Opinion ID: 77733
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Acquisition of the Units of Software

Text: Novell manufactures computer software called Netware. Novell sells units of Netware, each of which includes a copy of the software and a license to use it, directly to end users, distributors, companies, and government agencies. During the period in which Robertson fraudulently acquired Netware from Novell, the company was headquartered in Utah. To order from Novell, a customer would communicate with the company by e-mail, telephone, or facsimile. Novell offered Netware to educational institutions at discounted prices, which could be as much as 90 percent lower than the retail prices. In May 1999, Novell received a purchase order by facsimile from ACL Learning Center for units of Netware at discounted prices. The order was signed Joe Robertson/ACL Learning Center, and the address for shipment was that of a house in Georgia rented by Robertson's mother, where he then lived and maintained an office with file cabinets, a bed, a computer, copy machines, and a facsimile machine. Novell shipped the units of software and received two similar orders in June 1999, for which it shipped additional units. In August 1999, Novell received a purchase order by facsimile from James Turner of Cobb Academy for units of Netware at discounted prices. As requested in the order, Novell shipped the units of software to a post office box at a Mail Boxes Etc. store. The post office box was rented by Robertson. In November 1999, Novell shipped units of Netware at discounted prices to Fulton County Educational Services, but Novell has no record of how the order was placed. The address for Fulton County Educational Services was, in fact, the address for an apartment complex where Heather Sharpe then lived. Sharpe knew Robertson, although she testified that she never received a package for him, and there was no evidence that Robertson knew Sharpe's address or ever went to her apartment. In February and March 2000, Novell received three purchase orders by facsimile from Jay McGhee of Atlanta City Educational Services for units of Netware at discounted prices. As requested in the order, Novell shipped the units of software to 253 Trinity Avenue, which was actually the address for an apartment rented by Lee Ann Vance. Vance knew Robertson and received at her apartment two or three packages for him. Novell shipped a total of 378 units of Netware to ACL Learning Center, Cobb Academy, Fulton County Educational Services, and Atlanta City Educational Services. Each unit had a unique part number and license serial number. Novell never received payment for any of the units shipped. It is the policy of Novell not to ship software to any customer who has an outstanding balance for more than 30 days.