Freeware for sale on eBay again ... ::)

[Mees]

It ain't nice but its ok he calls it the "ULIMATE'' aircraft dow

Mees

[AviaTosterr]

I'm not going be an advocate to this person, but all I think  that is there is nothing criminal that this guy is selling freeware pack of  products.  I think so because every step costs money. For example there many freeware things in this wolrd like something eateble in the woods, or fish in the oceans,
you can pick  it and eat - so go on to the oceans! Ah? No time?
Picking information is like picking something eatble in the woods or in the oceans -  it is time, and time is money.
I'M sorry maybe for unmoral example, but as for this site, it contains FREEWARE products too. But you can see banners and other advertisments here.  What does it mean? That at least site creators have to pay for the hosting, and maybe to earn money by advertising or PR    ;D - its OK and there is nothing criminal... Did site creators  get permission of all ALL developers of freeware producuts to host here for earning money on advertisments?  Or they share with  them profit of sold advertisment? AH? I don't know.
But  all I can say that sometimes it's not so easy to ask permission of all developers - at least because there are too many of them.
So, every work costs money, even to get freeware bananas from the tree!
In this great site we have a lot of those "bananas" in one place  and at least many of us pay some extra cash for the traffic that loads all those banners and ADV. Only birds are singing freeware.  

[JBaymore]

First off.. I have to say that it is hard to really fathom the depth of the piracy problem when you hear so many people trying to rationalize away why taking something that is not yours is perfectly OK when it is onlysoftware or music or movies or other "intelectual property" or "digital media".  :o


[quote]..... but all I think

[xpogi]

Sorry I should just let this rest but I just cant believe how worked up you are getting about this.

Do the authors of the freeware get any remuneration from the owners of this web site for the add-on software that is downloaded? Doubt it... Any money is receive from advertising and dues here goes to maintenance of the web site which is a good thing... this is a good web site.

Does the person on ebay who is selling the CD (with full disclosure that it is freeware) give any payment to the authors for distributing the freeware? No. It is used to pay for the expenses of distribution and, at the price he is charging maybe a cup of coffee and a doughnut while he is working.

As far as the author and the end user is concerned there is no difference between the two. It is after all "free ware" .  How can you steel something that is free as long as you do not misrepresent it when you pass it on to others?  My bank offors $25 for opening a new account.  If I accept it does that make me a bank robber? If I were to send the money to you and charge you a couple bucks for shipping and handling would I be committing fraud?


I have to conclude that the folks who are getting their shorts so knotted here somehow feel threatened by the competition.  Sorry, to an outsider that's just how it looks and that is really petty.

[JBaymore]

Sparky,

I am seriously interested in this whole subject because I am a published author, have been a commercial software developer in my field, and my 'stock in trade" is art... which is all about "intellectual property rights".

[xpogi]

Sparky,

I am seriously interested in this whole subject because...

You are so narrow in your opinions it is hard to believe you have any connection with academia.  For someone so busy you sure have a lot of time on your hands.  More than me.  I therefore shall retire from the subject and let you have the last word(s).  

[JBaymore]

You are so narrow in your opinions it is hard to believe you have any connection with academia.

Thank you... on this issue, being "narrow" is a nice compliment.  ;)

Just yesterday in all day faculty meetings this whole plagerism and "image lifting off the web" subject was really hammered on by the department chairs and the Academic Dean.  It is RAMPANT and all of us are getting tired of it.  Enforcement is a major topic now with the college acreditation folks too.

That is because the casual "it's OK" attitude about this stuff that you see represented here is so widespread.  

THAT widespread acceptance is why the detailed debate is worth the time.  Hopefully someone will read this stuff and think about their actions in the future.  At least then, their actions will have been a conscious choice to disregard the laws.


Sorry to have taken up your time.

best,

....................john

[expat]

A question for the small group of people that champion the sellling of freeware.

If when I write a piece of software and upload it to SimV as freeware, and state it as such, with the usual stuff, not to be sold, or used personal gain etc. Just use it and have fun, do you then think that you have the right to take my work, that I have said is available for free and sell it to line you own pocket

I realise you are not actually doing so (I hope), but as you are willing to defend it, justify it. The guy is not "passing on"; he is selling something that he does not own.  The copies write remains with the author. Also in many freeware packages will be an example below, or words to that effect.

