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  1. VH Veteran jimmalenko's Avatar
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    http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=70870&item=5138407919&rd=1

    Have you bought yourself a DVD Burner yet? If you have, you may have tried to backup your DVDs unsuccesfully... If so, this is why;

    Most DVD movies are DVD-9 which means it's dual layer, and unless you have a dual layer burner and can afford dual layer media, then you will need to "Shrink" it down to DVD-5 which is single layer, which most DVD +/- R are.

    What you will be purchacing from me is a CD containing a FREE program that will decrypt, compress and burn* onto a DVD-5 DVD R plus a FREE copy of DVDDecrypter, and a DEMO version of Nero 6.

    The quality is unbelievable for the amount it compresses, take a massive movie like Lord Of The Rings, squash it down to 4.7GB, and I would bet that only 9 out of 10 people could notice the difference.

    * This program relies on other programs to burn the DVD, if you have DVDDecrypter, Nero Burning ROM 6 or CopyToDVD, then this program will automatically initialise these programs to burn your backup movie!!! VERY SIMPLE

    It is possible that this program wont work on some burners, I recommend the Pioneer DVR-107 or 108.

    It is illegal to sell Shareware, Freeware and Demo Software for profit.
    I am not selling this software for profit, my price includes;
    - My Download Costs
    - The CD and CD Jewel Case
    - My costs of burning the CD
    - The cost of postage and packaging

    It is up to the end user to comply with the license agreements with the software companies. The software on this CD is shareware and free for all to use, providing they comply with the licence agreement.

    Please note: Backups of movies are not backups if you don't own the original! If you don't own the original, then this is an illegal bootleg/burnt copy.

    Please do not ask me about any of the features of the above software, appropriate instructions will be provided when you purchace the CD.

    I am not selling this software to you, I am giving it to you for FREE, what you are purchacing is the CD and CD Jewel case from me.
    An utter disgrace IMO.
    If in doubt, Google it.
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  2. Yeah, what a joke. Personally, I definitely will not buy. But then, the world is full of wise people.
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  3. Member NamPla's Avatar
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    Audacity was being sold recently too. I agree, utter disgrace - except I believe it's legal within bounds of the "Open Source" terms (or whatever), so long as the dickwit includes the source code.

    Still, that doesn't excuse him.

    (At least, unlike the Audacity seller, he isn't changing the name of the program/not including the source code/claiming it is his original software!!)

    Cheers.
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  4. Check out his other items for sale... I'm wondering if Microsoft would consider it to be freeware...

    http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41888&item=7113503900&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
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  5. The really sad part is that some people are stupid enough to actually BUY this stuff!

    Then again, what do MS charge for a Sp2 CD (post+packing) to Oz users?
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  6. Member hech54's Avatar
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    My SP2 CD was free....to Europe.
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  7. VH Veteran jimmalenko's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by bugster
    The really sad part is that some people are stupid enough to actually BUY this stuff!

    Then again, what do MS charge for a Sp2 CD (post+packing) to Oz users?
    Mine was free to Oz.
    If in doubt, Google it.
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  8. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    Mine was free to USA. ... who else?
    Want my help? Ask here! (not via PM!)
    FAQs: Best Blank DiscsBest TBCsBest VCRs for captureRestore VHS
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  9. VH Veteran jimmalenko's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by lordsmurf
    Mine was free to USA. ... who else?
    Originally Posted by hech54
    My SP2 CD was free....to Europe.
    Originally Posted by jimmalenko
    Mine was free to Oz.


    Originally Posted by bugster
    The really sad part is that some people are stupid enough to actually BUY this stuff!

    Then again, what do MS charge for a Sp2 CD (post+packing) to Oz users?
    Looks like they only charged the Brits
    If in doubt, Google it.
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  10. Member housepig's Avatar
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    The quality is unbelievable for the amount it compresses, take a massive movie like Lord Of The Rings, squash it down to 4.7GB, and I would bet that only 9 out of 10 people could notice the difference.
    nice one...
    - housepig
    ----------------
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    out now:
    Various Artists "Six Doors"
    Unicorn "Playing With Light"
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  11. Originally Posted by jimmalenko
    Originally Posted by lordsmurf
    Mine was free to USA. ... who else?
    Originally Posted by hech54
    My SP2 CD was free....to Europe.
    Originally Posted by jimmalenko
    Mine was free to Oz.


    Originally Posted by bugster
    The really sad part is that some people are stupid enough to actually BUY this stuff!

