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Microsoft, long ago, adopted the old General Motors method of product development and marketing. This story is just one example of the Microsoft's hubris in the marketplace.
 
Microsoft trying to abuse their monopoly again for more money, not a surprise

But wheres the UK launch :(

We are actively engaged with OnLive with the hope of bringing them into a properly licensed scenario, and we are committed to seeing this issue is resolved.

OnLive is providing a paid, licensed piece of software for free to a theoretically infinite number of people. If this was Apple, they would have already litigated and everyone here would be egging them on.
 
Microsoft, long ago, adopted the old General Motors method of product development and marketing. This story is just one example of the Microsoft's hubris in the marketplace.

ONLIVE is the one in the wrong. You cant just let people use somebody elses product for free and not pay that company.

I think its the office part that is in the wrong. As long as onlive is using datacenter on all its servers the windows 7 portion i think is legal BUT they cannot just let everybody use office without paying microsoft something.

Its like me letting everybody virtually use iphoto for free.
 
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I knew this had to be a violation of a licensing agreement. I was retry much called an idiot. Who's the idiot now? Muahahahahahaaaa.
 
Unfortunately, I would have to agree with MS on this one. OnLive is essentially leasing out a Windows and Office functionality to potentially millions who don't have to pay Microsoft a thing.

Clearly not right. And as others have said, I would agree with Apple putting a similar lock-down on any re-distribution of its intellectual property as well. What is wrong for one has to be wrong for all.
 
as soon as onlive announced their windows service i was thinking....how? you are using windows for free without paying anyone, and since onlive revenue is fro games to pay for said games, how are they paying microsoft? as windows would cost more than the game licences.

if it was apple, there would be a **** storm. kudos to microsof for not bringing the hammer down immediately but actually working to resolve the issues peacefully. its a new age!

apologies for lack of caps, laptop in dark, cant be bothered.
 
I don't know of ANY commercial software vendor who would allow a product sold with an end-user license to be provided to an arbitrary number of other users like this without any profit going back to the vendor. From a financial point of view that would be no different than buying a single copy of Windows 7 and then making the ISO available for download on your website for a fee, since you're now providing it to other users without MS seeing any of the profit. Any commercial software vendor would object to that. In this case, judging by their blog post, MS isn't trying to shut down OnLive, they just want them to buy the appropriate licenses that MS sells specifically for companies who want to provide a service like OnLive.

Nope. The article says end users should hold a license.

But MS will probably ignore that if they paid enough.
 
There is no need for an Volume License of Office to cost 500 dollars for the professional for each user, or 20 dollars for each client to use Live Communicator, or 25 dollars for client access licenses. Microsoft may and I do stress may have some nice software, but for what thy charge, it is a rip off. And they charge it because they know they have the Industry. Open Office an Linux are great, but really, how many companies use it? It is all Windows and Office.

Don't agree. Taking your $500 for Office Pro and a 3 year usage it works out at about $0.70 per working day. Which is less than their phone, mobile, PC or many other essentials cost for the same worker.

They also practically give their software away to non-profits, under $50 for Windows, Office Pro and the relevant server CALs per seat and $100 for SBS.

With regard to the original subject, if OnLive were getting the correct licenses to provide their cloud services (SPLA licenses for Office and Windows, running on Server 2008) they'd be paying about $15 per user per month.

Except they can't be getting the correct licenses as they're providing Windows 7 which can't be licensed for cloud usage such as this - it has to be done with Server 2008 and remote desktop.

I think its the office part that is in the wrong. As long as onlive is using datacenter on all its servers the windows 7 portion i think is legal BUT they cannot just let everybody use office without paying microsoft something.

As per the above using Windows 7 is wrong as Microsoft do not license it for this kind of usage.
 
I recently started using MS Remote Desktop Connection to use AutoCAD on an iMac running bootcamp because I found a dusty 20" monitor not being used. It's more convenient than moving back and forth to work stations. I already have the ability to access my Mac on an iPad using iTeleport. I seriously doubt I will do much hardcore drafting on my iPad through iTeleport through MS Remote Desktop Connection, but just being able to print an AutoCAD file from an iPad does provide some advantages.

I own all of the licenses and my iMac is unresponsive from the keyboard and mouse while I'm connected, thus preventing two users at one time. I don't see a significant license infringement here.
 
It sounds like somebody is scared of killer applications :rolleyes:

Not trying to troll here, but really??? Apple sues someone else every week it seems like over different "infringements" and whatever else.

This is something every large company does now days, not just Microsoft.
 
I hate to say this, but...

...I am with Microsoft on this one.

Anyone who purchased the app should have known that the end was coming sooner rather than later, which brings me to the point that the company to blame is actually OnLine since they did not disclose to the customer that:
1 - they were breaching Microsoft's license agreements
2 - the app and its features may be turned off at any moment

It's like buying these "Live TV" apps who broadcast copyrighted TV channels. You know the channel will eventually disappear.
 
Don't like OnLive's service? Then step up to the plate Microsoft. Don't whine and complain because someone is offering a service you refuse to offer. Start making official tablet versions of Office!!!
 
NYU offers us virtual access to Microsoft Office and Adobe applications on any computer or iOS device (powered by Citrix) and we are required to log in with our university issued account so they can monitor exactly who is using it.

MS Academic agreements are vastly different from agreements in any other sector. A lot of schools/university systems have an agreement to do exactly this currently.

----------

Don't like OnLive's service? Then step up to the plate Microsoft. Don't whine and complain because someone is offering a service you refuse to offer. Start making official tablet versions of Office!!!

They will, but it'll only run on windows 8 tablets later this year...;)
 
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MS could solve a lot of these issues by just releasing an Office suite for iPad already...
 
Don't like OnLive's service? Then step up to the plate Microsoft. Don't whine and complain because someone is offering a service you refuse to offer. Start making official tablet versions of Office!!!

Eh,
"I don't like that Apple only releases iOS on iDevices, so I'm going to make an Android app that gives you iOS on Android. Step up the plate Apple, don't whine because I'm offering something you refuse to. Start making iOS for Android devices!!!!!!!!!"
 
why?

Why do companies do this? OnLive has spent a lot of time and money behind this - why would you do all that without getting proper licensing in place beforehand? Would they just hope to get bought out by someone (MS?) before they got too big?

I just don't get it. Maybe I'm just a stick in the mud. There's loads of great ideas out there, and this was a neat one. I'm sure there were people looking at onlive saying "wow - what a great idea! why didn't anyone think of this before?!". Well, 'they' did - but didn't pursue it because of the licensing morass.
 
Bitchplease. If this was Apple instead of Microsoft they'd be suing onlive's ass off.

And you'd be cheering them on.

Apple has become the king of giant corporation suing machines.

Theres actually a company that does offer OS X in a similar way to Onlive offer Windows.
 
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