[Banned]
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All I can say is that I was very concerned when Trimble took over, but I am more than pleased with the direction it's taken so far. The 2015 version was not without it's problems and some of the changes were not to my liking, but overall (IMO) it's a much improved program and I am now able to do what I need to do much easier than before.
And hey, how can you really complain about something that's free? (although I have been known to do that from time to time
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Nice throw down Rich! That was too funny!
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@rich o brien said:
Ok, so this chap earned a ban. Nice start to the year.
How did "he" earn a ban ?
I have re-read through the ToS and EULA, and cannot find a clause or regulation he has violated.
Section 15 says that it is the entire agreement.The user was a member for ~ 3 years, although not very active,.. spent most time in the Newbie forum.
Is this what we do here ? When someone says things we do not like, we beat them with virtual sticks and run them out of "forumtown" ? Or kill off the user's account ?
Je Suis Kaja9 !
Freedom of expression for ALL !
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@dan,
I certainly wasn't impressed by someone who implied they were using pirated software...
@unknownuser said:
I use paid version (but to bo honest - didn't pay
)I believe he was asked to confirm or deny the statement and that a ban was imposed following his response or lack there of...
I recall people in the past receiving instant bans when enquiring for crack keys...
I see little difference in the handling of this...
john
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Agreed... I'm pretty sure it was a ban for bragging about pirating. Perhaps you like your work being stolen, but I don't support that kind of thing. There are quite a few plugin authors here who's work is being pirated, if he'll steal Sketchup Pro why would he not steal plugins? And why should we help him?
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If people were to be banned because others didn't agree with them I'm sure I would have been banned ages ago.
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idk, i wouldn't of banned him but i don't think i've ever banned anybody
multiple personal attacks, sharing cracks, using the forum for personal profits.. that's what i'd ban for but mentioning the usage of pirated software? idk..i'm more lenient i guess.
more of a guess but i'm pretty sure a whole lot more members here than people may realize are using pirated software.. should they be banned too?
anyway- i'm definitely not trying to stir things up in the thread more than they already are nor am i trying to imply rich has done something wrong.. this is a very rare case and that post was flagged by multiple members.. i really don't think there's a problem at all with heavy handed moderation / ban happy overlords around here.. shit happens, you know.. and it doesn't happen very often around here or definitely not at a rate to get upset over
(again, my personal threshold.. i realize some people can get more angry for less and that's fine too.. i'm pretty sure this is squashable though.. that kid will probably be back and he'll probably be a little more considerate of what he decides to say/ who to attack/ etc.. it's sort of a non issue) -
@unknownuser said:
more of a guess but i'm pretty sure a whole lot more members here than people may realize are using pirated software.. should they be banned too?
If they brag about it? Yes... Communities cannot support theft of intellectual property.
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@krisidious said:
If they brag about it? Yes... Communities cannot support theft of intellectual property.
again, just my opinion.. but i didn't see that as bragging.. or definitely not said in any such way as to taint a community by promoting piracy.
dude's probably from india or something where it's basically normal to use pirated software.. different culture.
to me, the part i found most ridiculous was that he's possibly stealing software then complaining about the developers.. it'd be like me stealing a sandwich from the deli then complaining about how their recipe sucks
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@unknownuser said:
it'd be like me stealing a sandwich from the deli then complaining about how their recipe sucks
lol
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Yea thot as much.
But.. most importantly, (1) it is not in the ToS or EULA.
(2) It is just a statement that may or may not be true. (HE said he "didn't pay." Perhaps the user was using a trial edition ?) Even if what he said was true, or assumed such, .. and if what he said was SO offensive, his statement could be modified or erased by a forum moderator.
(3) SCF is not the defender of Trimble's intellectual property. They have people on staff for this, who should earn their salary. (The ToS could warn that any such postings would be turned over to Trimble Management, etc.)
(4) The Tos already warns that posts might be offensive. Simply being offended by someone's views on software piracy should not be grounds to stifle them, IMHO. (I personally am against software piracy, being a software coder myself.)
(5) Asking for a license crack, or publishing such, is very different than saying that you used one to test the Pro features. It seems from my point of view, that the user in question, got on people's bad side first, by posting his personal negative opinion of Trimble's influence upon SketchUp. He's entitled to have his own opinion, even though most others with more knowledge feel it is baseless. (Trimble also has PR people on staff who are quite good at responding to posts like this. Again, let them do the job they are paid to do.)
Anyway... the Terms of Service need to be updated (if users will be banned for discussing license cracking, or promoting it, or whatever specifically the rule should be,) because of the last clause.
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I think you make a lot of very good points. You have made me think again. I am not happy when I see someone who is cheating but not sure what my responsibility is.
On the other hand this is really a private forum that is supported by advertisers. Maybe I am wrong but I think freedom of speech goes out the window in view of that. -
@dan rathbun said:
(2) It is just a statement that may or may not be true. (HE said he "didn't pay." Perhaps the user was using a trial edition ?) Even if what he said was true, or assumed such, .. and if what he said was SO offensive, his statement could be modified or erased by a forum moderator.
