Installing on Multiple Computers

I purchased Final Cut Pro X, but i'm working together with a friend of mine as a freelance business

i want us both to use final cut pro x

we both have macbook pro's on lion

how many computers am i allowed to put final cut pro x on, and if more than one, how would my friend put it on his computer?

would he just log into the App Store, sign in as my name, then download it, then sign back out of my name on the App Store?

or if this is not allowed please let me know, i don't want to be doing anything i'm not suppose to do

You are allowed to install FCPX on multiple computers (not sure if there is a limit) provided you purchase the application and are installing it on your computers. Giving it to a friend to install on his computer would be a violation of Apple's End User License Agreement.
I suppose if you and your friend form a business and each of your computers belonged to that business then that may suffice as being legitimate.
You might call Apple directly and ask them what, if anything, you could do to be compliant with using the app on both computers.

yea, cause being able to install it on more than one computer would be great, but if the other computer has to be mine, what's the point? i can only edit on one computer at a time, i need someone else to edit on the other computer. and it would be insane of me to have to buy my friend a computer just to use the program, when he already has his own computer. seems like a waste of money, and a lot of confusion.

5 is the limit. It's the App Store/iTunes limit. You are allowed to "Authorized" up to 5 computers on your account. As long as you have that computer "legally" authorized for your account, it can download and run FCP X.

That's not the way the FCP license reads. It explicitly says that it can be installed only on a computer owned and controlled by the end user. Nothing about a five seat license.

Actually FCP X does NOT have a single seat license. In only one commercial/educational scenario does it limit to one seat, but all other scenarios describe a 10 "device" seat license, but only 5 of those can be "computers".

FCP X agreement:
"2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, unless you obtained the Apple Software under a volume license, maintenance or other written agreement from Apple, you are granted a limited non-transferable license to install and use the Apple Software only on Apple-branded computers that you own or control in accordance with Mac App Store Product Usage Rules located at: www.apple.com/legal/itunes/ww/ ('Mac Usage Rules')."

The problem here is, there is not such "Mac Usage Rules" heading or reference in that linked agreement. Here's what I am able to find.

App Store agreement:
"Association of Associated Devices is subject to the following terms:

(i) You may auto-download Eligible Content or download previously-purchased Eligible Content from an Account on up to 10 Associated Devices, provided no more than 5 are iTunes-authorized computers.

(ii) An Associated Device can be associated with only one Account at any given time.

(iii) You may switch an Associated Device to a different Account only once every 90 days.

(iv) You may download previously-purchased free content onto an unlimited number of devices while it is free on the App and Book Services, but on no more than 5 iTunes-authorized computers."

And:
"MAC APP STORE PRODUCT USAGE RULES

Except as otherwise set forth herein,

(i) If you are an individual acting in your personal capacity, you may download and use an application from the Mac App Store (“Mac App Store Product”) for personal, non-commercial use on any Apple-branded products running Mac OS X (“Mac Computer”) that you own or control.

(ii) If you are a commercial enterprise or educational institution, you may download a Mac App Store Product for use by either (a) a single individual on each of the Mac Computer(s) used by that individual that you own or control or (b) multiple individuals on a single shared Mac Computer that you own or control. For example, a single employee may use a Mac App Store Product on both the employee’s desktop Mac Computer and laptop Mac Computer, or multiple students may serially use a Mac App Store Product on a single Mac Computer located at a resource center or library. For the sake of clarity, each Mac Computer used serially by multiple users requires a separate license.

(iii) Use may require sign-in with the Apple ID used to download the Mac App Store Product from the Mac App Store. Mac App Store Products can be updated through the Mac App Store only."

The App Store sorting is vague, but the FCP license is clear. You can only install it on an Apple-branded computer that you own or control. If you own 10 computers you can put it on 10 computers.

It's in the App Store license as well "personal, non-commercial use on any Apple-branded products running Mac OS X (“Mac Computer”) that you own or control."

The whole license is a joke actually. There are large sections that appear in and have appeared in every FCP license that prohibit commercial use for MPEG material. Clearly that's only been honored in its breech.

Tom Wolsky wrote: If you own 10 computers you can put it on 10 computers.

No, it's very clear, 10 "devices" but only 5 of them can be "computers".

And with FCP X, there is no mention of MPEG usage any more.