This is FREEWARE. These files are strictly for your own personal, non-commercial use.  Any redistribution, repackaging or reselling of these files in any form is expressly prohibited without the permission of the authors.

Maybe you can explain why you think that this is a worthless statement.

Matt

PS before anyone asks I cannot produce software. Anyone who can is a God of the white magic box that sits under my desk. I am a user of freeware and I am very grateful to people who spend time effort and sometimes money to produce add-ons for people with two left feet, such as myself when it comes to computers.

[MattNW]

The question is, do the authors of the software being sold here know of this activity and does the seller have written permission from all the authors of all 50 airplanes to sell them on his CD?

The last time this subject came up (I'd guess it's probably the same seller at it again), I noticed an airplane that I had recently downloaded and still had the .zip file handy. I contacted the author with a link to the CD and found there was no permission. Most likely this is the case at present.

I didn't notice any disclaimers in the ad saying the CD was sold "with permission". I don't have any of those airplanes so I can't say for sure what the EULA says but if he doesn't have the author's permission (all of them) to distribute the CD for profit then he's breaking the law. It's that simple.

If you are saying the seller isn't making profit then look again at the price. 50 airplanes with a broadband connection how much time is that to download? How long to burn that onto a CD? I can burn CDs all day from one image. Cost of one CD = .50 (buy in bulk). $23 is way more than all these costs added up so someone is making a profit.

[Katahu]

I couldn't agree more. Matt, you have a very good point.

I understand those who have bills to pay and dept to get out of. But those who are charging people $23 JUST FOR SERVICE is just greedy.

[xpogi]

I couldn't agree more. Matt, you have a very good point.

I understand those who have bills to pay and dept to get out of. But those who are charging people $23 JUST FOR SERVICE is just greedy.

The total price with shipping is about $10 US. Well worth it considering it would probably take me about 10 hours to download the fifty aircraft from this site.  Don't know where you are getting the $23 price tag. The add is still there despite the reports of it's demise on this board.  Check for yourself:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THE-ULTIMATE-MS-F ... dZViewItem

You know I may just order one from him to piss you all off!

[afi0yz]

Wow! you know what im am not going to touch this thread with a 20ft pole


but i will say this 310... wouldnt you be pissed if you created something with the intention of it being free, and then someone makes money off it?


ps: might need to lock this tread

[Katahu]

Ok,  I'll correct myself on the price tag. Thank you for reminding me Sparky.

But still, I have a project that requires a lot devotion and attention and about half-year-worth of my time to finish it. I will be stirred up if someone put it up as PAYWARE or any commercially related product when it was meant to really stay as FREEWARE.

As for the 50+ addons. I have broadband. But even with that connection, I have NO intent in downloading 50+ addons all at once. That's just too much. Even for my connection. Besides, a lot of us prefer to download bit by bit, day by day. We may be a bunch of looney toons around here, but we have things to do besides downloading you know [jobs, arrends, church, whatever].

I had dial-up back then, but I managed to download over 100 addons over time, bit by bit, day by day. I was even willing to pull over-nighters if I had to.

EDIT:

PS: I'm done with this thread. Pete, you might want to keep an eye on this thread in case it gets messy.

[AuMaV]

Hi
Most designers/authors of freeware put in a basic copywrite with somthing pertaining to this

This aircraft may not be sold or included on a CD without prior agreement.
This is to give them some control on where their work go's
and how its delivered to the end user.

I can assure you that 99% of the time the orig author never gets asked/emailed or notified.Most times an okey dokey is given but not always

Also if money has changed hands no matter how small,if there is a problem ppl expect instant support and who gets the blistering email yep the author not the distribitor

I as a designer whould personally say yes if asked as this allow ppl with slow connections to maybe get a look at some of my work,it also allows me to be prepared to deal with the problems should they arrive.The bottom line is ppl who do the work dont get asked,its so simple to do
takes very little time
sorry if this has alreay been said  :D
Cheers
Warwick  

[Fozzer]

.....You know I may just order one from him to piss you all off!

Hi Sparky...!

LOL...!

That's the cheeriest statement on this whole depressing thread...Love it... ... ... ...!

Paul....gotta larf... ...!