Does Mountain Lion finally use copy protection, or no?

Just curious, has Apple put copy protection on Mountain Lion (in installation or update availability)? I was talking to my friend about operating systems and mentioned that one of the perks of OS X is that it doesn't have any copy protection, which makes everyone's lives easier. I've always had issues with Windows breaking or rejecting my legitimate license activation, often when reformting, changing hardware, running in a VM, etc. Occasionally I have to call Microsoft, or deal with Windows alerting me that my copy of Windows is illegitimate.

So, again, does Mountain Lion have copy protection now? Do updates or the initial install come through the mac app store and require license checks? How does it work?

I could probably tolerate it either way, but it would be the end of a nice era.

 

There has always been copy protection of sorts on the Macs. VMware and Parallels will not allow you to install and run a version of OS prior to the version that your Mac came installed with. Apple is also HDCP compliant. OS X does phone home to check for licensing.

Microsoft has always been good about their OS licensing. Microsoft still provides security updates to unlicensed versions. Why is it that you think that not having "copy protection" makes everyone's lives easier? Copy protection is good when used properly.

 

I wasn't really looking to start a debate about copy protection and how great it is (or not) that Windows has copy protection. I've already detailed how copy protection in Windows has been a nuisance (for me) and why I am interested to know (for myself) whether or not Mountain Lion includes similar measures. I'm trying to figure out whether the current version of Mac OS X has copy protection. Specifically, I want to know if they have changed the install to require a mac app store account, moved the system updates from Software Update to the Mac App Store, where you are required to have an account, etc.

 

My understanding is that system updates are independent of the Apple ID. For example, a family with macs can have one person buy ML and install it on all their computers and receive future updates regardless of the purchasing Apple ID.

 

Right. As far as I know (and have read), ML is no different than Lion in terms of being able to buy a single copy and install it on multiple systems, that you own, legally. It isn't like Windows where you pay per license but rather you are buying the OS itself and using it within certain specifications. Mountain Lion does require use of the Mac App Store for downloading it and for all updates. Apple isn't going to offer it on a USB thumb drive as they did Lion. Access to the App Store is listed as a requirement for ML so it appears that it requires a valid App Store account. Even then, it appears that you can download ML under one account, install it on a different system, and have that system use another App Store account and still receive updates. ML isn't tied to the App Store account that downloaded it.

 

Confirmed.

I downloaded ML from the app store via my MBP. Then, prior to installing it I copied the installESD.dmg file to a folder on my drive.

Then I installed ML on my machine. After that I used the instalESD.dmg to install ML on another machine in our home, using a different app store account.

No problem.

I later had to revert back to Lion on my machine though because of incompatibilities with some VPN connections to my workplace. Once I get that sorted I'll reinstall ML again.

Other than that, smooth sailing.

*edit: here is another way
How to install Lion or Mountain Lion on multiple computers

 

You guys might want to read the license agreement. You are only permitted legally to install 10.8 on a single computer. The license is easily viewed in the Apple App Store.

 

Maybe you should re-read it because you're completely wrong. You can buy one copy of Mountain Lion through the Mac App Store and install it on every single Mac you own that's compatible. Not 5 Macs, not even 10 but every single Mac you own. Same situation as with Lion.

 

I guess my English comprehension is different from yours. See Section 2 in the attachment taken directly from the Mountain Lion 10.8 License in the Apple App Store. It says one there. Do you see a section the overrides that?

 

Well, maybe re-read it again. HLdan is definitely correct. You're in the right section, though.

 

I would love to be wrong. Can you point me to the section that says I can purchase one copy and it grants me the right to install on an unlimited number of computers? I sure as hell don't see that verbiage so point me to it.

 

You literally already pinpointed it yourself. It's not only in the document, it's in the screenshot you provided. That narrows it down to about 15 lines of reading.

 

More like 5 lines.

 

@ THORS.HAMMER. Not to be "that guy" but I really hate when people don't really read something that they tell others to read and to make others point out that they are wrong when they can easily read what they are telling others to read.
Take a look. Notice that it says that you may install on EACH computer that you OWN or CONTROL. This is for personal, non-commerical use from the Mac App Store.

 

I am looking at the "A" paragraph. I assume you are referring to the "(i)" paragraph.

I guess I don't understand which one applies. They seem to be the exact opposite of each other.

 

You need to read the document, including the title of each section.

 

I like the Apple OS policy. I look at it as their way of giving something back to the users.

You pay through the nose for the hardware but on the flip-side the OS upgrades are fairly cheap and easily distributable. I like it.

I got the upgrade via the "Up-to-Date" scheme for my rMBP. I downloaded the installer and updated my rMBP but I was able to re-download the installer and then use it to my update the OS my wife's iMac which is a couple of years old with no hassle at all.

It's much better this way and I can understand why they do it/can now see why their hardware is more expensive.

 

Hey, no problem. When I started reading the license top down I hit that section (A) that seemed all too clear you only got a license for a single machine. If the section you highlighted overrides that, cool with me. I'm wrong. There, I said it.