I guess the other devices will apply when the iPad version comes out. I guess for schools that own the computers the five computers per license applies.

Sure the MPEG strictures are there in part 11:

11. Third Party Notices.
A. Portions of the Apple Software utilize or include third party software and other copyrighted material. Acknowledgements, licensing terms and disclaimers for such material are contained in the "online" electronic documentation for the Apple Software, and your use of such material is governed by their respective terms.
B. MPEG-2 Notice. To the extent that the Apple Software contains MPEG-2 functionality, the following provision applies: ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT OTHER THAN CONSUMER PERSONAL USE IN ANY MANNER THAT COMPLIES WITH THE MPEG-2 STANDARD FOR ENCODING VIDEO INFORMATION FOR PACKAGED MEDIA IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED WITHOUT A LICENSE UNDER APPLICABLE PATENTS IN THE MPEG-2 PATENT PORTFOLIO, WHICH LICENSE IS AVAILABLE FROM MPEG LA, L.L.C., 250 STEELE STREET, SUITE 300, DENVER, COLORADO 80206.
C. Use of MPEG-4. This product is licensed under the MPEG-4 Systems Patent Portfolio License for encoding in compliance with the MPEG-4 Systems Standard, except that an additional license and payment of royalties are necessary for encoding in connection with (i) data stored or replicated in physical media which is paid for on a title by title basis and/or (ii) data which is paid for on a title by title basis and is transmitted to an end user for permanent storage and/or use. Such additional license may be obtained from MPEG LA, LLC. See www.mpegla.com for additional details.
This product is licensed under the MPEG-4 Visual Patent Portfolio License for the personal and non- commercial use of a consumer for (i) encoding video in compliance with the MPEG-4 Visual Standard ("MPEG-4 Video") and/or (ii) decoding MPEG-4 video that was encoded by a consumer engaged in a personal and non-commercial activity and/or was obtained from a video provider licensed by MPEG LA to provide MPEG-4 video. No license is granted or shall be implied for any other use.
Additional information including that relating to promotional, internal and commercial uses and licensing may be obtained from MPEG LA, LLC. See www.mpegla.com .
D. H.264/AVC Notice. To the extent that the Apple Software contains AVC encoding and/or decoding functionality, commercial use of H.264/AVC requires additional licensing and the following provision applies: THE AVC FUNCTIONALITY IN THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED HEREIN ONLY FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AVC STANDARD ("AVC VIDEO") AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR AVC VIDEO THAT WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE AVC VIDEO. INFORMATION REGARDING OTHER USES AND LICENSES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MPEG LA L.L.C. SEE HTTP:// WWW.MPEGLA.COM .

Oh crud, it is still there. Well, according to all of that, we are all using it illegally. Ugh, lawyers, I can live without them...

There is a commercial/educational bulk license plan that works differently. I just helped LSU (Geaux Tigers) install multiple licenses for their AATCe program, and it was just sold under this same commercial/educational bulk plan. It's a royal PITA. Apple required them to buy 10 licenses minimum to get the discount/bulk plan. They have 10 iMacs. BUT, we were told it is possible to apply one code to 5 machines. We put one on each to be safe, but yes, it's a mess.

I was referring to this. Maybe not a EULA, but the SLA (or more appropriately the ALA).
Just a screen shot as I was unable to copy and paste the text.

Yes, I quoted from that, and it points to the link for the Mac App Store info. But yes, you can not under any conditions "give" your copy to anyone to put on their computer, period.

In fact, if you do, the Share menu is disabled. I've caught many folks trying to get support from me about FCP X who were using bootleg copies this way. If someone says their Share menu is totally grayed out, I refuse to support them. Share only works when FCP X is running on a Mac that it is authorized to run on.

I believe the license is a user specific. One user (no limit to the computers). This is designed so that if you are like me, you can have FCPX on both your desktop, laptop, and home desktop computer.

For your friend, I think it's a bit in the shady territory. CAN you do it? Probably. Legally? I don't think so.

The program is only $299. And while i realize that is a lot for many people, let's remember that many of these tools were 3x that price a year ago.

Let's keep in mind that the competition is 3x that price TODAY!

"One user (no limit to the computers)."

No, the license agreement is quite clear, anything you purchase from the Mac App Store is licensed for 10 "Devices" you own and control, and only 5 of those can be "Computers".