Re: Interesting terms in Microsoft Visual BASIC shrink-wrap license

[Christopher Pall <christopher.pall@wmich.edu>]

This is also in the license agreement for VB 5

Brett Glass wrote:
> 
> Just had to install Microsoft's Visual Basic 6.0 as part of a software
> development project, and found the following interesting text in the
> "shrink-wrap" license it displays during installation.
> 
> "...you may use documentation identified in the MSDN Library portion of the
> SOFTWARE PRODUCT as the file format specification for Microsoft Word,
> Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and/or Microsoft PowerPoint ("File
> Format Documentation") solely in connection with your development of
> software product(s) that operate in conjunction with Windows or Windows NT
> that are not general purpose word processing, spreadsheet, or database
> management software products or an integrated work or product suite whose
> components include one or more general purpose word processing,
> spreadsheet, or database management software products. Note: A product that
> includes limited word processing, spreadsheet, or database components along
> with other components that provide significant and primary value, such as
> an accounting product with limited spreadsheet capability, is not
> considered to be a "general purpose" product."
> 
> In other words, Microsoft's "agreement" attempts to prohibit developers
> from writing applications that compete with parts of Microsoft's Office
> suite. It also prohibits developers from using the docs to develop programs
> for non-Microsoft platforms that can read Office files.
> 
> Is this enforceable, I wonder?
> 
> --Brett Glass