Microsoft and eBay hook up to catch pirates

vnunet ^ | 07 Dec 2005 | Ken Young

[dennisw]

EBay removed 11,535 suspected counterfeit software sales from its site in August

[GeronL]

aaaaarrrgghhh!!!

[goldstategop]

Ebay is a great place to shop. Look up the seller's recent feedback. What people say about the seller is a good indication of whether you can safely do business with that person. If it sounds too good to be true... caveat emptor applies as much in a virtual marketplace as it does in a real world store.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Paul C. Jesup]

Better MS than RIAA/MPAA. If it was the RIAA/MPAA that ebay would have partnered up with, it would have been banned on ebay to sell used and/or legit imported DVDs and CDs.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Ebay is a great place to shop. Look up the seller's recent feedback.

True, but it's the idiots that don't do this that complain the most.

[battlegearboat]

Billy Bones Gates

[NZerFromHK]

Just an interesting question: is it legal to buy and/or sell used software titles in the current versions? I once asked a Microsoft agent buying an old copy of Windows 98 2 years ago as I needed to keep an obsolete computer running, and the rep pointed me to a local equivalent of eBay to buy and it was perfectly legal from MS's POV.

Now the question is: is it still legal if I buy a MS Office 2003 secondhand in this way? Because new copies of it are still on the shelves around the world.

[goldstategop]

You can buy ultra-expensive software like Office and Photoshopvat a substantial discount directly from an OEM store. The difference is you won't get a manual and the software is NOT upgradeable like the official retail version. But if you need them, then it may be for you.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[dennisw]

Can you name such an OEM store? Thanks.

[sure_fine]

welp, there goes Christmas

[NZerFromHK]

I personally asked sales reps at some computer stores about buying Office 2003 and they discreetly say that "in theory you must be a currently-enrolled student to buy academic-priced softwares, but we do turn a blind eye...". I wouldn't say much more here because what they do is certainly illegal, but...

[Paul C. Jesup]

Now the question is: is it still legal if I buy a MS Office 2003 secondhand in this way?

Yes, as long as you recieve the legit hard disc (CD) the software comes on AND the seller has uninstalled the software from their computer.

[goldstategop]

http://top-oem-software.com/

[goldstategop]

With OEM software, you don't get a retail box, the printed manual and technical support. You do get to save a lot of money. Its a good way to go if you want fully functional (legit) software at a down to earth price.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[dennisw]

Great site to buy Windows XP Pro for $50... thanks.

[Paul C. Jesup]

With OEM software, you don't get a retail box, the printed manual and technical support. You do get to save a lot of money. Its a good way to go if you want fully functional (legit) software at a down to earth price.

I am not talking about the retail box, nor the printed manual. I am talking about the CD the software is on.

[goldstategop]

Well... the pirated versions will come on phony CDs.... they'll have problems and you won't the sofrware that's made to the manufacturer's specs. So be careful what you buy, that's all one can say. You're not likely to get into legal trouble but it might not work right on your computer and you can forget about getting the software maker to help resolve issues you might have.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Paul C. Jesup]

Well... the pirated versions will come on phony CDs.... they'll have problems and you won't the sofrware that's made to the manufacturer's specs.

So. It's not hard to tell the difference between a legit CD and a fake one. Watermarks, seethrough CDs, it is not hard to tell.

[Investment Biker]

Be forewarned that "feedback" is not always protection against fraud. There was a fellow selling bicycles on ebay that would steal the identy of a seller and post his own fraudlant ads with his contct info stating that he would no go through paypal. When you click on the feedback items none of them were for bicycle related items. When you check the seller's address for a real bike shop it does not exist. Call the 800 number listed in the ad on ebay and I feel certain that it is a VOIP 800 number that transfers to a fradulent overseas site. Be very careful.