is it legal to produce content on educational license vegas then sell it?

[Yi Fong Yu]

well is it? i'm a student and i can buy either academic version or regular commercial edition. which should i buy if i plan to produce content that i want to take around festivals, sell to make money, etc?

[Graeme Nattress]

If you're making money with it, then you should buy the commercial version. Professionals don't have the cheap option of buying an educational version - they're for people who are just learning, and for them to do payed work with it, often undercutting on price, is very unfair, and could even get you a bad reputation before you set out on a career.

Graeme

[Boyd Ostroff]

I agree with Graeme in principle, but the real answer to your question can only be found by reading all that fine print in the software license...

[Yi Fong Yu]

just wondering. thx.

[Imran Zaidi]

According to Sony's site, to qualify for an academic license for their software, you have to be one of the following:

- College Students: Matriculating college, university, and career school students qualify for academic pricing.
- High School Students: Currently enrolled high school students qualify for academic pricing.
- Faculty/Staff: K-12 and all post-secondary faculty and staff members qualify for academic pricing.
- Non-Profit Organizations: Available to organization (not individuals).


From what I could see, there was no limitation on what you could do with the software. I don't see any ethical or other considerations that should hinder you from pursuing anything you want with the software if you legitimately purchased it under Sony's limitations; i.e.; you fit one of the categories above. They set the rules, and if you obey their rules, you are A-OK.

Academic licenses aren't just for learning. It's a benefit provided to you by a company under the assumption that most students, faculty/staff, and non profit organizations do not have the monetary resources that a corporation may have. In addition, users they capture now, will continue to use their software for years to come. You shouldn't feel bad for taking advantage of their generous offer. It is a well thought out expense for them.

Once you are no longer a student, it would be nice for you to reward that company with your product loyalty, but that also is not required. But chances are you will, because that's the software you know, and that's what they're banking on.

[Yi Fong Yu]

IMRAN. i'm in college right now. i have 3 more years to go. i'll def take advantage of the software academic price. thx for advice.

[Peter Moore]

You'd have to check the license. In general, in the absence of a license prohibitng you from commercializing your work, you are free to do with your original work what you want regardless of what software you used to create it, including educational versions.

[Yi Fong Yu]

peter, i think if you are using illegal software to create your content, that just doesn't feel right, know what i'm saying? thus i have to pay dues somehow to make it legit somewhat.