product key for microsoft word?

newc_2

Aliktren wrote: »

my Dad paid for Firefox last week, I was not amused....

eh??
really? oh god!

isofa

As the link to the dodgy site now isn't listed anymore, can we add it or show it on a sticky (with a very clear warning not to use!) to ensure no unsuspecting users actually do use it and buy free software from it?

superscaper

isofa wrote: »

As the link to the dodgy site now isn't listed anymore, can we add it or show it on a sticky (with a very clear warning not to use!) to ensure no unsuspecting users actually do use it and buy free software from it?

Would be a good idea but it would have to be in the form of a list as there's loads of them, all seemingly the same company but each piece of software has its own entire website.

superscaper

I'll compile what I can for now so people don't have to look for them later in case a warning sticky or whatever is made:

Warning these sites charge you for free software, do not use!

suite-2008.com Open Office
www.2008firefox.com Firefox
earth-2008-online.com Google Earth
FlashPlayer-2008.com Adobe Flash Player
free-virus-fix.com AVG Free
download-access.com tries to look like Download.com
avast.download-go.com Avast Free

isofa

What an absolute scam! Hopefully the software creators know about these companies, as they are breaching their T+Cs, and they can put procedures in place to shut them down.

superscaper

isofa wrote: »

What an absolute scam! Hopefully the software creators know about these companies, as they are breaching their T+Cs, and they can put procedures in place to shut them down.

Thing is I don't think they are breaching any T&Cs. The open source license and some freeware licenses certainly allows you to sell the software on and technically these sites aren't even selling the software. They're selling subscriptions for their support for the software. It's the same business model as the likes of Red Hat Linux but it's done in a very underhanded way. As despicable as it is I can't actually see anything that either breaks the law or the terms of the software licenses. At most maybe they're using the logos of the software without permission but they do put a disclaimer that they aren't affiliated with those companies.

isofa

Ahhh I see...

Many freeware/open source publishers state their products may not be sold for profit, but no doubt many others don't -and if they are bypassing this by selling "support" I guess it's just very underhand as you say.

Still a total con for an unsuspecting end user, can't see how a third party can offer better support for Firefox than Mozilla themselves can.

superscaper

isofa wrote: »

can't see how a third party can offer better support for Firefox than Mozilla themselves can.

Neither can I and they probably don't. I noticed one of the main domains that the sites download their info/pics from/hosted is Russian and they seem to be linked to a previous Russian mp3 site so I doubt they're worried about the legalities anyway. And of course that gives you even less confidence in their "support" abilities.