Trading of Premium Suites - a Copyright 'issue'
Thursday, June 12, 2003 by Jafo | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I have been contacted now on a few occasions from people being asked to 'swap' their premium, purchased suites in exchange for other 'product'.
This is in violation of the artist's copyright in exactly the same way as Kazaa facilitates copyright theft through MP3 distribution, and is unacceptable.
I attempted to contact one of the people who was requesting such but the email was returned 'undeliverable' [using the Wincustomize site profile's contact email]...but, fortunately for the person concerned I managed to hunt you down so you will now escape public censure.
This thread was intended as a last resort of contact, but you have been spared.
However, bear in mind that the purchase of a product does not usually include 'distribution rights' as well, and the unauthorized distribution is a definable 'actual loss' reclaimable through the legal system.
I think one warning is politic, but future occurrence/s warrants Site access rights revision.
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MadIce
Reply #42 Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:10 AM
I am not getting this. I have the right to hide my e-mail address and I am using that. I also have the right to show it to all. Why should there be a problem in the right to show your e-mail to some WC members? That's nonsense.
I am not getting this either. If a submitted skin or wall is rejected then admins do not send a rejection e-mail, because they may get aggressive e-mails. That's a protection and admins have the right to have that protection. But don't argue that members do not have similar protection rights. That is nonsense again.
Reply #42 Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:10 AM
| Because by only allowing people at apprentice level or better direct access to the email addy's of skinners etc, you are directly dis-enfranchising those of us who most need the direct assistance of the skinners when we encounter problems. |
I am not getting this. I have the right to hide my e-mail address and I am using that. I also have the right to show it to all. Why should there be a problem in the right to show your e-mail to some WC members? That's nonsense.
| I'm not sure it's a good idea to hide the email address to people below Apprentice level. |
I am not getting this either. If a submitted skin or wall is rejected then admins do not send a rejection e-mail, because they may get aggressive e-mails. That's a protection and admins have the right to have that protection. But don't argue that members do not have similar protection rights. That is nonsense again.
MarkMcQ
Reply #43 Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:32 AM
Reply #43 Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:32 AM
Occured to me that if these people are too cheap to purchase the premium suite in question, then they've undoubtedly obtained a pirate version of the one(s) they're offering to trade as well.
Lockie56
Reply #44 Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:58 AM
Reply #44 Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:58 AM
My dear Madice, you will also see that I said exactly this further down in my post. If you are going to edit a post, please try to keep the intended context. 
My point was that I did not agree with Admin limiting access to email addys, but that it was the sole right of the individual to institute such measures IF they felt it was necessary! So you see, we are in agreeance on this point!
[Message Edited]
Therefore I would urge you to look look very carefully at ALL the ramifications of limiting email addy access to "The Chosen Few"  before instituting such measures, as some could interpret such actions as smacking of elitism. However, if a member declines to show their email addy in their user profile, then that is their choice, and they have every right in the world to make it.  |
My point was that I did not agree with Admin limiting access to email addys, but that it was the sole right of the individual to institute such measures IF they felt it was necessary! So you see, we are in agreeance on this point!
[Message Edited]
goodmorphing
Reply #46 Sunday, June 15, 2003 11:34 AM
Reply #46 Sunday, June 15, 2003 11:34 AM
Hippy:
That is what I thought.
It is pretty hard to believe that even they believe their rationalization that it is in "trade" letting one item go in exchange for another when you consider the initial post I made.... Hardly sounding like someone who would really consider letting go of the product...
#1 by goodmorphing - 6/11/2003 9:50:09 PM
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! I love it! I really, really do!
Thank you!
| Occured to me that if these people are too cheap to purchase the premium suite in question, then they've undoubtedly obtained a pirate version of the one(s) they're offering to trade as well. |
That is what I thought.
It is pretty hard to believe that even they believe their rationalization that it is in "trade" letting one item go in exchange for another when you consider the initial post I made.... Hardly sounding like someone who would really consider letting go of the product...
#1 by goodmorphing - 6/11/2003 9:50:09 PM
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! I love it! I really, really do!
Thank you!
wulfn1
Reply #47 Sunday, June 15, 2003 12:36 PM
In the interest of others out here in the same boat as I am, I feel I need to respond to this comment, as someone could misconstrue its meaning and target those of us with limited resources.
I am on a very tight budget. I can afford minimum nonessential software etc. I afford internet and computer because I want my children to have the best education I can give them. I say this because not all "impoverished" people are technology deprived. On the other side of that coin. I don't use warez. I purchase programs, usually after trying them and liking them. I am not an endangered species. There are many of us out here who have little of our own but who would never think of taking food out of the mouths of another's babes by stealing.
The person who would do this, is someone with little moral value, and even less common sense. don't lump "impoverished" people into that category.you'll find we have more pride than to stoop so low.
Reply #47 Sunday, June 15, 2003 12:36 PM
| have to agree with GM...most 'folk' who are impoverished are not apt to have a computer or can afford an internet connection |
In the interest of others out here in the same boat as I am, I feel I need to respond to this comment, as someone could misconstrue its meaning and target those of us with limited resources.
I am on a very tight budget. I can afford minimum nonessential software etc. I afford internet and computer because I want my children to have the best education I can give them. I say this because not all "impoverished" people are technology deprived. On the other side of that coin. I don't use warez. I purchase programs, usually after trying them and liking them. I am not an endangered species. There are many of us out here who have little of our own but who would never think of taking food out of the mouths of another's babes by stealing.
