Re: Copying Programs

Michael Segel writes... > > Tony, > > Uhm, since I am not a laywer, and I don't play one on TV, > IMHO I think your wrong. > > What Dave is saying to do, is that since you have 5 copies of SE, > and only one copy of Compiled 4GL, use the compiled version to > create binaries. Then copy the binary to the different machines. > > I don't think this violates any licensing agreements, since they > are using a separate copy of the SE, which I assume that they have 5 > licenses for. > > Informix does not and cannot lay claim to the binary of an > application. Where that application lies, is irrelevant. Infact, > how does Informix handle having a series of machines networked using > RFS, and having the app on a disk which is mounted by all the > machines. > > In the above scenario, one machine actually has the app. Therefore the > "license aggreement is not violated. > (BTW, app -> application) > > I think that if you look back, the money you recovered was when > companies purchased 1 copy of the product and were running that one > product > on several machines. (Now if Dave's company has only 1 registered copy > of ISQL , then they are in serious trouble ... ;-) > > Again, these are only my views, and are a result of late nite hacking > at a young age. > > -Mike > #include <std.disclaimer> > TLT replies: The binary of a program written with INFORMIX-4GL includes Informix linked libraries. A 4GL runtime licence gives you the right to use those libraries. The licence you buy (this applies to ANY Informix licence) gives you the right to use those Informix products on ONE machine only. If you intend to use the products on other machines via RFS or similar, you must have a licence for each and every machine the software is actually running on. The fact that you are only storing the programs on one machine is irrelevant - it's where you run them that counts. Consider a Sun 4/490 server, with 10 diskless Sun SLC workstations. You will keep the software on the server, but you will load and use it on the SLC workstations. You must therfore have appropriate licences for those products running on 10 SLC workstations, plus the server if you are running it there as well. Now, if anyone thinks that this is just a "limey" view, I suggest they contact their friendly neighbourhood Informix rep, and discuss it with him/her. This is definitely the case in the UK. Tony Lacy-Thompson DB Product Manager, UK MAIL: tonylt@informix.co.uk