This brings up an interesting question.  Since software is usually "sold"
as just a license to use, rather than an outright sale, what about the
'software' or 'firmware' in the computers in cars?    Since without a
doubt, you 'buy' the car and own it, does that mean you also 'own' the
computer code (software or firmware) in the car?   If you only license it,
does that mean you have some obligation to notify GM or whomever produced
the car when you transfer ownership?   Do you have to get their OK to
transfer the car?

Of course, this brings up the larger question about how to deal with the
issue of imbedded intellectual property rights.

Bryan Greenberg wrote:

>
> GM wouldn't care because you purchased a vehicle from them and that's
> as far as their agreement with you goes (exclusive of the warrantee of
> course).  When you talk about software you are dealing with
> intellectual property.  Under HP's (and most other) standard licensing
> agreements you do not own the software, just the right to use it.  If
> you purchase the right to for twenty people to use a particular
> software package and then modify it so 200 people can use it you have
> violated your license agreement (this can probably be enforceable as
> breach of contract but I'm no lawyer so don't interpret this as legal
> advice.).
>

--
Jim Alexander   Longs Drug Stores
Sr. Systems Programmer  925-210-6901
The opinions expressed are Mine and not Longs Drugs