Freeware/Payware items being sold on through Ebay

[C]

[quote]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

[ozzy72]

Every now and again this happens. It is no different to what Ferdy at FSPirate does.
We had someone here try this about a year or so ago, the members ran him out of town.
As soon as people realise that what he is doing is in the grey area of legality most people won't buy. He might make a quick buck but at what cost? I for one would never wish to do anything that would see me alienated from this peer group

[Politically Incorrect]

Im surprised MS has gotten to him yet, he is making a buck on the "Microsoft Bridge Update" LOL

[jordonj]

This is piracy...pure and simple.

[Saitek]

Sure is guys. I started a thread last year on this over someone on ebay.... I'll get the link... (but no - I won't post it back )

Here it is - just over a year old so the ebay link isn't there anymore.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 16;start=0

[Triple_7]

Hmmm.  found an answer to this question quite emusing.

    [b] Q:      "GAME CHARGES

[C]

I see FSPlanet is listed amongst Microsofts recommended links on the FS2004 site...

[Triple_7]

Looking through his other items.  Seems though he also is selling them so you can sell them too :-/

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... eName=WDVW

[Hyperion2]

As much as I disagree with what this guy is doing, he seems to have thought it out very clearly in the process of setting it up.  You're NOT paying for the product, you're paying him for a compilation service.

Sure, it's morally wrong, but legally speaking, there really isn't much that can be done.  He's providing a service, you (the buyer) are paying for said service.  Sneaky, but perfectly legal.  (As far as the freewares go, anyway.  Payware is a different animal entirely, as copying a disc is blatant piracy.  Compiling publically available material is 100% legal.  It's no different than a library late fee, really.)

[C]

Still technically making a minimum of

[C]

Notice the

[Hyperion2]

Charlie, from a legal standpoint, he's not charging for the plane, which is what the readme and the copyright protect.  He's charging for a service.  I have, however, seen clauses in the readme which state that they can not be part of any compilation, so those would be sorta bad to include in what this guy is doing.

I'm not trying to throw Pete under the bus, but really what he's doing is no different than what a site owner does with any sort of premium membership option.  (And I'd hope Pete knows I don't have an ethical issue with his premium membership, I just opt not to use it because my download speeds are pretty good already.)

[C]

Unfortunately the chap didn't do himself any favours by drawing attention to himself in the first place by saying "GAME charges

[pete]

I'm not trying to throw Pete under the bus, but really what he's doing is no different than what a site owner does with any sort of premium membership option.

.. a big difference ... because I have existing & ongoing costs of allowing unlimited users to download ever increasing size files on servers & bandwidth that I have to pay for.

I am not 'cashing in' - I'm trying to maintain this site which has built in costs in running.  The years I ran Simviation without membership have built up debts for me in 6 figures .. get it?

[RichieB16]

The years I ran Simviation without membership have built up debts for me in 6 figures .. get it?

Wow, I had no idea it was THAT serious.