Autodesk wins, you don't own jack

adam

In news that almost feels like the opposite of Autodesk offering their software for free for students, Autodesk won appeal that states you do not purchase their software, you license it.

Last week, Autodesk won an appeal against the reselling of their software, claiming an eBay store owner illegaly resold their product.

 

Timothy Vernor ran a store on eBay where he sold secondhand software, including products by Autodesk (ADSK) that he had purchased at yard and office sales. According to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, what Vernor did is illegal. That's because, the court ruled that when the people and companies who sold Vernor the Autodesk products "bought" the software, they actually didn't -- instead, they licensed it. Since they licensed it, they didn't have any right to resell it to Vernor, who also didn't have the right to resell it on eBay.

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/czXizI

Owning a license to software feels much cheaper than owning the software itself. Bummer. So, product owners licensee's, if I were you'd I'd think twice before you resell your copies of Max or Maya when your company goes under or you're feeling generous.

 

neolith

Aw crap.

ngs616

Of course!

Should have read the EULAs! It explains that you are licensing the software. And who you are licensing it to.

dregoloth

does that mean I can throw away my dreams of buying an obsolete copy of mudbox?

ngs616

You should still be able to find retail OEM versions for cheap somewhere.

arrangemonk

luckily im in germany, here its illegal to put such clauses in the eula

rollin

arrangemonk: the steam judgment says exactly the same in Germany too: you own a license to play a game.. not the game itself..

arrangemonk

laa laa laa i cant hear you!