    Then again, what do MS charge for a Sp2 CD (post+packing) to Oz users?
    Looks like they only charged the Brits
    I never ordered one, so didn't know they sent it for free!!!

    This makes it even sadder than I thought that people will actually PAY for this stuff that could be had for free
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  12. Member waheed's Avatar
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    Ebay has a policy for reporting illegal sales. In anyone comes across anymore, just report it.
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  13. Originally Posted by housepig
    The quality is unbelievable for the amount it compresses, take a massive movie like Lord Of The Rings, squash it down to 4.7GB, and I would bet that only 9 out of 10 people could notice the difference.
    nice one...
    On a 13 inch tv maybe...
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  14. VH Veteran jimmalenko's Avatar
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    The seller of these items has since taken this item and one other that contained items such as Windows Service Packs, Adobe acrobat reader, etc etc, down, and has replied to an email I sent him.

    I think it's only fair to share the contents of those emails:

    Email 1
    You asked:
    "Regardless of how you justify this, you are committing an illegal act and are violating the EULA by selling these softwares. It's a pity I'm a member of www.videohelp.com as well as www.doom9.org (both well-known for housing the creators of both DVDShrink and DVDDecrypter), and I have created threads regarding your selling of their creative works. I expect you will hear from them in due time. Consider this a heads-up."

    Thank you for the heads up. I was un-aware that this was illegal to distribute, I was certainly not selling it for profit. For this reason I have ended the item. But I am still confused as to how someone like APC or any other PC mag can distribute shareware on their CDs?? Please get back to me...
    **********

    Email 2
    After reading the post you put on the websites, and reading the
    replies, I have a something to say, coz I can't reply for another 2-5
    days after signing up.

    I wasn't trying to make a buck... I'm on dial-up and I know how
    frustrating it is when your trying to download something, especially
    large files. And I know that I would have paid for these items rather
    than spending a week downloading them. I used to live in the country
    where my internet connection would drop out every 20 minutes, at least
    now in the city it's not so bad.

    I have removed these items from eBay because I was not trying to rip
    anyone off, all I wanted to do was provide a service and increase my
    eBay reputation. But it seems for most people it was decreasing my
    reputation.

    I have also donated $20US to the DVD Decryter creator/developer also
    explaining why I had decided to donate the money. This $20US is more
    than I received for the 2 CDs that were purchaced off me.

    I think the software on the CD is great and I would not like to rip
    off the creator, they are providing an excellent service to all of
    us...

    Just had to get that off my chest...

    Cheers

    Thoughts ?
    If in doubt, Google it.
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  15. Member Weapon's Avatar
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    Well, the guy volentarily pulled the auction, and then donated to the creators. I don't think he's that much of a dumb azz.
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  16. VH Veteran jimmalenko's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Weapon
    Well, the guy volentarily pulled the auction, and then donated to the creators. I don't think he's that much of a dumb azz.
    Either did Bill, until he got caught ...
    If in doubt, Google it.
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  17. and for gods sake tell him to spell it "purchased"!
    purchased
    Corned beef is now made to a higher standard than at any time in history.
    The electronic components of the power part adopted a lot of Rubycons.
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  18. Member NamPla's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by bugster
    The really sad part is that some people are stupid enough to actually BUY this stuff!
    I think Bugster nails it here, except it's not really "sad", just frustrating. Why should we protect the stupid?

    It's like televangelism, who's the true idiot - the televangelist, or the millions of suckers sending him/her money?
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  19. Member
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    I agree with the practice of not selling freeware, to a point. I've bought Linux distros and Open Office and the GIMP because the downloads were corrupt, or were so complicated that I could not get them to run. Without a script to launch OO or the GIMP from X11 in Mac OS X, and all the libraries compiled in exactly the right path, those programs won't work. I don't mind running terminal if necessary, but I consider the $20 I paid to be well worth it.
    I'm still living on dial-up, but have access to dsl for large downloads.
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  20. I don't see anything wrong with the guy selling the CD. He gave accurate and useful information about what was on the CD. He said it contained two free programs and a demo.

    I know it's fun to go around calling people stupid etc but if two people come to a mutual agreement and a sale is made it really doesn't matter what any one else thinks about the deal.

    If I want to make up a CD called Presto's Favorite Freeware and include a few free programs does any one think that would be illegal or immoral? I would have saved the buyer hours and hours of downloading and testing programs and handed them the cream of the crop.

    I don't claim to be an expert but when I have read the distribution agreements on freeware programs they stated it was fine to put them on a CD as long as all the files are included and not altered.

