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educational software - any problems???

J

Joeintehsun

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 22, 2003
6
0
Have been offered some software but it is the academic version (and I'm not an academic).

It's unregistered.

If I use it and register, will it cause me any problems???
Can you upgrade from academic versions to full licence versions???

Wanna grab it as I can afford it now, but unsure if I'm going to get in trouble.

Anyone had experience with this or got any advice?

Thanks
 
Re: educational software - any problems???

Originally posted by Joeintehsun
Have been offered some software but it is the academic version (and I'm not an academic).

It's unregistered.

If I use it and register, will it cause me any problems???
Can you upgrade from academic versions to full licence versions???

Wanna grab it as I can afford it now, but unsure if I'm going to get in trouble.

Anyone had experience with this or got any advice?

Thanks
Click to expand...

do you plan on using it to make money?
 
Yes (eventually).

I'm just starting out but still have a lot to learn. Once I have some idea what I'm doing then I'll start looking for some freelance work.

Don't want to be dodgy but along with getting the hardware, I can't fit a full licence FCP 4 into the budget. Let alone DVD Studio Pro etc

Any advice?
 
Originally posted by Joeintehsun
Yes (eventually).

I'm just starting out but still have a lot to learn. Once I have some idea what I'm doing then I'll start looking for some freelance work.

Don't want to be dodgy but along with getting the hardware, I can't fit a full licence FCP 4 into the budget. Let alone DVD Studio Pro etc

Any advice?
Click to expand...

well you say eventually

so if you wanna learn and decide you like it, i see no problem with buying the EDU software... once you decide that your going to make money, you can then buy the full version since you know your going to make the money back and can justify the expense.

Don'y worry no one is going to break down your door for using this software
 
thanks for the advice

Apple must have some way of telling the difference when you register though???
And can they then disable your software??

I know I recently was in an Apple store and the salesman went to show me Soundtrack from FCP4. It was installed but wouldn't work - his explanation was that they had already registered it on another unit in the shop.
He then told all about how the new coding/programming makes it virtually impossible for pirating recent software and how the software will just stop working.

When it boils down my concern is that I buy this and then it stops working??
Yet I don't see how the technology could distinguish me from anyone else!

Can you upgrade from academic to full licence?
 
The problem within the store is common, two files can't work in the same network with the same serial number.

However if he had disconnected that computer from the network the software would work fine.

When you install the software it asks if you if you want to register online - you can choose "no" if you are really concerned about this problem... no information will be sent to apple at all, and if you are really paraniod, disconnect your computer from the internet when installing, and use the computer disconnected from the internet when using the software

But there is no such thing as what that sales men told you, that would mean that apple would have to be connected to every mac user an scanning they're computers... think of the cost of that ... probably more on bandwidth then it would be worth.

Buttom line

Your not buying pirated software, from my understanding, as long as the person selling you this software is no longer using it, what you are doing is legal.

As far as upgrading to a full version, from what the guy said at my school book store - yes you can upgrade to full from EDU... it's the same software..
 
People seem to have a lot of misconceptions about differences between Academic software and full software. Here's what it boils down to:

There are no differences!

Academic versions of software are the exact same as full versions. They are simply priced at a discount for students, and "Academic" is stamped on the box. That's it!

You have nothing to worry about. Buy your software and enjoy it!
 
Originally posted by revenuee
...
Buttom line

Your not buying pirated software, from my understanding, as long as the person selling you this software is no longer using it, what you are doing is legal...
Click to expand...

Well it IS illegal according to the EULA, but I doubt anyone will notice.

The software is identical as stated a couple of times above, but the license key would give it away that it is an educational version. Maybe they do this to track how many EDU and retail versions are sold?
 
Originally posted by tomf87
Well it IS illegal according to the EULA, but I doubt anyone will notice.

The software is identical as stated a couple of times above, but the license key would give it away that it is an educational version. Maybe they do this to track how many EDU and retail versions are sold?
Click to expand...

