Freeware/Payware items being sold on through Ebay

[HABU]

I thought I'd post here as its hopefully where everyone looks.......

Although I don't know who made 90% of these I would hazard a guess to say that all of that is being illegally sold. Do they not read the readmes.........

I would guess too that he's copying this CD over and over and making a profit out of everyones hard work.

Very disturbing:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11051&item=8195349657&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[C]

Good spot.

This guy's got the same item in a different Ebay sale too. I've reported it to Just Flight and Alphasim, and the guys over at CBFSIM know too, as by a process of elimination one of these at least has work (be it payware or freeware) on this...

I've also asked the seller a perfectly innocent question, which if he answers yes, admits his guilt, so I await his answer...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31583&item=6962678719&rd=1

If it helps, bombard him with similar questions such as:

"Are these copies of commercial add-ons"

Bombard his "ask the seller a question" inbox with this and he might see the light and bugger off...

[C]

Do they not read the readmes.........

The seller doesn't care - he's out to make an easy buck from other peoples efforts...

As for Ebay, and in the same way that Rana Hossain had an issue with SimV earlier this week, Ebay cannot keep tabs on everything on the site (and it's unlikely they're familiar with the etiquette involved with "freeware" products).

[HABU]

I understand that ebay can't keep track of everything, their business has grown to astronomical levels....... I just wish these people had any idea of how long and how much effort goes into these addons. Theres a possibility that the SR was built by me......and maybe the F15 and U2........possibility.

I guess he reels of a DVD or 10 each week puts them on Ebay and earns himself a quick buck. While it is free to download, he isn't free to sell on.........

[C]

I just wish these people had any idea of how long and how much effort goes into these addons. Theres a possibility that the SR was built by me......and maybe the F15 and U2........possibility.

I guess he reels of a DVD or 10 each week puts them on Ebay and earns himself a quick buck. While it is free to download, he isn't free to sell on.........

As I said, he probably (almost certainly) doesn't really care whether he's free to sell it on or not, as long as he doesn't get caught, as long as his paypal balance keeps increasing and his Ebay feedback gets better...

Thankfully, I think he may have just been caught!

[Katahu]

One thing I hate about ebay is the fact that you HAVE TO register or sign in order to even send a simple e-mail to the admins of ebay concerning this situation.

I tried registering, but I decided NOT TO when the site asked for my credit card number [I have one, but I don't trust them just yet].

How do I contact the admins [if any] without giving out my personal information?

[C]

OHow do I contact the admins [if any] without giving out my personal information?

There isn't much point involving Ebay unless you know exactly what (whose add-ons) he's selling, at which point you can argue that he's in breach of copyright.

As I said above though, once some of the major publishers know, it'll disappear from ebay. A few similar ones have appeared over the past couple of months, and generally they'll disappear in a day or two, as someone sends the seller a discreet email or two informing him of the error of his ways...

[gr31]

 For what it's worth, here's e-bays rules on such items:



Counterfeits, unauthorized replicas, unauthorized items (such as counterfeit watches, handbags, or other accessories) or unauthorized copies (such as copies of software programs, video games, music albums, movies, television programs, or photographs) are not permitted on eBay. Unauthorized copies include (but are not limited to) copies that are pirated, duplicated, backed-up or bootlegged. It is illegal to sell unauthorized copies of media.

Guideline: If the product you are selling bears the name or logo of a company, but it wasn't made or endorsed by that company, don't list it on eBay.

Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:

Listing cancellation
Limits on account privileges
Account suspension


 Having looked at the items this seller is listing though, I really doubt that he cares at all if he is violating copyrights.

[GA_Pilot]

My wife recently ran into this problem, she had purchased what was supposed to have been an unused, and registerable copy of 3D Max, but when she got it, it was copied on to CD-RW discs, so she emailed ebay and paypal about it, and needless to say the person who sold it to her now has her account on ebay suspended, and we found out the person who sold it was in the habit of selling software which she had copied onto CD-RW discs..............

[chomp_rock]

I've seen this before, some of the planes are made by freeware designers like Mike Stone and Mr. Ito (forgot his first name).

Notice in the one item someone asked him if they were copied payware and he totally avoided the question:

Q: Does this pack contain copies commercial add ons (Just Flight, Alpha Sim etc? Also the BAC 1-11 and Meteor, are they by Dave Maltby and Rick Piper?
29-May-05

[jordonj]

I'm registered with e-bay as I broker items for a local woman (she doesn't like computers).

Now all I have to do is find the way to e-mail the administrators...

[jordonj]

Think I found the way...I'll wait for a response...

Pete, any way you could pin this temporarily?

[MattNW]

I notice that his seller ratings are all positive. Only one negative but I can't find the comment. Also it looks like he's sold this before or is selling other similar disks. I wonder if the people who rated him so highly know they are paying for airplanes they could easily download for nothing?  ::)

[Joe_D]

[quote]I notice that his seller ratings are all positive. Only one negative but I can't find the comment. Also it looks like he's sold this before or is selling other similar disks. I wonder if the people who rated him so highly know they are paying for airplanes they could easily download for nothing?

[MattNW]

Call me a cheapskate if you want.  I'm on a slow dialup but I'd still be P.O.ed if someone sold me something I could download myself.  ;D Your right however that he doesn't make any misrepresentation about it. I do however think he overstates his effort. How hard is it if you are on a high speed conneciton to download 50 or so .zip files and burn them onto a CD?

Most freeware designers don't mind others making their work available to people but I sincerely doubt this guy has gotten the designers of all those airplanes to agree to him selling a disk. Considering the cost of a CD he's obviously making a profit. Definately a no, no for many freeware designers. It'd be a totally different thing if he sold the CDs for the cost of the disk and postage.

Actually I saw a similar case not too long ago. Someone was selling, at a very high price, a sim program that was free without the creator's permission. In this case he gave no mention of the fact that it was freeware packaged or even a single credit, mention or link to it's designer's website. Price was in the neighborhood of $90 for a free program.