T4 Diagnostic software

[Vanbursta]

Originally Posted by murphyv310

Hi.
The thing is if the OE discs are NLA where do we go from there, copies will no doubt be always available and if its correct they are NLA, surely a copy would be legal as the OE supplier basically cant!!!

Trouble is I am fairly certain they are still under copyright, even if they were available, it would be illegal to copy them. It's a silly state of affairs as you can't buy Rave or WSM, yet they are readily available on some auction sites. I don't in any way condone piracy but I am concerned that common sense does not prevail here with regard to software for our cars.

[StewartIngram]

Surely you are allowed to make copies of CDs, for you own personal use only, providing you keep the originals?

Stewart

[steveo]

http://www.google.co.uk/url?q=https:...SEeG0HQRvqatXg
Hi all
This may help.
Regards
Steve

[murphyv310]

Originally Posted by StewartIngram

Surely you are allowed to make copies of CDs, for you own personal use only, providing you keep the originals?

Stewart

That's correct.
I do wonder who actually holds the copyright for them? The writer of the program or the company who the person or persons worked with at the time. Thing is, is the hardware now obsolete? If so it's likely any thoughts of supplying further software unlikely.
Perhaps get back to Omitec and ask for permission to use the software for the benefit of the club and its members, then copying from master discs would be perfectly legal.

[steveo]

Hi
As I understand the link given in a previous post

The company that developed the software owns the copyright and it is transferable to the company that purchased the omnitec name

This copyright then lasts for 70 years

This is how I understand it (could be wrong though)
Regards
Steve

[MSS]

The way licensing of software normally works is that the media (CD, DVD etc.) containing the software can be purchased for a relatively small sum of money but it does not give the purchaser the license to use the software. The price merely relates to the cost of the physical media.

The software license usually costs a large(er) sum of money and it is this that makes it legal for a person to install/use the software. The price of the license reflects the value of the intellectual property.

I am confused as to why so many people on the forum seem to believe that buying a set of disks for the T4 software suite (from whatever source) will give them the license to use it with a virtual T4.

It was my understanding that the vT4 required the OE T4 software and can therefore only be legal in cases where the user has acquired a genuine license - presumably by purchasing a full T4 hardware/software suite.

As for copying of software being legal if the owner is unable to supply the same to a potential purchaser - I don't think that has been established as a principle anywhere. Theft of IPR is theft of IPR.

This is a genuine question for the few in the know - why is the situation with the T4 software suite any different?

[Lovel]

I had a Unipart motor factor up until recently in my area. They were agents for Omitec, and sold me a couple of T4 CD's approx. 3 years ago, which were about £20-30 each from memory.
Prior to selling the discs to me there was a fairly rigorous question session from Omitec via Unipart rep as to my intentions with the discs, as they were concerned I was going to copy them.

http://www.unipartautoparts.com/

[simonmgzs]

I had purchased a t4 back in January of last year and I purchased it from the link below
http://www.workshopdirect.com/produc...ofessional-kit

[MSS]

Originally Posted by simonmgzs

I had purchased a t4 back in January of last year and I purchased it from the link below
http://www.workshopdirect.com/produc...ofessional-kit

Did it come with authorisation to freely copy the disks?

[simonmgzs]

Originally Posted by mss

Did it come with authorisation to freely copy the disks?

in all honestly I do not know