> Which to me means I could run HourGlass now and have it return an earlier
> date to whatever software I have that has an expiration date, thereby
> defeating and circumventing the software license.  This is what I was
> responding to, that is, the seeming lack of disregard for software licensing
> terms by another software vendor.

You're confusing "software license" with "expiration date".  When you
purchase a particular MPE CI extension package (or the security package from
the same vendor <grin>), for example, you buy the right to use that package
"forever".  However, to encourage you to upgrade regularly (and to stay on
support), the software will "expire" (typically) about 18 months after you
install it.  If you call the vendor, they will extend it, whether you are on
support or not, since you have the right to keep using it.

If you complain, you used to get a "permanent" version, but that just meant
it expired on (drum roll) 12/31/1999.

Many vendors have used 12/31/1999 as a "non-expiring" date -- and some of
them have gone out of business.  Some of them haven't yet provided a version
that expires later than that, even though you will still have the right to
run the software later.

<plug>
HourGlass just allows you to test applications that make use of these
products now, and may allow you to keep running them if the vendor vanishes
by 12/31/199.
</plug>

> BTW, I wonder if HourGlass has an expiration date?  If so, I guess you could
> get one of the other date manipulation utilities and "fool" HourGlass into
> thinking it hadn't expired yet.  Right? :-)

You might if any of them provided complete date/time interception.  None of
them do, though, so HourGlass isn't fooled by any of them -- although all of
them seem to be "fooled" by HourGlass <grin>.

We do NOT, of course, advocate using HourGlass (or any other method) to
"steal" software  or violate license agreements -- hey, we're software
vendors ourselves!  We don't think there is anything wrong with helping
you solve a problem cause by a vendor selling you a permanent right-to-use,
and then putting in an expiration date.  (Most vendors didn't do it
maliciously, it was just more convenient to code that way.)
---
Michael D. Hensley       | mailto:[log in to unmask]
Allegro Consultants Inc. |
408/252-2330             | Visit scenic http://www.allegro.com