Simviation Thief?

[flyboy 28]

As is always put in the Readme of each download, or should be if they don't want their hard work stolen, the creater puts "This add-on if freeware and may not be sold"... Or somthing to that effect... If they don't put that, I'm sure that some devious person out there will sell it to make a profit... :-/

But then again, so goes life...

[Politically Incorrect]

Odd that this is the first topic I read tonight,
I just got done looking at Ebay (US) and noticed someone selling add-on aircraft (20) for a starting bid of 99 cents.
Allot of those planes I have seen before.
I guess maybe I should go back and see if they are payware/freeware.
Hagar had the right idea, contacting the rightfull owners of the add-on. Maybe we all should do that if possible, it might possibly deter these thieves from capitolizing on someones work.
We all owe thanks to the people that give us freeware, and it makes me sick knowing that people have the nerve to make a buck off it! It this kind of thing keeps up freeware may become a thing of the past!!

[flyboy 28]

Fret, I don't think that's very likely... For one, most of the people design wonderful add-ons for free... i.e., Kirk Olssen, Dean Reimer, and companies like SGA...

(And Mark! Whoo! Go Blue Thunder! )

[SilverFox441]

Apparently he has at least 6 copies of this disc for sale..

http://cgi6.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... =3&rows=50

That makes it something other than re-packaging (which most freeware designers, including myself, allow as long as there is no profit)....

[Hagar]

We all owe thanks to the people that give us freeware, and it makes me sick knowing that people have the nerve to make a buck off it! It this kind of thing keeps up freeware may become a thing of the past!!

What I saw was mostly payware, not that this makes it any more serious. I mailed Abacus, Aerosoft, PSS & UK2000

If he's doing it with freeware too there's no way I can identify or contact individual authors with something on this scale. There's not much they could do about it anyway. This guy is obviously running a long-established & apparently successful business. The payware people stand the best chance of stopping it.

[Delta_]

If that add-on stuff is freeware (payware he does not own) that would mean he is in direct violation of the law that states that you can not sell somebody elses software without their permission and a license from MS to sell add-on stuff.  He could get a lawsuit from MS.  Has anyone reported it to MS yet?

[SilverFox441]

Is there a way that the designers involved can complain to EBay?

[Delta_]

I think we should get all the designers to contact MS complaining that their add-ons are being sold as payware and with out their permission, on e-bay.  Then MS will contact e-bay and get the details of the person in question and sue them.  

[Hagar]

From what I can see of the disk in question it's mostly payware. This is a direct violation of commercial copyright that will be taken far more seriously than freeware piracy by the law agencies. I've already mailed the affected companies I can identify without acknowledgement or reply so far. This has nothing to do with Microsoft.

[Craig.]

microsoft could get involved if, the CD cover uses an exact copy of the flight sim box i believe. Been a long time since i done law so i am not upto speed on the latest rulings. Its interesting to note, that he reacts harshly to the negative comments on his site.

[Hagar]

Don't bank on M$ being interested. They have far more important things to worry about. If the affected payware companies can get together they might be able to do something. This is nothing new & they might not think it's worth the bother or expense. He could easily change his identity & carry on as before - ad infinitum. Even if they could stop this guy there are plenty more where he came from. It's a sign of the times I'm afraid.

PS. I have no idea what the reserve is but with a limited customer base & a current bid standing at

[Delta_]

He needs a payware licence from MS to sell add-ons for FS, i guess he does not have one, because he would not be selling 6 copies on e-bay would he if he did have such a licence.

[Hagar]

He needs a payware licence from MS to sell add-ons for FS, i guess he does not have one, because he would not be selling 6 copies on e-bay would he if he did have such a licence.

I think you're missing the point here. This has nothing to do with Microsoft. I would not expect them to be interested. This person is offering illegal copies of commercial software for sale. The only ones affected are the legal owners/distributors of the original software. I don't think it would be illegal to offer a genuine copy of the software for sale - any more than it would be illegal for me to sell my own FS98 & CFS1 that I have no further use for. I often see 2nd-hand software on sale in the local software & charity shops & would have no hesitation in purchasing it.

I know very little about payware FS addons. I'm not convinced that every small outfit offering their own FS addons for sale perfectly legally have (or need) a licence from M$ in order to do so.

[Saitek]

I agree with you Hagar. Let's remember poor old Bill Gates is facing a whooping

[Sam 400]

Hey.

My friend has FS2002 and FS9. He hasnt got internet because he got hacked and then when he got that sorted got a Virus which destroyed ALL of his Files. No wonder he doesnt trust it anymore.

He comes over to my house now and again an I download some freeware files for him then put them onto CD's. No money changes hands. He keeps the CD's on the side and no-one else borrows them.

I just wonder if this is breaking a Freeware world code?

If it is I'll stop it and have the disks back.

Sam