Hacker News Reader

> Imagine, for instance, if you bought a flat head screwdriver, but the manufacturer told you that you could never, ever, under any circumstances use it to pry something open. It was stricly to be used for installing or removing screws.

Try filing a warranty claim if it bends, the manufacturer will go and tell you to kick rocks.

View on HN

That is fine, they're not required to support unexpected use cases. Not the same as forbidding you from using it as you see fit. It's simple really, they can do what they want with their resources, you can do what you want with yours, especially those you paid for.

But you only have a license to use the screwdriver, it's still their property. You aren't entitled to free use of someone else's property, of course. Just because it's in your possession doesn't mean it's yours!

(This is supposed to be satire but feels scarily accurate anyway.)

Everytime I use an Autodesk product (6days a week) I lament this court case.

The whole set of software IP rules seems like mental gymnastics to justify a career (that I like, support, and benefit from) rather than rules that come from axioms or ethics that make sense.

Isn’t OP doing just that? A few more hoops through, but it’s not like Sony is going to sue… oh, wait, if he tells anyone else how to do it they might.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com