hold rights to the data... Personally i wouldn't handle anything confidential on an XP system. Although i wouldn't handle anything at all on an XP system anyway.....
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Jag, laws in Australia may differ. But in the US, buying something licensed by one of those shrink-wrap licenses have generally been found to be a "sale" under the Uniform Commercial Code, and for the purposes of the copyright laws. This doesn't mean you own the copyright on the software, but it does mean you own a copy of the software. If Microsoft were to disable it, they could be liable for damages, just as if you bought a painting (or a print thereof) and put it on display and the artist went and spray-painted over it, he would be liable for damages.
There's a law which software companies are trying to get passed in the US called UCITA, which modifies the Uniform Commercial Code as implemented by the states in order to make whatever the software company says have the force of law and take away all obligations the company has to the consumer. But that's only passed in two states so far.