150 replies to this topic

[Michael]

Over the past few weeks we have seen more and more of our members here are using pirated IP.Board software, so I thought I should take the time to explain our position on this.

InvisionModding.com is an independent IP.Board resource site not associated with Invision Power Services.  But the ownership and staff are users of the software who have legitimately purchased their license to use the software.  We're not rich men, and for each of us this purchase was a fairly serious investment.  We made the decision to purchase the software because we like using and working with the software.  And we work here because we like to help people like ourselves who enjoy the software but may have questions about how to use it.

However, there is a large portion of the IP.Board user base that is using software that they acquired through illegal means, such as downloading it from warez sites.  Those people feel that for some reason or another they are somehow special and aren't required to have to pay for the software, they may even make some excuse like they are just trying it out before they buy, but they do plan on purchasing it eventually.  Whatever the excuse, this sort of activity is illegal, and we will make every effort to not support these users.  If we shelled out the money to buy the product, why exactly should we take the time out of our days to help people who think they are entitled to use the software for free?

The staff and myself have debated how best to handle this, but since we don't have access to the sales records of who legitimately purchased the product, we have come to the conclusion that we just need to make our position on this clear to all who would choose to use this illegal software.  If you join here and ask any question to us, you should expect to be asked for the URL to your board, and that needs to be posted publicly (not PM'ed to the person who asked it).  If we look at your board and can safely determine you are using pirated software, your account here will be suspended indefinitely, and your site and all relevant information about you that we have will be reported to Invision's piracy team.  There are plenty of IP.Board resource sites out there that don't care whether or not you are breaking the law; we're not one of them.

So to sum up, if you are a legitimate customer of IPS and have purchased the products you are using, you are free to come here and ask for help; we'll do our best to assist you.  If you, however, are using pirated software, please leave now and look for help somewhere else.  Obviously you're most likely not the type of person who cares too much for the consequences of your actions, but someday you'll realize, karma's a bitch.  We all get what coming to us one way or another.

[Guthix2007]

my licence is legit michael infact it runs out in august

[Michael]

That's OK, I'm not posting this to ask who is legit and who's not, I just want to make my position clear on this, and to ask those who aren't legit to just quietly leave and look for support elsewhere.

[Guthix2007]

i know that but i just wanted to make sure  

[maruf]

Personally, I feel that pirated boards have no right to ask for help from a resource site. I visit some other resource sites that don't pay much attention to this issue but I leave it upto them to decide on how they want to go about dealing with the piracy issue. I respect your decision and want to assure you that I have been using a valid board since day 1

[AndyF]

Personally, I feel that pirated boards have no right to ask for help from a resource site. I visit some other resource sites that don't pay much attention to this issue but I leave it upto them to decide on how they want to go about dealing with the piracy issue. I respect your decision and want to assure you that I have been using a valid board since day 1

^^^ This is pretty much my view too

We (me and my co-admin) paid for IPB so we could escape from from the free hosted I.F (!) as we were having downtime issues... It was logical and easier to move straight to a newer version of the same (well more or less)

If only there was an easy way to tell whether someone had a licence or not (on here) it would be easier  

Edited by yellow_spider, 07 March 2007 - 09:23 PM.

[Michael]

If only there was an easy way to tell whether someone had a licence or not it would be easier  

Yeah, I know.  The only people who know this info for sure, though, are IPS.  I had considered making new users PM me from IPSBeyond so I could validate their accounts.  That would ensure they were legitimate customers, but would be a lot of work for us, and a lot of hassle for you.

[AndyF]

Yeah, I know.  The only people who know this info for sure, though, are IPS.  I had considered making new users PM me from IPSBeyond so I could validate their accounts.  That would ensure they were legitimate customers, but would be a lot of work for us, and a lot of hassle for you.

Idea .. How about just asking them to post their IPSB profile link ?  

I suppose this could go further and be added to a custom (hidden field) or something ? .. that might be too much work though, but they could be checked at your leisure.... just ideas anyway

Edited by yellow_spider, 07 March 2007 - 09:27 PM.

[Michael]

I've got no real way to verify that they're not just picking some random person's profile, I would need to hear something from that member on IPSBeyond specifically to know it was really them.  And since I tend to get 10-30 registrations a day, that's a lot of work, every day.

[Jimmy S]

I saw on an other site like this one a while back that you can add something to the end of the url which will tell you if the board is legit or not.  Please don't ask me what it is cause I haven't the slightest idea anymore or if it was even for real.  I'll look and see if I can find it.

[Michael]

I know what it is you're talking about, but it's not a foolproof method.  It can be helpful, but it's not the definitive legit-or-not identifier.

[cloudxvii]

A very easy way would be to just look at the bottom of someone's board.

More importantly this part:
Powered By IP.Board  2.2.2 © 2007  IPS, Inc.

IP.Board should have a link to the IPS website.
If it doesnt then its obviously illegal. But there are ways to get past by that, but some idiots dont know about it.

[Jimmy S]

That can be added to the board by editing the html I believe.

Edited by KiLL3rCLOWN, 08 March 2007 - 04:21 AM.

[AndyF]

The bit to add to the board url i heard isnt always an effective way of telling , and there are also a few people who wont have the link on the bottom of the board (those that have copyright removal)

Back on topic...

The only other way i could think of was to have the members group called something like "unverified members" or something (so they have validated their email but not been confirmed as a valid board) , then only give access to post in certain sections (so they can ask why they cant post everywhere and also provide some proof or something etc) , and once they have sent a pm from IPSB or some other method, an admin can move them to a regular member group.

It seems like theres no easy way to verify that a someone here is running a geninue board without it being an administrative nightmare in one way or another though.

[Wyzrd]

I don't like people that use illegal IPB forums. I personally was gonna help someone the other day. He didn't have a regular copright on his forum. It had the text but no links. But when he gave me FTP access and Admin CP access. I clearly could see he had an illegal version of the forums. And I was like nope I'm not helping you anymore. I don't promote illegal forums.

[paulice]

What do/ or can we do if we suspect a board is not legitimate?
Who do we contact to check it out?

[Michael]

If you suspect a board is not legitimate, send an email to piracy@invisionpower.com.  If it is a member here, you can also send a PM to me or any other staff member so we can deal with them.

[PMarch]

I believe in Supporting IPB

I have 3 licences.. the last one I got at a discounted price which was very nice..

Jumped on the perpetual bandwagon before they took them away

Very glad I did

Cheers



PMarch

[Star378]

Very well stated position that I whole-heartedly agree with.

I purchased 2 licenses simply because I love the software and I love to run websites. What is the point of running a site if you aren't legit.

Regards,

Star378





EDIT: Can't seem to spell tonight.  

Edited by Star378, 10 March 2007 - 03:38 AM.

[Neville]

This is exactly what i was trying to say on the invision forums, except i got banned for telling the truth.