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David, >I don't think that's clear. I may have bought a computer that was >intentionally crippled by the manufacturer, but once it's my property who's >to stop me trying to uncripple it? But the software is not your property. You didn't buy it -- you licensed the right to use it, under specific terms which were agreed to in writing. I'm not saying a customer breaks the terms by installing Fast400 (I haven't reread the license agreement), but it is certainly plausible the developer did. If I was the developer, it would seem prudent to me to have bought a used system where you didn't have a signed license agreement, and then sell the software via an off-shore company in a place where laws are lax at best. Assuming the product was created in a "clean room" environment and not with any inside knowledge, then it may be interesting to see how this plays out in court. But I would thoroughly expect IBM's legal beagles to not leave it unchallenged. IBM can afford legal moves. Sometimes a small company -- even if they eventually are vindicated in court -- can never recover from the interim effects of a lawsuit. The "anonymous developer" issue could be interesting too, if it becomes necessary to convince the court it was created in a "clean room" environment. IANAL, Doug
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