Piracy - The Battle

[Luxus]

You may not use the software to engage in any activity that would violate the rights of third parties.

You can't use XenForo to illegaly download (breach copyright) paid addons. However, you can use XenForo to illegaly distribute addons. The latter falls under the scope of the quoted part of the license agreement.

 

[Syndol]

I don't understand. Are you doing/saying this because you are trying to defend the actions of your website or a site you are involved with, or are you simply playing devils advocate for the fun of it.
I honestly don't get it.

 

[Ingenious]

I am disappointed at the people taking the "if you are innocent you have nothing to worry about" stance here.

People need to understand that it is perfectly legitimate to oppose some of these suggestions from an ethical and privacy point of view. That does not mean we support piracy. It means "We support what you are suggesting in concept, but in the real world, there might be legal issues". A good intention does not mean that idea is workable, legal or ethical in the real world, sorry about that.

We all support developers' rights to be free from piracy and also for them to be able to take action to protect their assets and livelihood. So surely we need to ensure any such system is legally and ethically sound and therefore in the long run cannot be challenged by pirates or those seeking to undermine that process Particularly with ideas relating to revoking licences or changing T&C or running "secret" vetting, you have to be so very, very, very careful to get it right.

Please take criticism of some of the suggestions in the spirit it is intended - the SAME spirit as those who are making the suggestions in the first place

 

[Luxus]

I don't understand. Are you doing/saying this because you are trying to defend the actions of your website or a site you are involved with, or are you simply playing devils advocate for the fun of it.
I honestly don't get it.

Neither of that. I'm just stating my opinion and take part on the discussion. If only one-sided discussions are allowed here, then the mods should tell so and I'm gone.

 

[Luke F]

Personally the thought of un-orthadox call backs and the spying method as whole makes me not want to buy add-on's from certain developers in this thread. I pay money for my server, nor do i know you, so in aspect why should i allow you to monitor my server after giving you money?

Piracy is something like the war on drugs, gl trying but your better of dying before you accomplish something. Not trying to be harsh but i am a small developer/artist myself and piracy affects me to, but what bothers me is the "lack of privacy" some of you are speaking of.

It's a 2 way street, without it many popular software wouldn't have as many paid clients as it does now. Not implying it's a good thing to pirate anything, just simply stating with every - there is a +.

Want more sales and less pirating?
- Advertise more.
- Respect the clients privacy.

There are ways to combat it, but disregarding someone's privacy is quite arrogant and not the route i would go as a developer.

Just my 2 cents.

Just for the avoidance of doubt, I am against any kind of 'calling home', obfuscation or encryption techniques.

Even a serial key system or equivalent is something I'd like to avoid

 

[Luxus]

Just to show you that a forum software can be pretty successfull without any anti-piracy measures: Burning Board doesn't have any call home functions and it's doing very well in germany. They don't even have a place where you can get support for third-party addons in their forum. They don't like Addon developers using their forum to support their third-party addons. In order to give support, addon developers must provide their own support website for their addons in their plugin store. And there sure as hell aren't any measures to tackle piracy of addons. The developers there have it worse than here, and yet there are many successful commercial addons despite of the smaller userbase.

 

[jmurrayhead]

Just to show you that a forum software can be pretty successfull without any anti-piracy measures: Burning Board doesn't have any call home functions and it's doing very well in germany. They don't even have a place where you can get support for third-party addons in their forum. They don't like Addon developers using their forum to support their third-party addons. In order to give support, addon developers must provide their own support website for their addons in their plugin store. And there sure as hell aren't any measures to tackle piracy of addons. The developers there have it worse than here, and yet there are many successful commercial addons despite of the smaller userbase.

Y U NO UNDERSTAND?

 

[Biker]

I find it interesting that a certain site in Singapore is already aware of this thread. Makes you wonder about some of the comments displayed in this thread regarding piracy.

 

[Luxus]

Y U NO UNDERSTAND?

Because of certain people trying to make a point by posting silly images.

 

[akia]

Under English law, software theft/piracy is illegal.

And thats why having a private forum for developers to discuss and black list people is such a bad idea, talk coming into direct conflict with Data Protection Laws.

 

[Biker]

Telling someone that so and so ripped me off doesn't break any data protection law. Anywhere. Period.

 

[akia]

Telling someone that so and so ripped me off doesn't break any data protection law. Anywhere. Period.

right so sharing customer data with 3rd party's without the customers consent doesn't breach dpa laws.

your making accusations of someone committing a criminal act. of course it falls under dpa laws

 

[Biker]

All I have to say is user "X" ripped me off. That doesn't break any laws. The other developers can do what they may with that information, including refusing to deal with user "X".

Ripping someone off doesn't give you any expectation of privacy.

 

[akia]

All I have to say is user "X" ripped me off. That doesn't break any laws. The other developers can do what they may with that information, including refusing to deal with user "X".

Ripping someone off doesn't give you any expectation of privacy.

So why does this have to happen in a private forum then? why does it have to be done behind closed doors, thats what i think people are not keen on, its makes it a closed old boys club.

 

[Kevin]

All I have to say is user "X" ripped me off. That doesn't break any laws. The other developers can do what they may with that information, including refusing to deal with user "X".

Ripping someone off doesn't give you any expectation of privacy.

Saying "I believe that user 'X' ripped me off." will avoid some possible wranglings.

 

[Forsaken]

So why does this have to happen in a private forum then? why does it have to be done behind closed doors, thats what i think people are not keen on, its makes it a closed old boys club.

Because then it is a privacy concerned because the information would be freely available to anyone rather than to people who sell goods on the site.

Some of these arguments are ridiculous.

 

[Biker]

Some of these arguments are ridiculous.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

 

[Forsaken]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Not really, I'm just wondering why they're making such a large deal out of such a small problem.

There really shouldn't be an issue if resource providers wish to have a forum in which they can help other resource providers avoid chargebacks or pirates, as well as bring up issues to the developers directly. It isn't some exclusive club, it's just a measure to help people who invest their time into their products from being hurt by bottom feeders of the Internet.

 

[akia]

Because then it is a privacy concerned because the information would be freely available to anyone rather than to people who sell goods on the site.

Some of these arguments are ridiculous.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

But you if your just saying so and so ripped me off, how is that a privacy concern. Who decides who gets access to the forum.

It just sounds like developers want a area where they can gossip and moan about customers under the guise of protecting themselfs against piracy.

 

[jmurrayhead]

But you if your just saying so and so ripped me off, how is that a privacy concern. Who decides who gets access to the forum.

It just sounds like developers want a area where they can gossip and moan about customers under the guise of protecting themselfs against piracy.

Even if it was, how does it affect you?