Its time for one of Davs world famous Hypothetical Scenario's

I actually do own a HD 7950. I'm very happy with it.

Having said that .....

Lol, I've become aware that some of the functionality of it is highly dependent on timely releases of updates by AMD.

So, in some instances, I use it at the pleasure of AMD.

But that's been the case for all cards, and for as long as I know. I knew that going in, the principle of it. As long as the drivers on the CD that come with the kit enable what's advertised on the box, the sale is valid.

Am I totally missing the point? I'm assuming we're getting into the limitations placed on software by publishers.

My problem with games is that the software in the box, when looked at by an objective third party, is often sold in a broken state.

Bioshock 2 comes to mind.

Huh, I still haven't answered your question, sorry.

I own it unless the restrictions were spelled out on the box. If I want to use the card to power a holodeck, or a custom OS, it's mine to do with.

 

Well, even if such a thing would be legal, as long as they don't tell you that in the store when you "buy" it, I think you own it.

If I understand what you are getting at, then yes. When you pay for something you own it, no matter if some company likes to think they actually licened it to you.

 

This thread begs for a poll...

 

Well the GPU itself is a paperweight unless you agree to terms written in software IIRC. I guess that way its more upfront.

 

There's actually a real world example of something like this. Leasing a car.

There's also obviously differences between how a physical product that can degrade is handled and how a digital product that potentially never degrades is handled.

10 years from now a physical product may not work anymore limiting its value. 10 years from now that digital copy of something still exactly the same as it currently is.

Imagine if hot water heaters never degraded and never needed servicing. And on top of that you could quite easily give away hundreds of thousands of copies of that hot water heater without you or anyone else paying anything for those copies.

Regards,
SB

 

I normally destroy any warranty I have with anything within the first 10 minutes of owning it anyway so I do what I like and if people don't like it then tough...

World records are not broken with stock hardware that's under license....

Although if they want the card back after its been run on DICE or LN2 then they're more then welcome

 

You own the card because you bought it. If you want to lease or "license" the use of the card that needs to be agreed to by an actual contract and before the transfer of goods and money.

 

Fuck what the paper said: I bought it, I own it.

 

I actually kind of like this idea. I wonder how many of us could mail/ return their software (if in physical format) or hardware, either when the license is up or when we are done using it. Would make a fun kind of protest. I have a vague memory of this happening before with something. Costs the company a fair bit to deal with it. Kind of like when some company annoys you and requires some ridiculous little payment, you sent them a check for MORE than they asked for, and it cost them something like 20$ to cut you a check back, completely destroying their intent in the first place.

Hey, we are just licensing it, guess that means the issuer is responsible for it when we are done with it.

 

AFAIK, lots of products (software or hardware) come with these disclaimers in order to avoid as much hassle as possible from customers.

However, all products must abide to the country's legislation, which renders those statements practically useless, which is why most companies tend to back off whenever a customer is willing to file a formal complaint.


Besides, a little paper inside the box that can only be seen after the purchase.. was never going to mean anything in legal terms.

 

I find the above statement very misleading.
I always thought that in capitalism, something is worth exactly what you are willing to pay for it.

Are you willing to pay the same amount for a ten year old software?
Does Loom worth 60$ for you, in all its EGA graphics glory?

To me it all sounds like a way to limit consumer rights, in order to maximize profit.
And in the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say again, that products produced by practices such as these, belong to the bargain bin.

In current capitalism the actual value of a product comes second to the projected marketing value of it.
Seems like, companies like to pick their arguments the way it fits their purpose.

 

Yeah, you own the card. Not the software and manuals that come with it, perhaps, but you own the card. That can't be what they're telling you not to copy!

 

Well, the cards manuals drives (and BIOS) would be copyrighted. And I guess, as such, you could make an argument that they could/should be protected by the same laws and regulations that the entertainment/software industries rely on/advocate.

Thus you would own the card, but for the good graces of the hardware vendor, it could well become a useless piece of electronics if you decide to sell it on and said materials are not licensed for the second owner.

 

Sure. I agree that should be so, and in most jurisdictions it is. But if we just accept that, what's the point of your thought experiment to begin with?

No one seem to have challenged the right to sell your actual physical stuff, but even the most mundane things are getting computer controlled these days, so I believe the software licensing/copyright angle will (regrettably) become ever more relevant - even for physical products.

Printer cartridges may have been one of the first types of products to step into this legal landscape some ways back.