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Microsoft: You Need Permission to Sell Our Software

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the signed-permission-slip-from-mom dept.

IEEEmember writes "Microsoft has objected to the sale of bankrupt KMart's Bluelight.com Internet unit to United Online. Microsoft's objection to the sale is based on the non-transferability of software licenses protected by copyright law according to the Reuters story on Yahoo! News. This action by Microsoft should serve as a warning to any corporation that has a significant investment in Microsoft licenses. Dependency on Microsoft licenses may grant Microsoft the ability to veto your business decisions."

14 of 587 comments (clear)

  1. Licenses by Ponty · · Score: 3, Funny

    It is a common clause in most licenses. Though, it seems that MS is just being a real dick of a corporation for putting up a fight. What would they prefer? BlueLight go to Solaris? Sheesh. (Having said that, they'll probably pay up for all new copies on Windows.)

    1. Re:Licenses by SirSlud · · Score: 3, Funny

      > IT industry is create a web-site where everyone puts in the prices they pay for licenses

      I can hear the IT sector scream from here: "OH GOD, NO .. PLEASE NO, NOT AN OPEN MARKET!"

      Hopefully followed shortly by the *crash* of the Web of Lies(tm).

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    2. Re:Licenses by Misao · · Score: 2, Funny

      > (On the other hand, if all I needed was a piece
      > of plastic to pick my teeth with, I could buy
      > the plastic which represents your drivers
      > license and use it as I see fit.)

      I kind of doubt it, actually. I suspect that if you look at your driver's licence you'll find that it remains the property of the issuing state :)

      -misao

  2. Question? by The+Dobber · · Score: 4, Funny


    Does MS have a say in whether or not I can give my lil bro my old PC?

  3. Poor KMart by cybermace5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seems like they can't win. First they have aggressive tactics from Wal-Mart, basically putting them out of business in many cities.

    Now Target's making a bid for power, and Wal-Mart is scurrying. KMart is left in the dust. (By the way, at Target, I notice an unusually large proportion of highly attractive women. Could Target be hiring cute 'mystery shoppers' kind of like the 'leaners' hawking cellphones at bars?)

    So now Microsoft gets in on the beating. It's just dismal.

    --
    ...
  4. The End Is New! by kenp2002 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow! I never thought that Microsoft would so carelessly sign it's own death warrant! When it comes to business, don't rock the boat. Microsoft is meddling in the business affairs of corporations. It's one thing to piss of the mob. Worse case scenario is they kill you. Piss of a corporation... damn I don't even want to think about it... endless litigations and court appearances so you can keep a job, blacklisting, starving, no home... jeez what a living hell....

    !!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!
    Sorry this post has ended due to the fact it's author is now rocking himself back and forth sucking on the collar of his shirt mumbling

    "Ticky Tack, Ticky Tack, Lawyers Coming, Give Me That! Got No Job, Got No Life, Got no Money, got No Wife!"

    --
    -=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-
  5. From your fascist friends at Microsoft Licensing by Spencerian · · Score: 5, Funny

    MS LICENSING AGENT [on phone, reviewing a file]:

    I zee...this is all well and good, but I do not zee your PAPERS. You must have the proper papers! Vere are your papers!? Don't wait for ze phone delay--answer me now!!!

    --
    Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
  6. So KMart can't sell without Microsoft's blessing.. by Eric+Damron · · Score: 2, Funny

    Only now, when it's too late do they realize the power of the dark side...

    --
    The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!
  7. Re:Yikes. by operagost · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hear the voices of thousands of shareholders crying out in pain, and then suddenly silenced.

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  8. When I was a young whipper-snapper..... by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    "There's only 3 certainties in the world, my Son: Death, Taxes, and Microsoft; and Microsoft makes the first two worse."

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  9. Re:Sounds fishy to me.. by liquidsin · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're talking about Windows here. It was worth nothing *before* you clicked "yes".

    *rimshot*

    --
    do not read this line twice.
  10. Re:EULA's? by TitusC3v5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe this will provide a good test case with lots of money on both sides.

    Yeah, except for the fact that one company is bankrupt and the other is Microsoft. Boy, bet that would be a fair fight. :-)

    --
    And the masses cried out, "09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0!"
  11. Has to be said. . . by mntgomery · · Score: 2, Funny

    "All your license are belong to us!"

    --

    This comment was generated by a squadron of trained super elite albino ninja chickens for you.
  12. Re:Without consensus ad idem, the contract is void by wandernotlost · · Score: 3, Funny
    Any contract lacking reciprocity or a misrepresentation of terms is null and void even if signed by both parties.

    Boy, I thought that contracts just happened to be confusing. I didn't know it was a formal requirement!

    ;)