Problems With Quark's License Data

were noted to us by Mike Swope.

"I came across some unexpected results as our group upgrades to Quark 5 (with what was once a free upgrade to 6).

First, this free-upgrade-to-6 offer has expired, making it now impossible for Quark users to manage their upgrade to OS X and Quark 6 effectively (many creative groups like us are still at OS 9 but eyeing the future for OS X).

Secondly, we own 9 licenses for QuarkXPress. We specifically upgraded 5 of these during the promotion (a very good deal to manage the transition to OS X), but Quark apparently chose 5 of our licenses at random (not the 5 we requested) and upgraded those. So for those groups who track serial numbers-to-machines as we do to assure 100% compliance, this poses a problem as it destroys the upgrade path that we've created in our database to help us track upgrades should this ever be necessary. In addition, Quark only shows that we have 7 licenses instead of 9.

Thirdly, some calls to 1-800-676-4575 that were once answered in Wyoming are now answered in India, with related language-barriers as you can imagine. Quark would not comment on why this is, how frequent, etc. Suggests that some labor is being farmed out to 3rd world countries. Not good for a U.S. business.

Thought you might want to post something about this for your readers who may also run into licensing records with Quark."

Thanks, Mike.