So an interesting contrast in articles yesterday… one column on how Windows Is Free, due to the widespread sharing and ineffectiveness of the registration process, and another column on Software Copyright and Role Models – the impact of software sharing on ethics, morals, and society. The intertwining thread is the Law of Unintended Consequences, where people’s actions have far wider ripples than they anticipate. It really stopped me in my tracks.

I have, in the past, observed unlicensed software being installed. Sometimes, because my own hands were acting on the copied CD. I’ve found it much easier to be in compliance recently because of MSDN access, but now I have kids. I want them to have a computer to use and to play on, and many of their games are Windows-only. Now I have to consider how to move forward.

I’ve purchased computers in the past with Windows installed on them, then blitzed it in order to install Linux. Now I feel like I should have a floating license for that Windows OS, but is that actually fair? I know it’s not legal according to the contracts, but what is really fair? And what do I do to show the kids that I really believe in doing what is right? I work in software development, for goodness sake… you’d think I wouldn’t be conflicted at all.

But all I have are questions right now… no answers.

(At least my Macs are legal, with no questionmarks! :)

Technorati Tags: , , ,