If you go to www.northernsounds.com and search the archives, you'll find at least one five mile long thread debating the same issue.

Until recently, my personal feeling has been that it would be to everyone's advantage if you could transfer the license after a few years. The seller would have money to spend on new libraries, and the buyer would be getting into the game.

But that was based on the assumption that libraries will continue to become outdated every few years (so the developer wouldn't be selling very many libraries anyway), and I'm not sure that's the case anymore. Sampling has improved by leaps and bounds, and it seems unlikely that the VSL is going to be out of date in a few years unless physical modeling takes its place - and that's a tall order for orchestral emulations. There will always be great new libraries (I hope!), but nobody else is going to go out and record 6 billion samples ever again!

Regardless of speculation and opinions, though, the license agreement is what it is. I can't imagine a lawyer telling anyone to ignore it. But I do understand dbudde's feelings. After all, you can resell a keyboard that comes with ROM samples, so how is this different? The answer is that samples are considered a recorded work.

It is illegal to use the library professionally without a license to do so. That ought not to prohibit me from selling it. I wish companies realized that if you sell something without the license, that the purchaser would need to buy a new license to use the samples, and simultaneously deactivate any new uses from the previous license holder with the same serial number.

But they typically worry about rampant copying which is indeed a concern. But to penalize the user for the criminals out there is not the ethical thing to do. If they allowed reselling and transferring of licenses then the only purchases they would get would be from legitamate users. But isn't that what you want anyway?

And would it be so hard to think of a customer as a non-criminal?

It falls into financial burden to make someone endure the hardships of defunct products. It is negligent of VSL to not provide an exit solution in a social environment where money indoctrinates policy.

I am now a PRO EDITION owner and have no further need for the FIRST EDITION. I guess in part the VIP upgrade price is a nice gesture which takes into account that I own something I no longer need. But at this point I have spent exactly as much money as it costs to buy the PRO EDITION. So what do I do with this heavy anchor sitting on my shelves called the FIRST EDITION? I have no further need for it.

Very confusing. it seems for the amount of money we shell out to VSL that it ought ot come with some freedom. For instance LOGIC has one of the best copy protections out there, and yet that should mean that if tehre isn't any copying going on that the price of it should be much less since they don't have to make up for lost revnue from rampant piracy. However, for some reason both as VSL and at Emagic, their polices and copy protections have done nothing for teh consumer except drive up prices, restrict the user, and treat all owners as equal criminals.

Evan Evans

Couple of comments. First, license policy and copy protection are orthogonal issues. VSL's license certianly does not preclude someone from stealing and using the samples. So let's not confuse the issue in this thread about copy protection schemes. If that needs to get discussed put it in a different thread. I don't believe VLSL's non-transfer policy is intended to enforce copy protection. I think they believe, for whatever reason, that the current policy will maximize their profit.

Second, there seems to be the notion that sampled data is similar to an audio recording as opposed to software and as such it ought to have a different licensing scheme than software. I disagree. Besides, if I go buy an audio CD, I am free to resell that CD if I have no use for it anymore. What's the difference. The only difference is VSL has chose to license their technology this way. They could choose to license it some other way. I am just pointing out that it would be to their benefit to license it like software for the reasons in my first post.

To me the VSL library is a software tool that is used to create music. The sample library is of no real use by itself. One needs to use the library and the software tools that come with it to create a recording. This is no difference to a software program like Logic which is also a tool to create musical recordings. Or Final Cut Pro which is a tool to create movies.

And just so there is no confusion, the only thing I have an issue with in the license policy is if one has no use for the library, one ought to be able to transfer the license.

@dbudde said:

And just so there is no confusion, the only thing I have an issue with in the license policy is if one has no use for the library, one ought to be able to transfer the license.

Thanks. I sure would like to sell this useless jewel here. perhaps VSl will buy it back from me for $1000 of something. Full First Edition. Mint Condition.

Evan Evans

You don't like it (the license agreement) don't use the product, SIMPLE.

Really, just because you disagree with the company policy doesn't mean you have the right to DISREGARD it!

If you really want to do your thing go ahead, see how well it holds up in court.

Ben H

Oh, if you broke the seal or agreed to the terms and conditions on the install YOU HAVE ENTERED INTO A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT.

Ben H

@evanevans said:

[...]
I am now a PRO EDITION owner and have no further need for the FIRST EDITION. I guess in part the VIP upgrade price is a nice gesture which takes into account that I own something I no longer need. But at this point I have spent exactly as much money as it costs to buy the PRO EDITION. So what do I do with this heavy anchor sitting on my shelves called the FIRST EDITION? I have no further need for it. [...]
Evan Evans

The answer is simple - if you would be allowed to re-sell the library, there would be _no_ reduced upgrade fee. Voilá - just pay the full price for every product!

... YOU would be the first to shout out LOUD!!! :-]

/Dietz

Interesting Debate.

I would like to chip in.

The Library is not a software tool* - it is simply a library of samples. As such international copywrite law and agreements view this exactly the same as published printed matter - just like a book -

Regardless of whether you read it or not the agreement on purchase is that you cannot re-sell it without the express permission of the Publisher. This law is every bit as binding on the purchaser in the US as it is in Europe. And it makes perfect sense that it is applied to Sample Libraries.

*The Performance Tools are software tools but these are only available to registered users in any case.

tattie

You all seem to be making incorrect assumptions, on both sides. Let me try to correct a few things:

1) Not all "contracts" or "licenses" are enforceable, in whole or in part.

2) Using samples creates derivative works based on them, which is an exclusive right given to a copyright holder which he can license out, for the most part, as he sees fit. It is not the same as reading a book. You don't create derivative works by reading the book.

