"WAREZ"

[DiViNeLeFT]

this post is in regards to this topic which was locked because of "warez"
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=116693&highlight=

i just want to be clear on the rule on warez here... the site that was in question that the post was locked for included this in its page...

"What is this page?
This page delivers links that can be used together with a program called eDonkey2000. You can download these things we show you here with it, not directly from this page."

and the rule on warez here is...

"Do NOT ask for warez, give warez or link to warez"

it is just a site that gives information... not actual warez... by goin by these rules that would be the same as sayin vcdhelp.com is illegal because it contains information that can be used to make illegal copies of dvds. i think people are under the influence that any post that has the word "warez" in it is in violation of the rules... this post did not directly link to warez or ask for warez (other than information about it). please if im wrong correct me, but i hate when topics that dont violate the rules (in my opinion) are locked just because the word "warez" was mentioned.

[kayfam]

DiViNeLeFT,
Myself after reading the thread in question I feel the mod's were justified in their decision for locking the thread, but of course that's just my opinion. If you feel you were so horribly wronged by this move why didn't you put this up as a poll and let the viewers decide?

[DiViNeLeFT]

that is a good idea with the poll... i dont wanna seem like its that big of a deal, i mean one topic locked isnt the end of the world by a long shot. i just wanted to state my opinion and what i thought about it and get a better understanding of the exact do's and dont's about warez related posts.

[eatin sammiches for lunch]

i think because of people misinterpreting the rules, the word "WAREZ" should be also be banned along with any post using the word not just posts pertaining to warez links..etc,etc.

everyone knows warez posts is a touchy subject here at vcdhelp which should suggest to people do not talk about warez here even if your not giving links or sites...especially since the vcdhelp administration disapproves of the scene in regards to their forum/post usage.



U WOULD BE SUPRISED WHAT A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL GIVE YOU!!!



oh well that just my opinion...whos gives a sh!t anyway..right

[kitty]

So far the "Yes"es have it. Hmmm....

[LanceSteel]

The initial post was questionable. When people started asking about p2p softs and links were given out, then was the appropriate time to close the thread down. The majority of the posts in that thread didn't belong in the "Software Playing" section anyway. The moderator was doing what he/she was supposed to do... moderate.

[gll99]

I think most of us are pretty mature and have a good grasp of whats out there in the internet world.

Every site http, ftp or p2p, has a stated (or obvious) purpose for existing.

This one has clearly identified its objectives:
Partial quote

What is this site about?
This site will help you to make your own VideoCDs, SVCDs or DVDs that can be played on your standalone DVD Player from video sources like DVD, Video, TV, Cam or downloaded movie clips like DivX, MOV, RM, WMV and ASF.

One would hope that peer to peer in the context of movie clips, demo software, help files etc.., should not be an issue.

The term WAREZ has a specific meaning to almost anyone who hears it
and I agree that the term does not fit the expressed purpose of VCDHelp.

Those who seek such sites can do searches and find what they want elsewhere.

When someone posts anything like that it should be automatically rebuffed by the first person who answers the thread and that will nip it in the bud. I believe the censorship should come from the community. If a link is shown then it can immediately reported using the established report link with a clear msg saying "Warez LINK Please delete". If there is no link and the person apologizes or does not persist then I see no reason to report the offender for a mistake or misunderstanding.

That's my 2 cents.

PS

I agree with that thread being locked because it left a wrong impression. Unless you followed the link how would you know that it wasn't pointing to warez.

[NeVeRLiFt]

Look people! You want free stuff??
WinMX, Kazaa and this Edonkey all suck!!!

Nothing beats Mirc
Just get on the right networks and in the right channels 8)

Get Apps, Movies, PC games, Console games(Xbox and PS2) MP3's Pr0n and anything else old or new

Live and learn but until you been on fast dumps/pubs and 0day dumps you have not experienced getting free stuff ROFLMAO

And dont bother asking me cause I'm not messing with any of you!!!
I dont know if your DEA or the FBI so leave me alone and just get out there and try it.