 

read A again... it says the only thing about 1 machine but it has a big *if* in there... it says that A only applies if you did NOT buy from the Mac App Store or in a volume license agreement... like if you bought it preinstalled on a machine. Section B covers the Mac App Store license.

 

Okay, here's the thing, after reading your earlier posts I completely understand why you would be a bit confused about that license. While it is pretty clear for the most part, it still can confuse people. I think Apple worded it as "(1) Copy" as to say that they don't want people making multiple DVD copies and installing them all our friend's computers. I do however think if someone wants to pay the $20 and make free copies for all their friends it's a bit foolish to say the least . Apple knows that people like us on these tech forums know how to extract the "InstallESD.dmg" file from the download and burn a copy of it which is perhaps why they worded it as (1) Copy. Obviously they want THAT one copy to be downloaded from the Mac App Store on each Mac you own. That's in their real world, no ours however. .

 

You'll have to provide a bit more information than that.

 

Are we very qualify to intrepret Apple's license for the public? I mean giving the same license to 2 different lawyers and a judge, who all are more familiar with the subject than we are, and they still intrepret it different(ly).

 

Yes, we're qualified. It's written in plain English. It has a single, specific, explicit meaning. Any competent lawyer and any competent judge would agree with the meaning of the language in the document, at least for the section we were discussing.

 

I don't get where all the confusion is here, its crystal clear in what it says.

the bolded parts makes this entire section not apply to normal purchases in the Mac App Store, but does apply to licenses that come with new computers.

it also describes what you can do with virtualization too... but just read the parts I bolded above... if you buy from the App Store you can download and install and use a copy for every single Mac you own.

 

It's extremely clear and well organized. This is obviously why people are having issues.

 

LOL.

Ok, lets let this puppy die down now. It seems clear (now) that you can purchase a copy from the app store and install it on the machines in your home. I am personally liking Mountain Lion on my rMBP. It's performs better than Lion.

Sorry for the snark in my original post on the subject. When I read the license, I misinterpreted the "A" section. My bad.

 

Just wanted to inject another confirmation. When Mountain Lion is put on a thumbdrive, it's installable on additional macs without any verification/activation screens.

Recently upgraded a fresh Retina Macbook Pro from Lion to Mountain Lion via the UpToDate offer. After the App Store download of Mountain Lion, don't install yet. Grab an 8GB USB drive and follow the instructions at ArsTech or YouTube:
How to create a bootable, backup Mountain Lion install disk | Ars Technica

How to Make a Bootable Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 USB Thumb Drive - YouTube


During the last keynote, one of the Apple honchos (Tim Cook himself?) said that they permitted Mountain Lion to be installed in any computer in the household.

With that notion, the thumbdrive was hooked up to the wife's 2011 Macbook Air and the install did indeed fly through without a hitch.

 

I really do hope you know that he meant for the customers to download it from the Mac App Store under their Apple I.D to each Mac in the household.

 

I don't recall the install making that a requirement. Aren't the registration screens optional? I don't recall anything forcing you to supply an Apple ID. Is the upgrade versus new install process (from scratch) different?

 

I have several macs in my household. after i purchased it once, the apple store actually told me i already bought it when it came time for the other machines. I dont know if there is some way to override and actually pay for it twice but apple is not asking you too.

 

Correct, once you purchase it on the MAS you can install it on each Mac you own in your home, however Apple expects you to sign in on the MAS to download it to each machine you own. They are not promoting anyone to burn a copy and install it on every Mac. In fact it's not just a simple burning of the downloaded file, it requires that go into Package Contents, dig down and retrieve the file to burn and Apple is not promoting to do that.

 

man everything is crackable in this IT world today

 

True, and a better way is to use the free (payment requested) Lion DiskMaker to create a bootable USB installer on an 8GB key for you automatically. This article @ 9to5Mac tells you how to do it.

The best way, however, is simply to copy the install app onto a usb key BEFORE you install MLion (when it disappears afterward), and then all you have to do is copy the 4.4GB installer from the USB into the Applications folder on your other Macs and run it. This is how MacWorld etc has suggested since 10.7 that it be done.

This is tacitly approved by Apple (either this way or the Recovery USB they provide the app for) as they recognize that the file size is substantial and can create issues for both slower connections as well as bandwidth-capped purchasers if multiple downloads are taken.

 

why would you need a program to make a bootable USB installer? You can do it right from Disk Utility.

 

True dat. I was about to mention it but I didn't want to get into another debate which of which method is "better". I've always created bootable discs through Disk Utility. Simple and fast.

 

No harm done, guys. Simple and fast, yes.

But, some people appreciate the convenience of an AppleScript that does it for you with just one click and a pretty icon (and, in the case of 10.7, stripped out some non-essential files to make it fit down on a 4GB usb), while other regular/average users may get nervous or just prefer not to muck around with Disk Utility. Plus, for ML you don't get caught as some have in the glitch of requiring one to first mount the installer dmg separately from within the package contents, in order for the DUtility to create the bootable properly (a known issue with 10.8 now, but which is different from how Lion was done).

Any and all approaches will work.