# I have a free program on my PC. Is it dishonest to download it from elsewhere to use on a new PC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 2, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856 "2020-04-02T03:15:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/1 "2020-04-02T03:15:58Z")
To give a little more info: I have a program I use for screenwriting that I really like. it was a shareware program when I installed it on my current machine, but the provider has since changed it to a cloud-based service that they charge $5 a month for. I unfortunately neglected to save the downloadable .exe file when I installed it. If I migrate to a new machine, would it be dishonest of me to find that .exe file elsewhere on the web and acquire it so I can install the program on my new setup? (it’s widely available.) Under no circumstances would I use the monthly service - it isn’t worth the money for me to pay to use what is basically a specialized word-processor. also, when I first started using it, I did make a donation after I had used it for a bit to make sure I liked it. What do you think? my moral compass came from a box of Cracker Jacks, so I can’t really rely on it. tl;dr - wondering whether it’s dishonest to download an older version of a program that never cost anything, so I can avoid paying a monthly fee for the current version. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/2 "2020-04-02T04:13:20Z")
As long as you don’t use it on more than one machine, I don’t see anything unethical about doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/3 "2020-04-02T05:26:40Z")
If it’s shareware then, in my opinion, it’s meant to be shared. Even if the developer no longer hosts that version directly on their site. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/4 "2020-04-02T10:05:03Z")
The program is almost certainly licensed to you, not to a particular machine. If you are legally using it on one machine you can legally use it on another. You can probably find the license terms somewhere in the program, or in the directory where it’s installed. Read it and see what it says. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/5 "2020-04-02T11:47:44Z")
If the older shareware program is no longer distributed by the author, then IMO it’s unethical to download it from elsewhere to avoid paying for it. If you had saved the installer it would be more acceptable. You have no inherent right to continue running a free program by taking immoral actions. Downloading a pirated version isn’t kosher. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/6 "2020-04-02T12:34:35Z")
The old version should still be share-able (such provisions generally don’t expire). And if you paid the demanded price after the evaluation period (or if it was freeware; you aren’t clear in the OP), you are allowed to use and share that old version as long as you like. The 5$/mo. they are demanding now are meant for upgrades and support. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/7 "2020-04-02T20:08:26Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > The old version should still be share-able (such provisions generally don’t expire). And if you paid the demanded price after the evaluation period (or if it was freeware; you aren’t clear in the OP), you are allowed to use and share that old version as long as you like. The 5$/mo. they are demanding now are meant for upgrades and support. It was freeware, although i did make a donation. the $5 monthly fee is because they have changed it to a cloud-based software-as-a-service thing. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/8 "2020-04-02T20:16:52Z")
You may just be about to copy the folder over from your old computer to your new one. ---
**Author:** ![road\_lobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@road\_lobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/road_lobo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/9 "2020-04-03T09:52:43Z")
> [@Chef\_Troy](#): > > tl;dr - wondering whether it’s dishonest to download an older version of a program that never cost anything, so I can avoid paying a monthly fee for the current version. Is this a joke? It’s not dishonest, unethical, or illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-free-program-on-my-pc-is-it-dishonest-to-download-it-from-elsewhere-to-use-on-a-new-pc/850856/10 "2020-04-07T19:42:22Z")
I am about to get a new computer and I consider it perfectly ethical to copy all my programs over to that. I will still be using them on just one computer.