[offline]

Hi DiViNeLeFT,

You should know that I much prefer to help with a query or
join in a discussiion than simply play policeman. However
I would like to reply to a few points here.

DiViNeLeFT: ... vcdhelp.com is illegal because it contains information that can be used to make illegal copies of dvds

No. VCDHelp.com provides information so that U.S. members and other applicable users can make "fair use" of DVD's that they have bought and have legal title to.

We cannot stop you renting DVD's and ripping them, but if we suspect that is what you are posting about you will be banned period! Unfortunately we cannot know for sure if a title is owned by a user
or not (nor is it our legal responsibility to find out) so we assume
that legal ownership applies unless suggested otherwise.

it is just a site that gives information

You can take this up with Baldrick if you feel I have been unfair. BTW
you should note that your url link was not the sole reason I locked the
thread - the general nature of the discussion was against the warez rule in spirit and there were posters who had just previously violated this rule in another thread.

This thread was locked but kept active as a warning. Future problem threads will simply be closed and the administrator will decide whom to
ban. If you are in doubt about the warez rule - either stay away from
anything remotely to do with warez, or post a query in this forum.

[medievil]

I would have probably locked it even sooner. To many people already think this site is just for warez puppies. Without even having been here. Just imagine the first trip being that post. What impression whould they have left with?

[gll99]

offline: + (kitty) + any other moderators + Baldrick

I know the ideology and intent is that the videos discussed in the forums are owned by the individual requesting the help although the site mandate which I quoted earlier does include downloaded clips

I believe that your statements about ownership of the video will greatly affect the way I answer questions in the future. Many of the users requesting help refer to downloaded movies or even copyrighted streams copied from internet broadcasts (there is 1 like this within the last hour) using the tool links on this site to acquire the software. They then render
them to vcd, svcd or DVD and report problems encountered in the process, asking for help.

The concept of DVD and VHS etc.. ownership and the right to backup and protect one's property is clear and simple to me.

but..................
Many threads refer to the title of the movie and the fact that it was downloaded. From the information that they themselves provide, it's pretty clear that they do not have ownership.

Should we be concerned?
Do we answer them?
Do we report them?
Do we risk being banned if we help them?
Do you care?
Am I paranoid?
Am I done? yes!

Thank you.

[crahak]

Saying "vcdhelp.com is illegal because it contains information that can be used to make illegal copies of dvds" is much like saying knifes are illegal for you can kill with them. No one can force people not to misuse anything, especially knowledge. Converting Hi8 to SVCD isn't illegal as far as I'm converned.

[offline]

gll99,

you can answer any posts you like just as long as you follow the
rules. If the original poster has done something wrong that is his
or her problem.

I treat downloads like anything else. If I do not know for sure
I must assume the poster has the right to use the download. If
someone asks for a link to get a copy of a download, or posts
a link to a download, and that item is under copyright, then I
can be pretty sure that person is involving VCDHelp with warez.

If, however, a poster says that they have made a copy of title XXX and then asks for help - well it might be warez but how can I know for sure? Does it involve VCDHelp? No, it is the poster who is responsible.

A poster can be the leader of the biggest warez group out there and
I won't care so long as they don't involve VCDhelp. Any post that
asks, links or talks about warez in particular detail involves VCDhelp
in an activity that is not lawful.

There is no problem here unless people make VCDHelp complicit in a unlawful activity. What indviduals do behind the scenes is their business.

[gll99]

Thanks offline

I asked the questions that begged to be asked.

I think that will make it clear for everyone. It's what I hoped you would say otherwise there would have been a lot of threads wiped out.

This is a great site and its important to protect its integrity and reputation.

I couldn't recommend it to my friends otherwise.

[DiViNeLeFT]

offline...

You should know that I much prefer to help with a query or join in a discussiion than simply play policeman.

i know that all the moderator here at vcdhelp are fair and dont usually jump the gun and lock posts... but ive seen posts like that in the past that no one seemed to care, so thats why i wanted to question on what the do's and dont's where...

