Just wondering, since BeOS has been sold to Palm, does the license agreement that comes up when you install the BeOS still apply, or is there a new one? Surely the license displayed when you install say BeOS PE cant still be correct since it says the software still belongs to Be Incorporated.

This probably isn't the most interesting topic for discussion, but I've had a search around and found nothing, so any help would be appreciated :)

Thanks

Here's how I see it, the license agreememt that you see on BeOS PE is still valid; the ownership was simply transfered to Palm. So it becomes Palm's responsibilty to enforce the license.

Since Palm has never distributed any BeOS product, there's no updated license.

-Bob

I think it still might be a binding agreement between the user and Be, as Palm didn't aquire just 'BeOS', but Be Inc., so it would just be a division of theirs, of sorts.

My opinion would be that since there was no mention of what would happen when/if Be Inc was sold in the agreement then it would be based on some other court cases. Basically it can't be even guessed. Since you clearly can not agree knowing that Be Inc is disolved then how can you be held to that agreement? Further did Be Inc make any attempt to get their property back? No. Did Palm make any attempt to get their property back? No.

Well, then I would say you need to contact proper legal help to really have an opinion other than some boob like me.:)

Thanks everyone :) Just one more thing, the license is the same for the linux version as well as the windows version right?
Its just that the linux version doesnt seem to say the agreement anywhere (unless you run the install program inside beos of course)

I don't think you will get in trouble if you use it for personal use in your own home. I couldn't even guess who would sue you if you were to sell it or for any other use. You will have to contact your professional legal experts if you need a more proper answer. My states laws prevent me from offering legal advice as well they should.

What do you want to do the the software?

Just for personal use. I think im just being overly picky about the license :)

Hall and Oates wrote "Do what you want to do, what you want to do, what you want to doooo--ooo, but be who you are." I don't think they were talking about this but the it seems to apply.

As long as you agree to the terms in the license included with PE, then you're good to go. It's up to Palm to update the license and notify users if there's a change. So far they've hardly even aknowledged the fact that there are still BeOS users at all.

That's my non-legal opinion of course.

-Bob

Ok, thanks people :)