The person who would do this, is someone with little moral value, and even less common sense. don't lump "impoverished" people into that category.you'll find we have more pride than to stoop so low.
goodmorphing
Reply #48 Sunday, June 15, 2003 1:41 PM
Reply #48 Sunday, June 15, 2003 1:41 PM
I keep forgetting to mention another thing. We have a lot of young, and inexperienced members here. Getting an email, through the site, proposing something that on the surface seems reasonable seems to me to be a bad sort of introduction to what behavior is and is not acceptable. By association, since it is coming from a respected site, the request might seem to be more of a respectable request than it really is. And by reflection, the Site could to be associated with standards like that, if that is the primary and/or only experience along those lines....
Lockie56
Reply #49 Monday, June 16, 2003 1:29 AM
Sorry mate....must've been overcome with verbosity or sumpin'!!
[Message Edited]
Reply #49 Monday, June 16, 2003 1:29 AM
| #45 by Jafo - 6/15/2003 6:21:47 AM 'agreement', Loci..... (spellcheck thingumy here) |
Sorry mate....must've been overcome with verbosity or sumpin'!!
[Message Edited]
DarkMist
Reply #50 Tuesday, June 17, 2003 4:33 PM
Reply #50 Tuesday, June 17, 2003 4:33 PM
I've had a few e-mails commenting on work then asking for the software to use this 'great work'...maybe they believe complementing will suddenly make people turn a blind eye on certain things. Sheer stupidity.
mossedmoon
Reply #51 Wednesday, June 18, 2003 5:39 PM
Reply #51 Wednesday, June 18, 2003 5:39 PM
I've always preferred not to hide myself away, so my email is for anyone who wishes to contact me. I hate making certain people exclusively unattainable. I've received certain requests that made me shake my head and put it behind me, simple as that. But to expound on trading intangibles, it's not like trading my baseball for your mit, since I would no longer have my ball, but I would still have, lets say, the Toons suite I traded off plus the Orion icons I traded for. It therefore comes down to a question of honor, as well as respect for someone's sweat and labor of love, as opposed to a bootlegged freebie. These trades are nothing more than stealing, whatever one's rationale, and a direct reflection of the ones perpetrating the dirty deed, which is why it will never stop; some people just aren't too evolved...
MarkMcQ
Reply #52 Thursday, June 19, 2003 10:18 AM
Reply #52 Thursday, June 19, 2003 10:18 AM
I've had a few mails from folk asking for scammy copies of various suties,etc, but I'm glad. It makes a nice break from the spam mails offering me free cable and a huge weiner....
fairyliquidizer
Reply #53 Thursday, June 19, 2003 4:00 PM
Reply #53 Thursday, June 19, 2003 4:00 PM
I reckon the problem is not the visibility or otherwise of email addresses it is the fact that people have no respect for the labour of others. This moral issue is the pressing one. We live in different jurisdictions with different frameworks for copyright. For example in Scotland "fair use" is an established concept. In addition a licence may place restrictions preventing the resell, distribution, or transfer of rights however the licence is only binding if it is deemed reasonable and fair. Moreover, if I was not aware of the terms of sale before a transaction was made I have not entered into a binding agreement. So, I conclude the legal position is complex. The moral position less so, and we should all consider what is fair, and what services we wish to support. I bought Windowblinds not because I thought the shareware version was inadequate but because I wished to support it's continued development.
Fairy
Fairy
Drop125
Reply #55 Thursday, July 3, 2003 9:37 PM
Reply #55 Thursday, July 3, 2003 9:37 PM
Okay I have purchased OD and the Snap shot cd..How is it that I am still clasified as a citizen..I also purchase such premium suites through wincustomize also..So how do you change citizen status???I have the same screen nmae as alsways and passcode but it still says citizen by my name... 
IPlural
Reply #57 Thursday, July 3, 2003 9:43 PM
did you cross reference you account with Stardock to WinCustomize? Might be a good place to start, umm, bit of reading points that out...
Reply #57 Thursday, July 3, 2003 9:43 PM
| #55 by Drop125 - 7/ |
did you cross reference you account with Stardock to WinCustomize? Might be a good place to start, umm, bit of reading points that out...
sig101
Reply #59 Thursday, July 3, 2003 10:10 PM
Reply #59 Thursday, July 3, 2003 10:10 PM
User levels and user classes (or titles) are two different things. Your user level should change as long as your accounts are cross referenced, as noted above. But your "citizen" status wont. (You can go into edit account and not use "citizen" or change it to Mr, etc. But the various title levels such as Apprentice, for example, are not based on WC site subscription or being a Stardock customer. See the WC "about" page for the various user classes and how the titles work.
https://www.wincustomize.com/index.asp?Cmd=about
https://www.wincustomize.com/index.asp?Cmd=about
nValkyre
Reply #60 Saturday, July 12, 2003 10:33 PM
Reply #60 Saturday, July 12, 2003 10:33 PM
Oh please, a tad bit dramatic for something like that, wouldn't you say?
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Reply #41 Saturday, June 14, 2003 7:24 PM
That will have to be decided by all the admins (we discuss points like this) before that could happen. I think that it needs to be included in a general conduct rule for the site. There is a lot that we need to approve in the "rules" and I think this may be one that needs to be added.