    Added Later - DVD Shrinks agreement says the following:

    2. The Licensor grants you the royalty-free right to reproduce and distribute this freeware as part of a CD-ROM to be enclosed with the print issue of any magazine, book or printed publication, as long as said CD-ROM and printed publication contain material that would have been distributed regardless of the inclusion of this freeware, and NO EXTRA FEE IS CHARGED for inclusion of this freeware.
    The ebay seller may or may not have been in compliance with the above. He sounds like he knows how to use these programs to copy a DVD so if he only wrote instuctions on how to use freeware to copy a DVD he could sell that and include DVD Shrink with full permission of the author.
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  21. what the hell does he mean when he says download costs?!?!?!?!?! i thought all internet (broadband) was unlimited.... and how does a cd with that shit costs 8$!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHAT A RIP OFF.. My grandpa always said there was an ass for every seat.
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  22. Originally Posted by jimmalenko
    Looks like they only charged the Brits
    Nope us dumb assed brits didnt pay either...
    Not bothered by small problems...
    Spend a night alone with a mosquito
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  23. Thanks presto

    The ebay seller may or may not have been in compliance with the above. He sounds like he knows how to use these programs to copy a DVD so if he only wrote instuctions on how to use freeware to copy a DVD he could sell that and include DVD Shrink with full permission of the author.
    I did actually write instructions for the use of the software it was in the small print;

    Please do not ask me about any of the features of the above software, appropriate instructions will be provided when you purchace the CD.

    Sorry about the spelling mistakes RabidDog, can't all be perfect...

    As far as download costs go, not all internet deals are unlimited, I don't know where Harryford is from but here in Australia, the majority of broadband deals are not unlimited and any extra downloads after the limit is reached are usually charcged at 14c per MB.

    This CD was not intended for sale to people with broadband, it was more intended to the poor bastards who are still on dialup (like me ) It's always a struggle to find what you need without getting frustrated while waiting 5 minutes for a page to open, only to find that it's the wrong one. Even downloading a small file of 5MB is frustrating when 5KB/S download speed is considered GREAT for dialup. I average about 3KB/S on my connection.

    Again sorry to RabidDog and anybody else for any spelling mistakes...
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  24. VH Veteran jimmalenko's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by presto
    I don't see anything wrong with the guy selling the CD. He gave accurate and useful information about what was on the CD. He said it contained two free programs and a demo.

    I know it's fun to go around calling people stupid etc but if two people come to a mutual agreement and a sale is made it really doesn't matter what any one else thinks about the deal.

    If I want to make up a CD called Presto's Favorite Freeware and include a few free programs does any one think that would be illegal or immoral? I would have saved the buyer hours and hours of downloading and testing programs and handed them the cream of the crop.
    As a programmer, I have written quite a few GUIs for programs - mainly for my own personal uses, some I've made available for download. They've always been freeware, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have no issue with people distributing my GUIs by email, or making them available for download on their website, provided there is no profit being made. What I do have an issue with is people charging and profiting off my handiwork - ie. selling a CD, charging admission to their website, etc etc. I think that if the creator of the software is "good enough" to release something as freeware, we should not attempt to profit off it.


    [quote="presto"]I don't claim to be an expert but when I have read the distribution agreements on freeware programs they stated it was fine to put them on a CD as long as all the files are included and not altered.

    Added Later - DVD Shrinks agreement says the following:

    2. The Licensor grants you the royalty-free right to reproduce and distribute this freeware as part of a CD-ROM to be enclosed with the print issue of any magazine, book or printed publication, as long as said CD-ROM and printed publication contain material that would have been distributed regardless of the inclusion of this freeware, and NO EXTRA FEE IS CHARGED for inclusion of this freeware.
    I've bolded the points that I think are important. I don't think these CDs would have been distributed without DVDShrink, and I would hardly call a guide a printed publication.


    Methinks I'm gonna have to start charging for my GUIs
    If in doubt, Google it.
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  25. Get Slack disturbed1's Avatar
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    I think this guy is different than most of the scum out there.

    1. He clearly states that the included programs are available as freeware, and Nero is a Demo.

    Anyone with an internet connection can easily goto google and find the software. I think most people assume that just because I have it, and can do it, so can everyone else. Well, there are plenty of people out there that do not have internet access, either because of location, or whatever. Many goto the local library and schools, not really possible to download programs there

    2. $8. I know in US Dollars, that's hardly anything of a profit, after the $0.25 for a CD and $$$ for shipping and handling. If he were to use the US postal service and buy a padded mailer, he might break even.

