Unless LM adds a section in the EULA for home users (general consumers)...

 

As I understand the situation, this is going to happen on the order of never.  Microsoft sold the code to Lockheed Martin under terms that allowed only for commercial use, excluding retail marketing.  They don't want competition for FSX, which is now unsupported, but still readily sold.  Lockheed Martin has appeared to make the definition of commercial user as vague as possible to allow almost anyone to partake (i.e. the academic licenses, home training for real world pilots).  However, unrestricted sales will move them to a retail market and be against the sale agreement for the code. 

 

It is possible that Microsoft at some point will lose enough interest in MS FSX that they will be willing to forfeit further income and allow P3D to compete directly, but I don't see that happening soon, nor do I see Lockheed Martin being overly interested in initiating the legal process to change the initial agreement.

 

Given this, I fully understand PMDG's stance.  While P3D is proving viable currently, at any moment that Microsoft wants to scrutinize Lockheed Martin's compliance with the sale agreement or Lockheed Martin get's nervous and wants to protect itself more, effectively all hobby users may be cut off.

 

I don't know that P3D is or is not the next platform, but it is a bit of a shame, as it does seem to be making some fairly large advances over FSX and is largely backwards compatible.

 

 

If a plane were to crash and the NTSB found out the pilot had trained using a P3D-based simulator running a PMDG addon, guess who would be the first one on the chopping block? Yep, PMDG. So it's easy to see why they won't go for it.

 

Imagine this scenario: a pilot lands on a freeway causing extensive damage and  a memorable traffic jam (no injuries). After a few days, during a hearing a judge wants to know who to blame (and charge) for the mess, and the pilot says:  "I have been practising this leg on XPlane training version scenery for days: I swear there is a runway here!" And so Laminar Research get sued.

 

You are free to believe it, but I am equally free not to.

If a plane were to crash and the NTSB found out the pilot had trained using a P3D-based simulator running a PMDG addon, guess who would be the first one on the chopping block? Y

 

The dumb pilot obviously and whoever let him/her to fly the airplane. Although I know the legal system in the US can be a total joke I still doubt any developer would get into trouble for that. 

 

Also this is what my PMDG 777 manual already reads:

 

For Simulator Use Only

 

Thus PMDG is not responsible if some 777 pilot would start flying a real one based on their manual and crash it. 

 

 

 

Regards

 

Joona L

1. P3D is NOT for entertainment purposes. We all know and agree with that right? Right?

 

Now that we know that, here is some text from page 2 of the NGX introduction manual. (relevant text bolded by me).

 

2. "This manual is not to be used for training or familiarity with any aircraft. This manual is not assumed to provide operating procedures for use on any aircraft and is written for entertainment purposes."

 

Seems clear to me. PMDG simply chooses the entertainment space.

Is the first post here exactly the same as a thread started earlier?

Yes, but that doesn't seem to deter some posters.

I won't get into the silly debates over the P3D or PMDG EULA's.  The truth is, in the court system, you can sue anyone for almost anything, and if your pockets are deep enough, you can cause the other party a LOT of (financial and emotional) pain.  This is due to the hard work and diligence of the Trial Lawyers' lobby.  The ultimate 2,000 lb. Gorilla.  Upset about medical costs?  Guess why they're so high?  Malpractice premiums!  Where do malpractice premiums come from?  Lawsuits.

 

So while it seems inconceivable that a suit could arise over products that have "for entertainment use only - not for real world flight" stamped all over them - there is always the danger that some legal beagle might twist things around somehow and not in a good way.

 

Thus, if you see a developer (be it PMDG or LM or Laminar or whomever) shy away from something that seems to be logical from a purely economics perspective, it likely is that stronger minds have prevailed, and the party in question chooses prudence over exuberance.  

 

Objects that we grew up with as children are now considered too dangerous to play with; razor- sharp metal edges that we all dealt with in the early days of cheap PC cases come to mind.

 

Given the legal climate, it's really amazing that ANYONE invents and then builds and markets ANYTHING.  

I'm inclined to agree. Every version will be the same old girl with new makeup and a different dress.

It is DX11. This alone will cure lots of problems, even if it is not 64bit. OOM's will be history.

This is not a topic open for debate on this forum. Post about it again and you will banned.