DiViNeLeFT: ... vcdhelp.com is illegal because it contains information that can be used to make illegal copies of dvds

No. VCDHelp.com provides information so that U.S. members and other applicable users can make "fair use" of DVD's that they have bought and have legal title to.

if you read the first part of that statement i was using that as a comparison... by no way do i think vcdhelp should be illegal or any website for that matter that just passes on information.

You can take this up with Baldrick if you feel I have been unfair. BTW you should note that your url link was not the sole reason I locked the thread - the general nature of the discussion was against the warez rule in spirit and there were posters who had just previously violated this rule in another thread.

i could care less if a mod locks a thread or not really, you are the guys that keep this organized... i just wanted to better clear up the rules... by the way, it wasnt my url... i didnt post any links.

[Thorn]

but ive seen posts like that in the past that no one seemed to care

I think some of it was just festering. A lot of blatent posts got quick responses of 'this is not a warez board' but lately people have been overly quick to post "helpful" information and have flagrantly posted links and other stuff. Moreover, people have gotten belligerent about what is allowable and what isn't. The recent renewal in attention to this matter is simply an effort to get things back in line.

What you do behind the scenes is your business.

This isn't too difficult to understand... take non-vcdhelp related business elsewhere and keep this a video discussion board. (I'm not pointing this at anyone in this thread, just the community in general).

[Craig Tucker]

gll99,


If, however, a poster says that they have made a copy of title XXX

Well, if they have a copy of Triple X, then it is definately warez

[edsmith77]

Gentlemen:
If I might I would like (and this is from one who is benefitting from this site) offer a suggestion. I am new as I have stated many times but the term "warez" still leaves me wanting. Specifically, in laymans terms, what is "warez" so that the newb's, like myself, will not inadvertently commit some agregious sin. I have looked in the FAQ and found lots of how to"s and what are's but I just did not find a "what is warez". After reading the above and some other instances on this board, I still am not exactly sure what "warez" is. Does that make sense?
For example, one could read "warez" as where is this software or whatever. In response a person would post a link. Now is it the link that is banned or just asking also banned. If asking is banned then there are hundreds of "where do I find questions" on this forum already. Hmmmm. So that doesnt logically make senes. Thus, it must be the posting of the link to the desired product that is banned.
Or is there some other definition that as a newb I have missed.

Thanks for letting me add my 2cents. I sure would hate to lose access to this forum and its invaluable help given to me todate.

Ed Smith
A Real Newb

[Nelson37]

Having read the original post, it seemed to be just suggesting the use of Kazaa or EdonKey, which I have seen MANY times in the past without rebuke. However, I don't know what the deleted link was to.

I did not see any specific suggestion to illegaly obtain copyrighted software without owning the appropriate rights.

It is legal, I believe, to DL a copy of a movie which I have already purchased that was lost, stolen, or destroyed, or perhaps I am just DL'ing a trailer or some public domain work, the point being that mere use of a P2P site is not necessarily illegal.

I realize this site must maintain "plausible deniability", but considering the use which VCD and SVCD are put to, and which are stated in many posts, I just feel the post in question was far less blatant than others I have seen in the past.

[snowmoon]

I also agree with the moderators on this, short of a little better documentation on what's not ok, they did everything right.

The fact that other discussion have gone on that were more blatent has nothing to do with the thread closed. moderators cannot always be on top of every thread.

Most topics here COULD BE something illegal, but most are not they are just sharing of legal information. This leaves a huge grey area that the moderators need to be aware of. It's a moderators dicretion on when you step over the line, or the combination of posts steps over the line. I have taken topics and stripped out bad posts since the rest of the thread was informational.

The moderators do this not tp be spiteful or mean but to try and keep this site clean and legal. If you want wares their are plenty of other boards that you can go to that allows warez and cracks, but don't expect them to stay around forever.

And for those of you who ask. Of my 200+ SVCD collection mabye 2 are not legal ( I was trying out dvd2svcd ). I do TV archiving of shows and the occasion miniseries or movie. Nothing that VCR's have not been doing for decades.

