Using Oracle Software Illegally

Question

Before i start, i just want all of you guys to know i have no intention of using Oracle Software illegaly.
Anyone can download Oracle 10g Software from Oracle's website. Right?
Lets say we have a Company and we need Oracle Database software to run our business. What if our company chooses not to pay a single penny to Oracle corporation and use the oracle software which we've downloaded by hiring an expert DBA. Will Oracle Corporation, ever be able to know that we are using Oracle Database software without paying the licence unless we seek technical Support from Oracle.
Will the freely downloaded Oracle Software work for multi-CPU machines?

Answer 1

In general, yes, once you get past the "prototype" phase, you need to license all your environments. What, exactly, defines the end of a "prototype" phase is obviously a bit sticky, but if you have a "production" environment, that almost always means that the development environment needs to be licensed.
Of course, any licensing questions should really be directed to Oracle Sales, who are the only ones that can provide a binding agreement. There may be wrinkles here based on the laws in your country, your existing licensing agreements, your relationship with Oracle, your particular business model, etc. Should you get caught in a disagreement about licensing, explaining that "some guy on the internet" (whether or not he has a playing card next to his name) told you that something was acceptable is not likely to go over well.
Justin