In some Asian countries, most people don't have access to internet. So taking advantage of this problem, some people download free but essential softwares from Internet (like download.com) and burn them into CDs and sell them. Is it legal?
2006-11-13 16:15:23 · 13 answers · asked by Legend 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Who cares its not here right its in a asian country so whos gonna sue them, but if it was in the states then yeah its illegal but other countries have thier own laws.
2006-11-13 17:05:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many developers of free software during the 1980s and into the 1990s permitted the burning of CDs with their software for sale under limited conditions. The disk could not be sold for much more than the cost of production and distribution; a small revenue for production of the disk is allowed, but profiting from its sale is not. This was done as a means to increase its distribution.
Nowadays with the wide availability of internet access, such permissions are rarely given anymore because there is no need.
2006-11-13 16:29:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is illegal, even if the software is offered for free. Most of the software on download.com is shareware or freeware which prohibit you from paying for it, shareware makes you pay the manufacturer if you like it, otherwise (most of them make) you remove it from your computer. Freeware is given on the assumption that it is free and the end user license agreement specifically states that you are not allowed to resell it, but it does allow you to distribute the software as much as you want (assuming that you don't charge for it).
The one exception is if you charge for the disks. For example you can't charge for the software, but you can charge people for the CD that you burned it onto.
2006-11-13 17:51:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ordered Service Pack 2 on CD from Microsoft and it was free. What starts as free software must stay free software. It is illegal.
2006-11-13 16:18:46 · answer #4 · answered by Pango 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many shareware and freeware licenses allow distribution as long as the original credit is maintained. Now, making a profit off this is for the compilation on a CD and his services. Totally legal.
2006-11-13 16:19:41 · answer #5 · answered by orlandobillybob 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sale of the software is usually illegal BUT you may charge a fee to burn it. This often done with various Linux apps. Usually the price is only $5.00 or so.
2006-11-13 16:23:05 · answer #6 · answered by alcavy609 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the softwares are made free under GPL Licence, you can charge only the nominal fee from the customers, i.e. only the cd cost and other expenses.
For propreitary software, it is illegal.
2006-11-13 16:28:16 · answer #7 · answered by Santosh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically if a guy is taking something that is free it isn't stealing. If he then preforms a service with it and adds value to it and sells it then he is an entreprenuer.
2006-11-13 16:23:18 · answer #8 · answered by sdh0407 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It's never legal to sell free property for profit.
2006-11-13 16:18:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is legal if its "Shareware" or "Freeware" if it is NOT for money to generate your own profit, other than that nope... It violiates the Digital Millenium Act of 1998
2006-11-13 16:19:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