RE: FAST400 and ethics

[qsrvbas@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Tom Liotta)]

midrange-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>   2. FAST400 and ethics (G Armour)
>
>IANAL, but isn't it generally accepted that FAST400 violates the iSeries
>OS licensing agreements that all customers agree to?  If not, then flush
>this post now.  But if yes...

This is more up to IBM and IBM's lawyers. Since (mostly, probably) none of us 
knows exactly what FAST400 really does, we don't know what licensing it might 
violate. Maybe it actually does a few tricks to make things run faster. 
(Improbable, I know.)

What we do know is that IBM has publicly been working against FAST400 via PTFs 
rather than in the courts. Maybe this means something; maybe not.


>What if I were to set up an operation off shore like FAST400 so I'd be
>"untouchable", and offer to sell a product that bypasses the license keys
>on the system?  Know someone who has development product LPPs?  With my
>product, just ask to borrow their CD-ROM, and load it on your system for
>no extra charge!
>
>Should iSeriesNetwork accept my advertising as well?

I suspect IBM would go the courts route very quickly in this case, perhaps 
under provisions of DMCA, etc. You'd likely be very close to circumventing 
licensing within OS/400 itself and that would make IBM very nervous.

Until some legal action clarifies the situation, I'm not so sure iSeriesNetwork 
has much of a problem with FAST400. JMO.

Tom Liotta

-- 
Tom Liotta
The PowerTech Group, Inc.
19426 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
Phone  253-872-7788 x313
Fax    253-872-7904
http://www.powertech.com


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