Really? it is technically Illigal?
Hmm ... the reason i didn't think it would because if you buy a new computer you can install it into that computer aslong as you delete it from the first one...

but i guess that it is still under the same user ... not a new user...

regardless i really don't think there is anything to worry about... if you were a huge multimedia studio then maybe someone would ask... but as a small private guy - i don't think so

RBMaraman - are you sure it doesn't say EDU version on the load screen? and in the "about this software"? because it use to in EDU version Photoshop. Beyond that... yes there is no difference - the licencing is only different to encourage you to learn, but your "technically" not supposed to use it to make money.
 
Yes, the educational version of FCP 3 does say "Academic Version" on the splash screen. The question is (and I'm not on my FCP machine, so I couldn't tell you) does it say "not for resale"? I don't remember, but the fact that it is the educational version does not matter in this case, it matters whether it says not for resale or not.
 
It's illegal.
And watch out. I do bulk educational purchases, and most times the software is a part of an open license. Depending on the company (like Adobe or M$) it might in fact ALREADY be registered to the initial buyer. If it's FCP, load that baby.
But don't believe any of us, just call the company. If it's Microsoft, be sure to call from a pay phone.
 
i don't find anything ethically wrong with what you're doing.

if you're really bothered, once you learn the app, you can pay for non-academic upgrade to the one's you're going to use.
 
I agree that buying edu software to learn it is ethically OK- just because you're not enrolled in a College doesn't mean you can't learn. However, it IS illegal, that's just a fact. Typical education EULAs specify you must be enrolled in a school, and if you agree to the EULA without complying with it's terms, you are breaking the law.

I also think it's important for non-students to pay the non-edu price if they can afford it--simply because if everyone cheats, they'll take away the good deal for us young people.

Speaking as a student I would have a very hard time paying full price for most software.
 
Originally posted by fraeone


I also think it's important for non-students to pay the non-edu price if they can afford it--simply because if everyone cheats, they'll take away the good deal for us young people.

Speaking as a student I would have a very hard time paying full price for most software.
Click to expand...

I am a student too, and i totally support that Joeintehsun uses EDU software if he wants to learn... if he didn't care at all about it... he would of totally skipped this discussion and just went on Limewire or something and downloaded it... but no, he came here and is asking the "community" for advice... i for one support him..

in our previous discussion he already talks about wanting to upgrade to a retail version when he can afford it, and he ready to make some money with it.

There is nothing wrong with this....
 
Originally posted by revenuee
I am a student too, and i totally support that Joeintehsun uses EDU software if he wants to learn... if he didn't care at all about it... he would of totally skipped this discussion and just went on Limewire or something and downloaded it... but no, he came here and is asking the "community" for advice... i for one support him..

in our previous discussion he already talks about wanting to upgrade to a retail version when he can afford it, and he ready to make some money with it.

There is nothing wrong with this....
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I think it is okay too.

But if you were to ask the manufacturer, I bet they wouldn't agree, and they are the ones making and enforcing the rules. And they could not care less what we think.

So, don't ask the manufacturer. :D
 
Thanks for advice everyone.

I'm going to go ahead and buy FCP (Academic) of my friend.

I was hoping that he would sell me his version of DVD Studio Pro (I'm gunna have a lot to learn!!), but he wants that still.

Have had a look on eBay and it seems there is a fair bit of Academic software available. I'm pretty cautious though - thank god for escrow.

Thanks for everyone's comments I've learnt heaps. Haven't used Forums before, will be more in the future.

joe
 
Originally posted by Joeintehsun
Thanks for advice everyone.

I'm going to go ahead and buy FCP (Academic) of my friend.

I was hoping that he would sell me his version of DVD Studio Pro (I'm gunna have a lot to learn!!), but he wants that still.

Have had a look on eBay and it seems there is a fair bit of Academic software available. I'm pretty cautious though - thank god for escrow.

Thanks for everyone's comments I've learnt heaps. Haven't used Forums before, will be more in the future.

joe
Click to expand...

well welcome to macrumours... it gets addicting

and have fun with FCP - it's awsome - probably the reason i switched to mac in the first place
 
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