Ethics Question

Naresh Karamchetty

I have several CDs of the SQL Server Evaluation Edition, each of which are good for 120 days. Would it be ethically acceptable for me to install from a CD and then reinstall from another one after the first expires? I'm currently a student, so buying a full-licensed copy is not something I can do until after I graduate this fall and start gainful employment. "What would this country be without this great land of our?" -Ronald Reagan

Christian Graus

I doubt that would even work. If you're using it to study and learn, with a view to buying when you graduate then I'd suggest what matters from the M$ POV is thath you end up buying one so I'd say there would be no problem in terms of ethics. That doesn't mean M$ would encourage it, of course... Christian I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in. The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.

David Cunningham

Why don't you look around for an educational version. I can't point you to a specific source, but if you call the local Microsoft office, and ask them about educational discounts or NFR (not for resale) copies for students, I'll bet you get somewhere. Last time I checked, Microsoft also offered employees of companies that resell Microsoft products pretty massive discounts on non-upgradable personal use versions. I think a few years ago I got a copy of Office 95 for $70 (Canadian), and visual studio was like $150. So, worst case you could try that tack (go register a company, usually costs about $50), and then you're in the game. D

Ajit Jadhav

With a typical evaluation license, the question is not whether you install it multiple times; and the question is not your academic status or need. The question is: Do you use the intellectual property as per its permitted use--evaluation--or not. This should be the case with the specific evaluation license of SQL Server too. If you are not selling anything (including your services) out of those installations, and if you are only using the software for evaluation purposes (aka "playing around with"), then, I, personally see no problems. Remember, I do not work for Microsoft, am not a lawyer. But that's the *ethical* position I would take for a piece of software *I* give out for evaluation. Also note, I have taken it for granted that as a graduate student, you are both interested in, and capable of, evaluating a complex product like that, and that you are really in the process of evaluation. All good things. A random guy who sets up a shop for copying and distributing evaluation version CDs does not fall into that same category. That's where the seriousness of the matter lies. Before closing, a couple of remarks. 1. It would be perfectly ethical to examine the evaluation version of any software and decide not to buy or recommend the software later on. Indeed, if you don't take that attitude, it would be tough to evaluate anything properly. 2. It might seem like a lecture, but I can't resist saying this. The intellectual concern for ethics on the part of a graduate student would be better spent in tackling more important or challenging issues. For example, as graduate students, my friends and I used to worry about the ethics of bench-marking (a practice widely followed in automobile industry) and reverse-engineering (a practice widely followed in industrial electronic systems). Much more complex topics, lots of interesting and intersecting principles. The debates need a certain level of maturity from the participants. But, lots of fun... Perhaps best reserved for direct interpersonal exchanges in the local (University) debating group or so. That is not to say that I have anything against this posting of yours here... It's just that something else struck me... It's that the purpose of ethics cannot be to scare folks into a sense of guilt. It has to be to guide people in practical matters. Minor issues, therefore, are better avoided. Afterall, there are enough major issues that need ethical scrutiny too! Multiple installations of evaluation software :cool: by a grad s

Stan Shannon

Probably just depends on what the meaning of is is anyway.

Christian Skovdal Andersen

Why not use MSDE? It is free and has most of the features of the real SQL Server. Christian Skovdal Andersen

Anders Molin

Well, it's only free if you have some kind of developer tool from MS, in Professional or Enterprise edition. Like C++ Professional. But then you also have licens to use MS-Sql Server 7.0 Developer Edition. - Anders Money talks, but all mine ever says is "Goodbye!"

Naresh Karamchetty

Hey, thanks everyone, I should check out all of that, being a reseller, getting student versions, and MSDE. The reason I had planned to install SQL Server 2000 Evaluation was to learn how to develop databases with it. I really would not be doing much administration on it. My goal is to become a proficient software engineer on all three of the primary tiers of a modern internet systems: data logic, business logic, and presentation logic. Developing databases with SQL Server will cover the first one. "What would this country be without this great land of our?" -Ronald Reagan

Tibor Blazko

try www.mysql.com (i'm not its user) t!