Don't Pay Twice 
a campaign to educate Business Objects users

BO has a new program that attempts to impose an invisible 'tax' on all Crystal Reports training done by anyone.  This will increase your training costs while reducing your choices.  The worst part is that it is based on a new and contradictory interpretation the Crystal Reports license.  This page is designed to expose the program, and encourage you to provide feedback to Business Objects management.  If you have something for me to add to this page, please drop me a line.

My original article on this topic.

Read the standard response sent by Beth Christopher of Business Objects, along with my comments.

On a related topic, new restrictions placed on Regional User Groups who invite independent speakers.

The Response from the Board of the DC Area Users Group to both policy changes.

Feedback from other users.

Official Response from Business Objects that contradicts Dan Klein's statement that public classes violate the EULA.

A court ruling that contradicts BO's policy on the use of Screenshots.

Companies that are ignoring the new programs.

An article on this by itBusiness magazine in Canada.

Another article on this topic by the Business Intelligence Pipeline.

A GREAT article on this topic by CRN incl
uding copies of the lawsuit and countersuit mentioned in the article.

The views of Tek-Tips Users on this topic.  Post your own comments.

A letter circulating among accounting VARS that deal with OEM versions of Crystal Reports

George Peck gives his opinion in a letter to user groups (PDF)

A list of key decision makers at BO (let them know what you think).



If you want to read the actual documents involved, I have posted copies provided to me by several of my readers:
The letter from BO (pdf) to training companies announcing the CLA.

The full Classroom License Agreement (CLA) text (pdf).