Is it Legal or Illegal

"Define the Line", which bills itself as "an awareness program designed to educate students about using commercial software legally, respecting copyrighted works online and understanding the impact of software theft on all of us", offers a fun Is it Legal or Illegal? quiz for visitors.

It didn't seem to extreme, however, I had difficulty with third question:

Buying a single-user commercial software program and installing it on multiple computers.

Here's their answer:

Buying a single-user software program and installing it on multiple computers is against the law. However, many software licenses allow the software user to load the software onto a single computer and to make one back-up copy for archival or disaster recovery purposes.

I think I had problems answering this one because the information they provide on the site forewarns me that that my computer is definitely going to crash if I download any illegal software onto it:

Downloading software may contain viruses which could crash computer systems and could put you at risk with authorities and your school.

So I made the assumption in answering the question that I would have to keep buying new computers. Based on that assumption, and since I'm allowed to make a back up copy, it just made sense to me that my software license would allow me to install my single-user (not single computer) software program on multiple computers. But, apparently, I'm wrong.

I think the Business Software Alliance should clarify that situation before everyone starts spending their hard earned money on legal software programs.

Interesting side note: the site is apparently targetted at "college kids" yet their musical references in the "Top 10 Reasons to Define the Line" section are all from decades ago.

[via Ben Lohmeier, Mesa Legend]


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