That's why I asked him to clarify his statement.
@dan rathbun said:
(3) SCF is not the defender of Trimble's intellectual property. They have people on staff for this, who should earn their salary.
So you're the type of person that sees someone robbing a store and says... "Hey, there's cops for that. No my problem."?
@dan rathbun said:
the Terms of Service need to be updated (if users will be banned for discussing license cracking, or promoting it, or whatever specifically the rule should be,) because of the last clause.
I agree.
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@krisidious said:
So you're the type of person that sees someone robbing a store and says... "Hey, there's cops for that. No my problem."?
it's different.. i know we get to see all those sweet commercials ala "you wouldn't steal a car so don't download music.. it's the same thing!!"
well, it's not the same thing no matter how the fbi (or whoever) tries to paint it as such.
someone robbing a store puts people in the community in immediate danger of self.. stealing a car is taking a hard good in which the owner will no longer have.. etc.
morally, the gap closes but trying to compare a bank robber to someone using a photoshop crack is stretching it too far (imo)
further-- it's actually illegal for me to use a cracked version of suPro.
but is it illegal for someone in thailand to use a cracked version of suPro? -
So if someone robs a store with no gun... Or a bank with no gun, just a note that says give me all the money. That's the same? It's ok to steal if you don't use force? It's ok to steal from big companies but not individuals? I don't buy it... (Pun intended) Stealing is Stealing. Those who turn a blind eye are not much better than those who do it. I guess I would be one of those since I don't often report piracy, but I sure don't have to support it or help those who do it. I've reported a number of plugins and models I've seen to their authors. If we don't look after our own niche then who will? And that niche includes SketchUp Pro.
@unknownuser said:
further-- it's actually illegal for me to use a cracked version of suPro.
but is it illegal for someone in thailand to use a cracked version of suPro?When you download the software you make yourself a party to a contract. The Terms of Service, the User Agreement. Doesn't matter where you live, you're bringing yourself under the contract law of the region in which the software is licensed. Will that company or person have the legal reach to harm you? Perhaps not...
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@krisidious said:
Stealing is Stealing.
no it's not.. even our laws make distinctions between different types of stealing.. petty theft, grand theft, strong-arm robbery, etc..
if stealing is stealing, the case of a kid that steals a pack of gum should be handled the same way as the dude robbing a bank..
but that's pretty much what the commercials(etc) imply when comparing a teenager torrenting a song next to a carjacker..
@unknownuser said:
Those who turn a blind eye are not much better than those who do it.
the problem isn't stealing.. not the root of the problem at least.. fix the root and stealing disappears automatically.
i don't turn a blind eye to stealing software (nor do i use pirated software).. it's just that focusing effort on software piracy won't solve the problem.. it's shortsighted.
in the same way our jails are full of drug addicts & dealers.. arresting them and making laws against them aren't going to solve any real problems.. this should be obvious by now.. the more we attempt to criminalize this type of stuff, the worse the 'problem' gets.
@unknownuser said:
When you download the software you make yourself a party to a contract. The Terms of Service, the User Agreement. Doesn't matter where you live, you're bringing yourself under the contract law of the region in which the software is licensed. Will that company or person have the legal reach to harm you? Perhaps not...
when you download it from where? some file hosting site? or when you get a torrent, you've made yourself party to some sort of legal contract? i highly doubt that- sorry
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IMHO what was implied by the OP's statements was sufficient for Rich to ban him.
He suggested he was using a Pro version. BUT his added 'wink' suggested he hadn't paid for it.
If it's a genuine mistake he can appeal...As a moderator, personally I can think of only a couple of occasions,,, when a post had the merest suggestion of using a cracked version... I edited the post to remove that hint, and immediately PM'd the OP pointing out that they might be compromising themselves in their post's wording - best avoided if you want any help etc...
I think one never mentioned it again, and the other 'disappeared'...On other occasions, where the breach is more obvious, they just get banned...
The Mods/Admins are besieged by spammers and those who skirt the edges of legitimacy...
Whether or not a memeber's use/post complies with the 'letter of the law' [TOS] can sometimes become blurred.
We have to make decisions - 'on-the-hoof' - this is NOT a democracy
However, we haven't shot anyone dead [yet] - but time will tell
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@jeff hammond said:
i don't turn a blind eye to stealing software (nor do i use pirated software).. it's just that focusing effort on software piracy won't solve the problem.. it's shortsighted.
And what pray tell is the root of the problem?
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@jeff hammond said:
i don't turn a blind eye to stealing software (nor do i use pirated software).. it's just that focusing effort on software piracy won't solve the problem.. it's shortsighted.
And what pray tell is the root of the problem?
@jeff hammond said:
when you download it from where? some file hosting site? or when you get a torrent, you've made yourself party to some sort of legal contract? i highly doubt that- sorry
The user agreement is built into the software and make no doubt you are agreeing to a contract as soon as you pass the user agreement with the click of yes I agree and start using it. especially being here in the US.
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