Freeware/Payware items being sold on through Ebay

[SeaNorris.]

6 Figures?  :( Sorry, I'll do anything I can to help  8)

[Hyperion2]

. 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?

No, no, no.  Pete, you're misunderstanding.  I'm saying that you DO have overhead that you need to cover. So does this guy.  (I think he's going about covering the expenses for his CDs and time spent on making them the wrong way, but there's no crime in stupidity.)

You've got every right to cover your expenses, I completely agree.  What I'm saying is that covering your expenses is what business is about.  

Like I said, I'm not criticizing what you do, Pete.  I am very admirable for your ability to create this site, and your dedication to run it as you did for so long.  (I certainly couldn't have done it.)

But if you look at the nuts and bolts of it, they're both the same thing.  A compilation of freely available files the user can obtain, for a fee.  What makes YOUR way not "shady" is that you're doing it as an optional thing...this guy isn't.

My comments aren't about whether it's right or wrong, just whether it's legal or not...

[Saitek]

Wow, I had no idea it was THAT serious.  I can't believe you were able to keep the site running like that.  You probably have done a premium membership much sooner!

I thought most folk knew that.

However, I am just amazed Pete didn't bring this in long before.

[Saitek]

6 Figures?  :( Sorry, I'll do anything I can to help  8)

Head here. Pete would be very grateful!

[RichieB16]

I think he's going about covering the expenses for his CDs and time spent on making them the wrong way

I don't agree with him covering his expenses in this case.  What I mean is, it he wasn't making the CDs for sale, there would be no expenses to cover.  So, there must be a profit involved-I really doubt he is doing this out of the goodness of his heart.

I thought most folk knew that.

I knew it was bad, but I didn't realize it was 6 figures bad.

[SeaNorris.]

Head here. Pete would be very grateful!

Sure, I'll set up a PayPal account  ;D

[MattNW]

[quote]


But if you look at the nuts and bolts of it, they're both the same thing.

[chomp_rock]

ooh... just realised he is selling a MS update in that pack, which is supposed to be free!

I wish I could blow this over to Microsoft somehow, he'd be screwed if MS found out he was charging for their free software!

[Triple_7]

I contacted the guy earlier.  Friendly little email explaining the situation.  I told him he needs to stop selling and contact all of the designers before doing such things.  Friendly couple of replies.  Sounds like he is going to stop and take my advise...

"Thanks for the advise.  I have got email addresses and will do."

So keep an eye out.  If he starts selling more anytime soon and hasn't contacted the right people then that is when we need to take further action and shut him down.  So enough said for now and let me know if anymore show up from him

If he fails to contact designers and such...Then the gloves come off

[MattNW]

I just got an email from the designer of the Spruce Goose (that was the only designer I knew of on the list). He hasn't given any permission to use his airplane for profit. He also said he can't find any way to contact Ebay or the seller to demand his airplane be removed.


Excerpt:

[quote]Hello, Matt,

[Mozz]

Theres a possibility that the SR was built by me......and maybe the F15 and U2........possibility.

I reckon you should email the guy, and say that you might have developed the aircraft. At least, if it doesn't make him change his ways, it might scare him a bit.

Also, why don't we email GAME and see what they've got to say about him selling what he claims is their software .

[Hyperion2]

I agree, he's probably making a profit, but what everyone seems to be missing is that he's not ONLY recovering the cost of CDs and such...he's getting a financial reimbursement for time spent.

[C]

Got an email back from Just Flight, and it appears he's the same chap who was found selling the same sort of stuff a couple of months ago...

Hi Charlie,
 Thanks for sending the link. I purchased one of these a few weeks ago from
the same guy under a different alias and it is all freeware (stuff like
project A.I. and various stuff from Avsim etc). As strongly as we disagree
with what he has been doing unfortunately there isn't anything that can be
done as none of the content is copyrighted.

Thanks again for your vigilance though and if you do see any other dubious
items for sale please let me know

Best Regards

Richard Slater
Just Flight Ltd.

[chomp_rock]

I still hope MS puts him down with a copyright violation lawsuit and whatever else repeated copyright violation could bring on (maybe a jail sentence). It would serve him right!

[Sor]

I see ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN REMOVED!!!!!! I have emailed this guy telling him to look here. I believe he is sincerly sorry for the upset caused amongst the forum.