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damiensmunki · Feb 2, 2008, 11:57 AM

I'm sorry if this has been discussed, but I couldn't find anything about iWork licensing. If I purchase iWork online (i.e. only buy the unlock key for the demo), will I be able to unlock the software on my desktop and my laptop with a single user license? Thanks!
Rob

Art Vandelay · Feb 2, 2008, 12:08 PM

From http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iwork.pdf

B. iWork Single User License. This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software (whether trial or full version) on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time. You may make one copy of the Apple Software in machine-readable form for backup purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original.
C. iWork Family Pack License. This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Apple Software on up to a maximum of ﬁve (5) Apple-labeled computers at a time as long as those computers are located in the same household and used by persons who occupy that same household. By "household" we mean a person or persons sharing the same housing unit such as a home, apartment, mobile home or condominium. This license does not extend to students who reside at a separate on-campus location or to business or commercial users. You may not make the Apple Software available over a network.

Short answer: You need to buy the Family Pack. It's only $20 more.

damiensmunki · Feb 2, 2008, 12:11 PM

Well, that sucks heartily. Thanks for the quick response. Does the CD use a key, or does it function like the OSX disks?

Art Vandelay · Feb 2, 2008, 12:18 PM

Neither. The CD is exactly the same as the downloadable demo. You have to enter a license code to end the demo mode for either one.

damiensmunki · Feb 2, 2008, 12:27 PM

Thanks, Art. I'm a student, and I love that I'm expected to pay twice for word processing software to use on my laptop and my desktop. /sigh corporations...

adamfishercox · Feb 2, 2008, 01:08 PM

I agree it's stupid. That's one thing I like about MS Office v.X... It only doesn't work on both computers if they are both going at once on the same network.

Art Vandelay · Feb 2, 2008, 01:19 PM

You aren't paying twice to run it on two computers. You're paying $20 more to be able to run it on four more computers. Going from $79 for one license to $99 for five licenses is hardly paying twice.

damiensmunki · Feb 2, 2008, 01:24 PM

You've got me there, but I still don't think I should have to pay more to take my word processor with me to class.

mduell · Feb 2, 2008, 01:52 PM

Then don't install it on your desktop. You can take your laptop, with iWork, to class or use it in your room.

damiensmunki · Feb 2, 2008, 02:00 PM

I thought about that, but I don't really want to use the 13" screen on my MB when I'm at my house and my Mac Pro and 23" ACD are staring me down. The bottom line is that, while the additional $20 isn't much money, the policy annoys me.

Art Vandelay · Feb 2, 2008, 02:55 PM

Office has a policy you like. But guess what? It costs twice as much as iWork. That policy comes at a cost.

Also, you have a MacBook and a Mac Pro and you're complaining about having to pay $20 more to have the policy you want.

mduell · Feb 2, 2008, 04:03 PM

It's just a licensing model. They could charge per user if they wanted to ($100?), but instead they chose to go with $80 for the first machine, $20 for the next, and free for the next three.

You could always buy a DVI switch and plug the ACD into the MacBook when you're in your room. Or use VNC from the Mac Pro to the MacBook. Or just piss on the license and install it on both.

damiensmunki · Feb 2, 2008, 04:30 PM

It's not the money. It's the principle of the thing. If I buy the software for personal use, I should be able to use it on my stationary and my portable machines. I'm sorry if my opinion on the matter ruffles anyone's feathers. It's just my opinion. I buy the software for myself, and I use two macs. I'm not buying it for multiple users. /shrug

mduell · Feb 2, 2008, 05:28 PM

You're not buying a license for one user on n machines, you're buying a license for n users on one machine. That's the only licensing model they offer; if you don't like it, don't buy it. There are alternatives with other licensing models.