andiwm2003 said:
some guy on bostons craigslist offers a variety of software for $30. in the windows world sometimes people buy OEM licences and resell them for cheap. if you are a non professional and you don't need to upgrade it can be a good deal.
does something like this exist for mac and can an offer like this be legal?
edit: removed the link because if it is illegal i don't want to advertize for the guy.
So, like, why do you believe that calling it "OEM" makes it legal? It's the oldest trick in the scammer's book.
OEM software and software bought on a site license almost always come with restrictive licenses that forbid reselling. And that's even supposing it is really genuine OEM disks they are selling.
THe thing you have to remember, is that the CD-ROM, even if it is a perfectly genuine one, is not the license to use it.
Here's an example: A university buys a site license; this covers use of up to 1,000 users of the program on the university grounds only. The license is not resellable and a student when they leave Uni gives up their right to use the program. The Uni saves big money over buying individual copies. With me so far?
OK, obviously, Apple (or Adobe or MS) does not deliver 1,000 retail packages, they deliver 1 CD, one serial number and a piece of paper which is the license agreement. Then, if the Univ, wants extra CDs for installation in various places, they can order "media kits" which are the CD - WITHOUT any serial number or license - for $10 - $20 each.
So Mr Craigslistscammer illegitimately orders 40 of these CDs at $10 each, prints up labels with cracked serial number keys, call them "OEM software that comes with *original CDs* but not the expensive packaging and manuals so you save $$ like big corp.s can" and sells them at $30 - $50 each. He makes $$$, its flagrantly illegal and the purchaser has no rights to the software at all.
