See what you think?

[ivormills]

I was browsing Ebays UK site searching 'flight simulator 2004' and came across these 'Flight Simulator Addons'

I had a look on a couple of download sites, here, flightsim.com and avsim and, yes you guessed it, the aircraft being sold on ebay appear to be freeware aircraft by various authors. Thay may have given permission, but I doubt it, as most include the standard copyright message:

COPYRIGHT & DISTRIBUTION & OTHER LEGAL STUFF:

This aircraft is being distributed as Freeware. It may be freely used
as long as it is not sold or included in any package requiring monetary
compensation, and all original files are included, including this license.

The files included in this package are copyrighted to IFDG. They are not
to be included in a commercial package, compilation CD, or any other kind
of distribution for which money is charged or to be included on a website
that is not accessible free of charge, without the written permission of
the Author.

You are not allowed to use software to break down the model file into an
editable source file of any kind.

Have a look and see what you think, it may all be approved by the authors and above board, but if not, it is ripping off the talented people that give all us serious flight simmers great enjoyment, and should be stopped.

[img]C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\PAI\ebay1.jpg[/img]

The entries above are from Ebay today.

Ivor

[garymbuska]

Just one of the many reasons I do not go to EBAY.
They do not care how anyone gets the product that they are selleing are if they even have it to start with.
But like you said it might be above board but like you I rather doubt it.

[BFMF]

People have been doing that for years now :-/

[simonmd]

There is two sides to this. A, yes they are freeware and therefore should not be sold for profit. I'm sure the authors either gave no permission or even if the did do not get a share of the sales.

B, However, these people do claim NOT to be selling the AC themselves but are asking you to pay for a 'service'. They say that the money charged is for the CD, time and postage.

For those still on a dial up internet connection, this is a more practical way of increasing you aircraft library as one decent plane can take anything upto 2-3 hours to download assuming you don't get cut off at 90%! I myself was only able to get BB in Oct last year and so know how difficult it is to download any large file. I don't agree with it but do understand why sdome people do buy them.

[KDSM]

LOL never thought of that  ;D

[Marlin]

2-3 hours to download assuming you don't get cut off at 90%!

Or more!!! That's why I usually ask questions about the craft before I invest the time.

I still haven't found a free ware download manager that works here and no nodes. I use it not as a time thing, but as a internet disconnestion insurance plan. Otherwise the old lady will pick up the phone when there is 99% complete.  ::) Don't laugh, it's happened! LOL :-/

But I have to say that I have not, nor will buy any of these items from E-bay or anywhere else like that.

[BFMF]

Hey, I've got a slow internet connection. The fastest I can get is a 26.4 k connection.

To solve the problem with downloading large files, I use a download manager, and download at night. It can take a while, but if you want to download something bad enough, you can find a way.

For example, a developer released a couple mesh files for Alaska, but they were over 1.2 gigs in size. I had to download them twice because the files were bad the first time. It took a while, but it shows that if there's a will, there's a way

[Katahu]

However, these people do claim NOT to be selling the AC themselves but are asking you to pay for a 'service'. They say that the money charged is for the CD, time and postage.

That's a loophole that pirateers exploit in order to avoid being sued or get in trouble. It never costs money to burn the amount of calories it takes to click-drag-and-drop an addon from folder to CD with just a simple mouse.

Ever since the Enzo Ferrari was released here in SimV, AvSim, and Flight Sim, it was quickly discovered that someone ripped it off by selling it without written permission [my permission]. But aparently, it was legal for that bastered [the one who ripped off the Ferrari Addon] to sell it because of one technicality: charging only for service.

Since then, I have imposed new rules on the addons I now make such as the following for the Chevy [released not to long ago at SimV]:

//Distribution and Disclaimer//------------------------

This is a freeware addon and it is intended to stay that way. You can only upload this addon as a freeware to any legitimate freeware site just as long as you mention me and all the people listed above as the authors and that you clearly indicate to others that this addon is strictly freeware only and can only be posted on Freeware sites like Flight Sim, AvSim, etc. Any attempts to distribute this addon [or any part of it] as, or part of, a payware package, or as a product [or part of a product] in places such as Ebay, you will be reported and proper action will be taken.

Due to the recent piracy of the previous addon [the Ferrari], I have stricly limited the distribution rights of this particular addon [the Chevy]. You are permitted to upload and post this addon strictly and only in flight-simulator based websites that provide only freeware addons at "NO" charge in any way, shape, or form. This addon is NEVER to be posted on any website that involves payment of any kind or method [that includes Paypal] for the addons. This includes, but is not limited to, E-Bay. I don't care if you are only charging for either shipping and handling or charging just for your time. You violate this disclaimer, you violate copywrite law.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Even though they will still pirate the addons I make, at least they won't have an excuse for the Ebay admins as to why they sold my addons. One time, I notified Ebay about one violation not long ago. It worked, but the individual was only suspended and the bastard continued his sales when the suspension ended.

[elite marksman]

It worked, but the individual was only suspended and the bastard continued his sales when the suspension ended.

If Ebay gets enough complaints against him they will remove him permanently and block his credit card #. So you still have recourse.

[C]

It's entirely possible that as they've been so specific as to what they are selling they are a) being very stupid because if IFDG find out then they can go straight to ebay without the normal ways of heving to guess what's on the CD, or b) they have permission from IFDG. The best bet would be to send an email to IFDG and see what they have to say.

[gilesh]

Hay Is any one buying them on ebay?

[ivormills]

I did send IFDG an email with a link to the pages concerned on Ebay.

[C]

The best way forward I think.