[greglindahl]

When you buy a lot of computing equipment, there's a clause in the contract saying that you can't use it to control a nuclear power plant. Do you own the computer?

[cortesoft]

I think that is because of the law.

This clause is more like Microsoft saying you can't use Windows to write software for Apple computers.

[imtringued]

It doesn't change the fact that you still own the hardware on which the software is executed.

You own the car and the computer but you don't own the autopilot software or windows that runs on the hardware.

[cortesoft]

That doesn't mean people can't be upset that there are limitations placed on how you can use the software. Imagine if you were told you couldn't use Microsoft Word to write about certain topics, for example.