3) On the other hand, VSL is also very much like a hardware syntehsizer. You can certainly resell those, and using them creates derivative works based on the copyrighted samples. The difference is VSL can be copied, and the synth cannot. So to discourage people from buying, copying, and reselling without deleting, reselling is restricted by the license, because the right to make derivative works with the samples (i.e. use them) is nontransferable.

I'm making no final judgement as to whether the policy is legal, just trying to point out all the conflicting factors that go into this question.

@Another User said:

- just like a book -

Regardless of whether you read it or not the agreement on purchase is that you cannot re-sell it without the express permission of the Publisher.

There's a huge market for used books. Are all these people breaking the copyright laws?

Such a hopeless discussion. There is a difference between content and medium. Book is a medium - you can sell the tangible item to anyone you want. The VSL DVDs are a medium - you can sell the tangible items to anyone you want. You use a book by reading it. The copyright owner has no right to control someone's reading of his work. So anyone who possesses it can read it. You use VSL by creating derivative works from it. The copyright owner DOES HAVE A RIGHT to control that. That right can only be granted through contract, hence, the VSL license.

Why is this so hard to understand?

@Another User said:

Really, just because you disagree with the company policy doesn't mean you have the right to DISREGARD it!

No one is advocating disregarding the license or doing anything illegal. Peter is questioning the legality of the license, but this is not disregarding it.

You don't have to agree with the road traffic laws but if you intend to use your drivers license you have to abide by them.

Otherwise can you imagine someone going for their license and then reaking havoc because they don't want to signal, or stop at a red light, or stick to the speed limit.

Can you imagine the defense to the copper who pulls you over. Sure I have a license I just don't agree with what it says.

I know its a bit extreme but my point is just like a drivers license if you chose to use the VSL product you MUST abide by the TERMS AND CONDITIONS of their contract.

Oh, and I didn't mean to imply that you were disregarding the licensing agreement simply that someone could not choose to disregard it if they didn't like it.

Ben H [H]

Those who have studied contract law and have a degree in law, please raise your hands..

No one? thought so. [6]

Terms and conditions are not binding per se. It would depend on a number of things, even the country someone lives in. No answer can be given which is applicable to every situation, period. However, to say that *no one* can sell their copy is just unfounded. [:)]

Jean (who has his LL.M in a few months)

this is a no brainer! can you imagine what ebay would look like with all of those "disgruntled" VSL users . whats to stop you from selling your dvds and using the library from hard disk? i am amazed that given the price of this product we dont have to deal with dongles and authorization issues.
no offense if your a hobbist get a cheaper library!!
about 3 or 4 monthes before VSL was release i purchased GOS lite for $249. i used it ONCE. after i bought VSL i thought . gee what a waste of money. so i harrased the developer to get permission to sell it. in which i got a inconclusive answer. i had to ask myself one question . was willing to completly delete GOS from my hard drive if i sold it?
much to my surprise i found myself debating this with myself!! SO THE POINT IS I WAS BEING SELFISH!! so for now i''ll regretibly keep it. maybe you should take a look at your motives.

@Another User said:

Those who have studied contract law and have a degree in law, please raise your hands..

*Raises hand*

Copyright law too.

It's the only profession I could choose that could eventually guarantee to fund my expensive habits. [:)]

@Another User said:

whats to stop you from selling your dvds and using the library from hard disk?

The fact that this is stealing. Look, I pay for all my software. But I also get into situations where I find I no longer need a piece of software so I remove it from my disk and then sell it when that occurs.

The whole point of this thread is that VSL is leaving money on the table because there are customers who won't buy their product because of the license restrictions. VSL should consider changing this to expand their market.

If Herb comes in and says "Hey, we considered all these issues, we are comfortable with our policy and our customer base. We don't have any foreseeable plan to change the policy", then fine. But they should at least hear from a few potential customers whether a change makes sense before dismissing the idea.

@Another User said:

whats to stop you from selling your dvds and using the library from hard disk?

The fact that this is stealing. Look, I pay for all my software. But I also get into situations where I find I no longer need a piece of software so I remove it from my disk and then sell it when that occurs.

The whole point of this thread is that VSL is leaving money on the table because there are customers who won't buy their product because of the license restrictions. VSL should consider changing this to expand their market.

If Herb comes in and says "Hey, we considered all these issues, we are comfortable with our policy and our customer base. We don't have any foreseeable plan to change the policy", then fine. But they should at least hear from a few potential customers whether a change makes sense before dismissing the idea.

fair enough. i really dont think they are lossing money on this issue. i do think eevntually well start to see authorization implemented if people start selling it

Yeah and I still have Windows 3.1, 3.11, Windows 95R2, Windows 98SE, lying around my house in boxes, not to mention all the incarnations of DOS.

All of these I purchased legit. Does that mean because I don't have use for them anymore I can sell them off? NO.

Really just cos you don't need/want them anymore doesn't hold any credability. Just make wiser purchasing decisions. Decide if you will really USE something rather than just buying it out of lust.

And if you do have something you don't like. GET OVER IT!!! Maybe the next time that developer may be able to use your money towards something new and exciting that you DO like.

Ben H

@Another User said:

Just make wiser purchasing decisions.

Thank you, this is excellent advice and is exactly why I am pursuing this licensing issue. The product meets my technical requirements. It currently does not meet my licensing requirements.

Once I determine whether this issue can get resolved to my requirements then I'll make a purchasing decision beyond what I have already made. If the licensing issue is not resolved then I may still decide to buy, then again I may not. But at least I'll have addressed the issue to my satisfaction.

There is nothing wrong with raising legitimate concerns about the product or its license restrictions.