Avast Free Edition on our systems?

[Jito463]

Greetings.  I would like to know about the legalities of something.  I would like to recommend to the small OEM I work for that we include your free edition of Avast for those who purchase our computers (minding, of course, the fact that only home users/non-commercial users are allowed to use it) then put a link to your registration page requiring them to register it themselves after they get it home.  Since we do not sell any AV software, this would be a perfect way to make sure our customer's have at least SOME form of protection.  However, I do not know if this falls within the scope of what is allowed or not, so I need your feedback.  Is this legal?  Is this considered for home use even though we provide it on systems we sell or would this be considered commercial?  I'm doubting it would fall into the legal category, but I'm hoping it will so I'm posting here.  Your prompt response to this matter would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your time.

[Alchimista]

I found some email address where you can ask more information directly to alwill:

For general information please use info@avast.com.
For sales information please use sales@avast.com.
For technical support please use support@asw.cz.
For web questions please use webadmin@asw.cz.
To send the suspected files please use virus@asw.cz.


Bye.

[shgoh]

don't worry...the alwil team visit the forum daily

[Lisandro]

Alwil offers to their customers to choose the length of the maintenance contract (AVS service) of 1, 2 or 3 years. During this period customer will receive all updates of virus database and upgrades of purchased program for free automatically. In price list you will find three columns titled 1, 2 or 3 years (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_232.html)
Could be volume discounts, there can be a special holiday discount, etc., maybe it'll be great to combine all discounts and of course the free software will be the best... But the software development is very expensive hobby and there should be great number of paying customers to sponsor it. The price lists are competitive and the price/performance ratio is one of the best in the industry.

Like the official statement by ALWIL Software: Our company understand the tight budgets of non-profit, educational, government (why governments are so poor with all our taxes?) and health institutions. We decide to spare them some bucks and there are special discounts for them:

educational & non-profit (charity): 50%
government (including local authority) & heath: 30%
student can receive the educational discount: 50%

But companies in reds (producing no profit, loss only) can't apply for it. I'm writing it, because I was asked more than dozen times for such discount... But we should believe that the institution can apply for these discounts - some approve is necessary. These discount is possible to apply in our online shop too. The special discount code will be sent upon request. And the discount pricing is available for purchases in our resellers too. I believe that it'll clear the problem.
Eduard. Vice-President

[Jito463]

Well, that almost answers my question, but not quite.  Basically, what I'm talking about is us installing the free edition, then putting a link on the desktop for the user to click on to register the program.  Once there, they can decide if they want to register the free edition or buy a full copy.  We wouldn't have anything further to do with it beyond installing it and placing the shortcut.  I hope this clarifies my question for you.

[bob3160]

What Jito463 needs is either Vlk or Igor or someone else from Alwil to answer his very simple question. Does the mere installation of Avast! Home on a Non Commercial customers computer constitute commercial use and therefore would be prohibited. Or, since his company is never the user just the installer, is that within the bounds of non commercial use?
Very simple.

[Lisandro]

You wrote:

Is this considered for home use even though we provide it on systems we sell or would this be considered commercial?

It is very clear in the registration process that AVAST is free for HOME and NON-COMMERCIAL usage.

As far as I know from many legal interpretations and "Terms" agreements, a non-profit organization, although commercially formed, is not considered a "commercial enterprise" which is typically profit based.

Unless the AVAST team states otherwise, I would say this:

This software is released as FREEWARE, but it may not be sold or be included in a product or package which intends to receive benefits through the inclusion of this software. The AVAST HOME files must remain unmodified, unchanged, and cannot be "broken down" and then used in whole or in part of "any other software" without specific agreement with Alwil/Avast.  

Once you register as a home user, you can without reservation, use Avast Home on more than one computer that YOU own.  Any other user on YOUR computer is fine.  But, any user with their own computer even if in the same household should register for their own copy.

Avast licensing scheme there are two conditions which qualify the user for free non-limited usage of our avast! 4 Home. The rules are clear: home AND non-commercial use

1) it must be the home usage - so any organisations (non-profit or commercial) are disqualified.

2) there should not be any commercial activity done on the computer which is to be protected by avast!,
i.e., if you use it to make some profit, you also do not qualify for avast! Home usage, even on the home computer.
So both conditions should be met for free program!

Anyway, you can try to send the e-mail to sales@avast.com and ask discounts there...

In your specific case, maybe it will be better that they talk something about because if you sell a computer to an enterprise you should not sell it with Home version installed. This is my opinion. I'll change it, of course, if I'm wrong.

[rloschmann]

An other option would be to install the Professional trial version. So the computer can be sold to an enterprise as well as a home user. Then the customer is free to register for home use or commercial use by registering on avast web site.

[eda]

Hi Jito463 et all,

there's the requested official statement for installing of avast! 4 Home Edition on the new computers:

At first - conditions and features:

1. avast! 4 Home Edition isn't freeware for anybody. avast! 4 Home Edition is free for home, non-commercial use only. Both these conditions should be met! And each user should promise personaly this kind of usage in the registration form.

2. No one OEM producer can promise that all its customer will satisfy both conditions.

3. avast! 4 Profesional Edition can be downloaded, installed and used 60 days for free. And it can be downgraded to avast! 4 Home Edition by inserting the license key which user'll receive after registration.

4. We offer the affiliate program to our online shop.

And consequences:

1. The OEM'll welcome to download and install the latest version of
avast! 4 Professional Edition
on their computers

2. They include in the form of read.me file or on their Website the differences between both Editions and conditions for downgrading to avast! 4 Home. Usage of links to our Website and pictures from it will be OK

3. They can take part in our affiliate program and make some money from the sales initiated from their site. See:
http://www.avast.com/eng/company/businnes_partners/new_businness_partne/affiliate_program.html

4. Each user can find in this scenario the right edition and the simple way to register or purchase.

Maybe it'll be mor clear now.

Eduard

[rloschmann]

Well i was quite close to official answer (but much shorter)  

[Pavel Baudis]

Well i was quite close to official answer (but much shorter)  

Yep  

Pavel

[Lisandro]

In your specific case, maybe it will be better that they talk something about because if you sell a computer to an enterprise you should not sell it with Home version installed.

Not so far from the reality  

[bob3160]

Good, Jito463 got his answer. Alwil has been heard from and hopefully his customers will become more happy Avast! users.
 
 
 

[Jito463]

Thank you for your response.  That does answer my questions.  I'll pass it along and see what comes of it.  Thank you for your time.

[forjonny]

If I put avast home version on a computer that I just sold and registered with my email address then what will happen in 18 months when it is ready to be re-registered?
Will I get an email or will the person get a message saying to re-register from a pop up?