Intuit advocates PIRACY?

During the course of its installation TurboTax d/l'ed a series of updates, and as I perused the list of issues they corrected "Why is my rejected return being counted as one of my 5 e-files?" caught my eye.

Unless I'm totally misunderstanding this

Quote:

If you have already attempted to re-transmit your rejected returns and are seeing this message about exceeding your 5 e-file limit, you will need to print the return and file by mail or use a different computer to complete the e-file process.

and this

Quote:

[....] If you are in this situation, you would also need to either print and mail the return or install TurboTax on a different computer to finish the e-file process.

Intuit has been backed into advocating piracy of its own software. (Emphasis added in both quotes)

I doubt that they're terribly happy about having had to post that (and I wonder what other possibilities they've now alerted users to).

The TurboTax_2009_EULA.pdf says

Quote:

2. Supplemental License Grant and Restrictions. In addition to the General License Grant you may: (I) install and use a copy of the Software on one or more computers owned by you (at home or at work)

it looks like a case of "tell our users to violate our EULA", or "tell our users how to circumvent one of our revenue-generating product limitations". Obviously the former wins over the latter.

Originally Posted By: Virtual1

it looks like a case of "tell our users to violate our EULA", or "tell our users how to circumvent one of our revenue-generating product limitations". Obviously the former wins over the latter.

Look again:
â€œone or moreâ€

Originally Posted By: Virtual1

....or "tell our users how to circumvent one of our revenue-generating product limitations".

I wonder. I use a different product than TurboTax whose product can't be used for more returns than the specified limit unless the software is repurchased. If it's the same with TurboTax, then perhaps it's just marketing. i.e. The greater the number of machines it's installed on, the greater the chances of a new customer signing on.

ryck

Originally Posted By: cyn

The TurboTax_2009_EULA.pdf says

Quote:

2. Supplemental License Grant and Restrictions. In addition to the General License Grant you may: (I) install and use a copy of the Software on one or more computers owned by you (at home or at work)

The "piracy" is not the action of installing the software on a second machine, but that of using the second installation to exceed the 5 e-file limit.

Originally Posted By: Virtual1

it looks like a case of "tell our users to violate our EULA", or "tell our users how to circumvent one of our revenue-generating product limitations". Obviously the former wins over the latter.

It's more like vise-versa. (See my response to cyn.)

> I use a different product than TurboTax whose product can't be used for more returns than the specified limit unless the software is repurchased.

Just to clarify, my TurboTax Deluxe allows the preparation and printing of an unlimited number of Federal and state (just one state, though) returns, but Federal e-filing is limited to five returns. (State e-filing is not an included option...$20/state return e-filed.)

> If it's the same with TurboTax, then perhaps it's just marketing. i.e. The greater the number of machines it's installed on, the greater the chances of a new customer signing on.

I'm not sure I follow you there. (The additional installations are on machines that are also owned by the software's owner, so from where's the benefit to be derived?.)