There might several reasons
occur why customer and SAP would want to deactivate certain functionality provided
with the software. From customer perspective: if there is more than one version
of same functionality (e.g. old feature being replaced by new version of same
thing) customer may want to employ new version of the thing and switch off the
old one. In that case there are some customizing parameters provided (e.g. in
form of tables, system profile parameters etc.) by SAP to support that kind of
switch. Basically in this case it is up to the customer free will which version
of the same functionality want to use.
However there might be cases
that SAP wants to customer pursue to disable certain functionality. This is especially
in case of patent infringement. Other organizations of individuals may claim
ownership of ideas/algorithms etc. used in software. That would be typical case
why software vendor would do that. Recently this happened for SAP’s solution like
R/3, Enterprise, ECC, CRM, SRM, GTS. They
all are using so called hierarchical access feature in pricing and
pricing-related functionality build into above listed solutions. There was a
court trial being held between company Versata
and SAP in the matter of hierarchical access feature. As the trail has been
settled so far US customer of SAP are obligated to deactivate to this functionality. Herewith SAP is providing SAP Notes which automates deactivation of the functionality.
I’m not judging who is
right or wrong in this case. However it is not beneficial for customer of both
parties. As per this example it is obvious how monstrous, chaotic and messy are
patents proceedings are and how time consuming it takes to settle it down.
For more information review following SAP Notes:
1600482 - Hierarchical
access functionality (seems to be main note)
1645516 -
Deactivation of hierarchical access functionality
1645515 -
Deactivation of hierarchical access functionality
1643194 -
Deactivation of hierarchical access functionality
1600091 -
Deactivation of hierarchical access functionality
1599403 -
Deactivation of hierarchical access functionality
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