    Most internet shippers have a minum shipping cost of $5.95, so maybe he made $1-$2 off each sell, but paypal and ebay do charge a % off every transation, paypal can charge upto 4% depending on the amount of business you do with them. Now, the catcher, that would change my thought to scum, was if he took 100% of every buck and stuffed his pocket, instead of paying the authors of said programs.


    I know when I was on dial up, I would have snagged a few auctions like this one. BUT---- when someone is charging $20 for some freeware apps, that's just wrong, esp. when they don't state that the included programs are freeware/shareware.

    Back in the MAC PPC 601 days, there were tons of CDs for sale that had 1000s of free and shareware programs on them. All which were easy to download off the 'net, yet they were sold at $5.99-$19.99 a pop. Nobody cried foul on those.

    I believe that if the item is clearly marked and sold as freeware/shareware it is the buyer's fault for being unable to make the correct judgement. False advertising is another issue though.
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  26. Member Dr_Layne's Avatar
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    There is a profit being made from the sale of this cd not to seller, but to Ebay. Even if the seller breaks 100% even or takes a loss, EBAY makes money from the sale of the freeware and to me that's not right. I like Ebay, but do not want to see them profit from illegal sales. This is part of the reason it's difficult to have have illegitimate items removed unless you can prove you own the rights to the original.
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  27. Member glockjs's Avatar
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    there's a time and place for everything, and selling freeware on ebay isnt one of them. it's sad some people take the upper hand of ignorance. it's great you want to let everybody know what great programs these are, but dont sell them. maybe email links to the direct websites. all you really need is decrypter and shrink. and those programs are relatively small in size....
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  28. I can see if some want to buy this CD there are alot of people that are not into video stuff. But when they hear they can back up DVD they want it. I watch G4Techtv for the Screen Savers and they talk about dvdshrink from time to time and there are millions of people that get so happy when they hear about what it can do. If I was on ebay. I would just do a search on Google but there are alot of people that still think when you buy a new computer it comes with windows 95 LOL
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  29. Member
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    The quality is unbelievable for the amount it compresses, take a massive movie like Lord Of The Rings, squash it down to 4.7GB, and I would bet that only 9 out of 10 people could notice the difference.
    I made my pa a copy of ROTK and squashed it down onto one disc. He is 52 and slowly going blind (needs eyeglasses at the flicks, in fact). He noticed the difference.

    Now, the extended editions, on the other hand... you can remove the inane babbling that passes for commentaries, chop out those stupid fan club credits, keep the DTS tracks, and keep the original disc-change points... only need to reduce the video to about 70%+ of its original size. With adaptive error compensation, the difference hardly shows up on an 80cm set.

    It seems making money requires you to have no principles these days.
    "It's getting to the point now when I'm with you, I no longer want to have something stuck in my eye..."
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  30. This is evolving into quite an interesting debate, and I see good and bad points on both sides of the argument.

    1. I should have asked permission from the creator.
    2. I should have provided links to the downloads.
    3. I should have provided greater instructions and "sold" them, or at least some sort of publication, I think even old PC mags would have done the trick.
    4. I now see that eBay profits from this sale, even if I dont. And this is probably the strongest argument (thanks Dr_Layne).

    Has anybody heard the saying "Shoul-da Coul-da Wood-da"...

    Lets look at "My Costs" (minimum values);
    CD and jewel case: $1.50AU
    Postage and Handling: $2.00AU or $4.00AU
    My Download Cost (Debatable): $1.00AU
    eBay Listing fee (eBay profits): $1.10AU

    So far $6.60AU

    Then maybe power, my time or whatever...

    2 people bought this CD one with reg p&h and one express
    thats a total income of $24.00.
    My outgoings is $13.20 MIN then add $20US that I later decided to donate to DVD Decrypter (I think it would be about $24AU, dunno)

    That's now $37.20AU at least, that makes me out of pocket $13.20AU

    About 6 months ago I came across some freeware, PE Builder, very usefull for techies. A little later I noticed that someone was selling many copies of this which included other freeware with it, on eBay. They didn't actually state the name of the software, they just titled the listing "Fix your own computer." And I'm pretty sure no other developer has managed to produce the program, except Microsoft who charges lots of money for it. It is very appealing for an amature, and the software is actually great, I used it alot when I was a network administrator. I was disgusted when I saw it for sale on eBay by some "con artist." (AND LOOK WHOS TALKING ) Not that I was trying to be a con artist, however it seems that is somewhat close to what I was being, and I had no idea

    I have realised how many of you may feel, and I am honestly sorry.
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