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$20,000 dollars of software or licences on a thumbdrive ?

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MathWizard:
In some thread on here, I think some guy was working on embedded systems programming, and then Enterprise software mangement or something. Including stuff with AMD software or something he said he had $20,000 worth of, on a USB thumbdrive, and it broke. And so he would have to buy all the software or licences again.


Now I'm wondering about a legal aspect of this, like, say this thumbdrive had been stolen. Or even suppose it was built into a toy, and some bully at highschool or a bar/night club, decides to snatch it from you, and won't give it back.

Now would that count as stealing $20,000 ? So you could rightfully call the cops right away ?? What if they stomped on it, but had no idea what it was ?

I just hate bullies, so I just thought of that post I read on here.

tom66:
If the replacement value of the thing is $20,000 but the actual market value is less (say $5, it's a thumbdrive) I suspect it would be a criminal damage charge rather than theft but I am certain either way the thief won't be paying for it, because they usually have little to no assets.  So you'd better hope your business insurance covers something like that.

Ranayna:

--- Quote from: MathWizard on April 24, 2024, 08:39:30 am ---In some thread on here, I think some guy was working on embedded systems programming, and then Enterprise software mangement or something. Including stuff with AMD software or something he said he had $20,000 worth of, on a USB thumbdrive, and it broke. And so he would have to buy all the software or licences again.


Now I'm wondering about a legal aspect of this, like, say this thumbdrive had been stolen. Or even suppose it was built into a toy, and some bully at highschool or a bar/night club, decides to snatch it from you, and won't give it back.

Now would that count as stealing $20,000 ? So you could rightfully call the cops right away ?? What if they stomped on it, but had no idea what it was ?

I just hate bullies, so I just thought of that post I read on here.

--- End quote ---
Sure, it is easy to have $20,000, or even $100,000 "worth" of software on a thumb drive. But having the software on the key does not make the key that valuable. Software can be copied at will. If you have your only copy of your irreplacable software on a thumbdrive, i have only few words for you: Reckless and stupid come to mind immediately.
Thumbdrives, especially modern ones, are 99% crap. The crappiest flash chips that are barely usable get used for thumbdrives.

If this "thumbdrive" is a licensing dongle, this may be a bit different, true. But as long as you have a proper support contract, you can always get the dongle replaced, since these things can die even if they are never moved. If you can't get it replaced, the software does not sound very enterprise-y, it sounds like extortion.
If you don't have a support contract in this scenario, and your livelyhood depends on this software, i come back to my previous statement: At best you are a reckless miser.

SeanB:
If you are carrying around $20k on a single drive, with no backup image copy, on at least 2 other media, you are not doing it correctly.

Psi:
A dead license dongle can usually be replaced for a small fee once you return the dead one.
But a lost dongle often results in having to fork out the full cost of a new license (or use insurance).

Mainly because if that was not the case, you could give it to a friend, say you lost it and get a cheap replacement and your friend could use the software for free as long as they stay offline so the lost dongle S/N never gets deactivate in an update.

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