Darren New wrote:
> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Depends on where you download it from.  If you download it from MSDN, 
>> it's perfectly legal.
> 
> If you can download it from MSDN, you've already agreed to the license 
> when you signed up for MSDN.
> 
> It really is pretty simple. :-)
> 

Not true for me, anyways.

I can download XP just fine with just my campus login information 
through the local mirror. Actually, I think almost anyone could, if they 
found the mirror's address. It might block to local ISPs or VPN only, I 
stopped paying attention at some point.

Getting the license key for XP, however, requires clicking through a 
license agreement on the MSDN page. I am free to do just about anything 
with that CD image...burn it, draw pictures on the burned CDs, hang them 
from a car mirror...but until I agree to the license, both on MSDN and 
on the installer, I am not licensed to use XP.

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Sabrina Kilian wrote:
> I can download XP just fine with just my campus login information 
> through the local mirror. 

I don't follow. Are you actually going out to MSDN to get the software? 
Or has the university stored it locally, after *they* agreed to the MSDN 
licenses? I'm sure Microsoft made sure *someone* agreed to the license.

> Getting the license key for XP, however, requires clicking through a 
> license agreement on the MSDN page. 

Yep.

> I am free to do just about anything 
> with that CD image...burn it, draw pictures on the burned CDs, hang them 
> from a car mirror

Hard to say. Maybe *you* are and someone in the campus administration 
would get in trouble.

 > ...but until I agree to the license, both on MSDN and
> on the installer, I am not licensed to use XP.

Right. But *if* you could use it without clicking through the 
agreements, they couldn't impose any after the fact. That's precisely 
why they make you click thru the agreements.

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:13:04 -0700, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Depends on where you download it from.  If you download it from MSDN,
>> it's perfectly legal.
> 
> If you can download it from MSDN, you've already agreed to the license
> when you signed up for MSDN.

Actually, I don't believe I did, because I was signed up by my employer.

> It really is pretty simple. :-)

Well, yes, but the statement was that it's not legal to download the 
file.  I was just pointing out that there are circumstances where it 
is. ;-)

Jim

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Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:13:04 -0700, Darren New wrote:
> 
>> Jim Henderson wrote:
>>> Depends on where you download it from.  If you download it from MSDN,
>>> it's perfectly legal.
>> If you can download it from MSDN, you've already agreed to the license
>> when you signed up for MSDN.
> 
> Actually, I don't believe I did, because I was signed up by my employer.

The employer signed it on your behalf. They get to bind you to 
contracts, you know. :-) Technically, *you* aren't downloading it, the 
company is. You're just downloading it on behalf of the company.

>> It really is pretty simple. :-)
> 
> Well, yes, but the statement was that it's not legal to download the 
> file.  I was just pointing out that there are circumstances where it 
> is. ;-)

Sure. I thought you meant from a warez site or something. Obviously, if 
you (the company) has already agreed to and paid for the MSDN license, 
that's a different story than just randomly downloading the file.

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:27:18 -0700, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> On Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:13:04 -0700, Darren New wrote:
>> 
>>> Jim Henderson wrote:
>>>> Depends on where you download it from.  If you download it from MSDN,
>>>> it's perfectly legal.
>>> If you can download it from MSDN, you've already agreed to the license
>>> when you signed up for MSDN.
>> 
>> Actually, I don't believe I did, because I was signed up by my
>> employer.
> 
> The employer signed it on your behalf. They get to bind you to
> contracts, you know. :-) Technically, *you* aren't downloading it, the
> company is. You're just downloading it on behalf of the company.

Yep, that I know.

>>> It really is pretty simple. :-)
>> 
>> Well, yes, but the statement was that it's not legal to download the
>> file.  I was just pointing out that there are circumstances where it
>> is. ;-)
> 
> Sure. I thought you meant from a warez site or something. 

Nah, what would the point be, since I can download it from MS myself?

> Obviously, if
> you (the company) has already agreed to and paid for the MSDN license,
> that's a different story than just randomly downloading the file.

True, but I was taking the statement "you can't legally download it" at 
face value.

Jim

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