-=> Quoting Albert Sodyl to MARK LEWIS <=-

 ML> what he said, albert!! if i were in your shoes, i'd be asking some
 ML> serious questions and looking elsewhere... this has all the
 ML> earmarks of fraud, piracy, and thievery...

 AS> Lets explain it one more time.... I GET THE PROGRAMS FOR FREE... and I
 AS> DON'T CARE HOW HE PUTS THEM ON MY COMPUTER... I JUST want them
 AS> there.... he says he is licensed to distribute software like
 AS> that...especially OS/2. 

Do you understand the phrase "accessory to grand theft"?

Would you buy a brand new "cheap" VCR with *hundreds* of "free" movies?
All of which come on hand labeled cassettes?

*That* is the sort of thing you are involved in here. I don't know
Canadaian law. I do know that under *US* law, if the *retail* price
(list, not discounted or "upgrade" prices) of the pirated software on
your system exceeds something like $1500 (easy enough to do these
days, it could take as few as three programs) you'd be looking at 10
years in prison, and a 5 figure fine.

*Especially* after what people here have told you, you *can't* get away
with a "Why should I have suspected it was illegal?" type defense. Not
that those are worth much in this sort of case. It's expected that a
"reasonable person" *would* know better. Thus your failure to ask
questions isn't a defense, it's looked upon as "willful blindness" and
becomes another nail in the coffin.

Most especially with Microsoft programs, if you don't get the fancy
multi-colored "certificate" complete with the pretty hologram, you are
not legally in possesion of the program no matter *what* the dealer
tries to tell you.

--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30