[Lost_Soul]

i remember there were loads of warez question about spiderman and scooby doo b4 and no 1 made a deal out of it. hmmmm

[Thorn]

No people... It wasn't appropriate then and it isn't appropriate now. Just because nothing was done about it before doesn't mean it was appropriate or within the rules.

Furthermore, regardless of the technical definition of warez, the purpose of this board is not downloading movies and warez. There are plenty of other boards out there to deal with that.

Furthermore, many of the experienced users (that provide much of the technical experiance that keeps this board so useful) get annoyed or pissed at the flagrant disregard of the board rules. I know I do... and I'd rather not see this board dragged down by the moron masses.

Regardless of the legal issues, I don't want to see this board cluttered by idiots who can't figure out how to excercise their god-given right to steal anything and everything (many seem to have trouble comprehending that warez isn't a topic for everywhere and with everyone -- they seem to think all web sites exist to help them pirate software).

[weeyoo]

Since it was the link, "I" typed in, I guess I should make a comment. I did not think it would or should be such a problem. The link in question was a site that does post some links to a popular p2p. Some might be "warez", others are shareware, of course we could battle all day long as to ownership, fair use, etc. etc. I have no interest in becoming an expert in the subject, since I share nothing, and it doesn't affect me.

Anyway, the website has a forum, which answers questions, much like this one in many respects, and has a forum which compiles fakes and files that contain viruses, which is what the person was asking for help with. By the way, was the forum locked because of P2P, my link, or what it should have been for, referring to "Red Dragon" which has not been released to any retailer, and is in theaters. This I think should have been the real subject. Nothing I did was meant to offend or violate any rules. Besides, some movie files I have seen here, have the name of that link at the end, but no one has pressed the issue with these, being warez. By the way each link on this website, includes a link to Amazon, etc., to purchase the title in question. Hmmm....

I have been through the tools section of this site, and in my eyes, what are most of the tools meant for? Ripping DVDS, re-encoding, compressing into divx. Sounds like and ideal way to make a high quality, smaller file, for mass distribution, if someone was so inclinded or wanted to break the law. It seems that there are a few good people here including myself, that enjoy their movies and home movies and want to preserve their vhs, etc. But I also feel there are many that are here solely to take advantage. Many of these tools are perfect for that. Of course that is a whole other topic.

Bottom line....Let it die, I'm not offended, it is their website, their forum, and they may moderate it however they please. If they are overprotective, thats OK, they only want to perserve it. Yes, this site ventures into gray areas, and that is OK too, they may choose to if they want. I wasn't banned for the link, no messages, I didn't even know it until now, oh well. Now I know......

-weeyoo

[NeVeRLiFt]

Hmmmm


Lets take this link here... it does not link to warez are let you download anything. It just has info on certain well known mirc networks and channels
The really good and might I say best servers are private networks

www.packetnews.com

[NeVeRLiFt]

Then lets take these sites here... again nothing to download just info about the stuff all the major release groups have released

www.nforce.nl
www.vcdquality.com
www.isonews.com


again all the n00bies love this Kazaa and winMX and that Edonkey crap LOL
Mircs where its at people.
Like being let loose in a shopping mall and getting anything and everything free :P

[NeVeRLiFt]

For the n00bie just getting started in mirc I recommend using CuteFTP and G6FTP.

[kayfam]

NeVeRLiFt,
Ever here of spamming? Well that's what your doing and besides that what do your last 3 posts have to do with the topic at hand other than to promote yourself and possible end up getting this thread locked?

[NeVeRLiFt]

@kayfam

just proving a point and showing you something

[kayfam]

@kayfam

just proving a point and showing you something

You’re not showing me a damn thing. What point are you trying to make? This started out as a discussion on a topic of which the point seems to be entirely lost on you. I've seem some intelligent comments on the subject by many people here including the original poster and even the one who admitted too posting the original links in the first place, but you don't seem to fit into this category.

[pacmania_2001]

For the n00bie just getting started in mirc I recommend using CuteFTP and G6FTP.

The only way to use mIRC is to use the program mIRC from www.mirc.com . IRC on the other hand can be accessed by a multitude of programs.

Also the programs you listed are for FTP not IRC.