RE: SSA Wants to Audit Our System (?)

> From: rob@xxxxxxxxx
> 
> Your situation sounds totally different.  You should have removed
their
> software and started from scratch.

Having worked at SSA in the distant past, I can tell you what the policy
was then: if you didn't pay maintenance, you didn't get upgrades or get
to call the helpline.  But we didn't come to your shop and rip out the
software, either.  You bought the rights to USE the software in
perpetuity.  The license was non-transferable, and it was keyed to that
machine, but in general you could use it forever.

Now, if you came to us at a later date and said "Gee, we'd like to
upgrade to a bigger box, and the license key no longer works," then
there would be negotiation between your company and SSA about "back
support payments" and the like, and eventually there would be some
relatively hefty figure agreed (or not agreed!) upon.

Per-user licensing is a different issue, which is why I hate the
concept.  Is it average user load?  Peak load?  What?  What if one day I
have an emergency situation and I need to have 20 extra people online in
order to make a deadline?  THAT'S when the machine stops working.

Ugh.

Joe