Victims of Piracy

[corman420]

Good day,

I am the web host, systems admin, webmaster, whatever you want to call me for a popular community. I didn't build the site, nor was I a member when it was smaller. I was adopted to be the system admin for the site a few months ago.

As I viewed the FTP of the site, I noticed that the vbulletin copy was nullified. I contacted the site owner and he said he had no idea the site was ilelgal. He purchased the website from someone else and PAID $500 for the script.... The owner had never knew the script was illegal.

The site is a non-profit site, and that's why I host/administrate the server for it.

Here's my question. The owner of the site, as well as the site its self, doesn't really have a lot of money, I was going to donate a license for the cause.

Is there a way I can buy a license for them? I understand I would have to remove the null scripts, upload the new files, and point it to the exisitng database, correct?After I purchase the license will the site be frowned upon?

These people were clearly victims of software piracy

Thanks

[SNN]

I believe you could purchase it and if I remember correctly (Somewhere in the Members area...) you could transfer the ownership of the license to them after 3 months (Or something like that.)

You just have to point the URL to their website.

Hope that helps.
SNN

[corman420]

Yeah. I was goign to give them my hosting address. I own a small hosting company. So basically, I would purchase the license, and then donate it to them.

But I just feel weird telling vbulletin thier address when I know for a fact they are using an illegal copy. I have put up a splash page with limited use of the forums until I get this figured out. I told them I wasn't hosting illegal software.

[Wayne Luke]

When you assign a license to a URL already using a nullified copy, it will legitimize their site not the opposite. We prefer to offer people the chance to purchase the software over going through the steps to shut them down.

[DelphiVillage]

hi,

I am verry sorry but this is plain bull** you do not have to be a computergenius to know you have to be properly licenced to use vBulletin.The site owner should have been suspicious people where asking $500 for it while the original prices for a vBulletin licence are $160(owned) and $85 (leased) i don't see the "victim" here you are obviously innocent but the site owner shoud have checked.It's a minute of work to surf to www.vbulletin.Com and view the prices !.On the other hand i do understand that not everybody has the knowledge to recognize a nulled vBulletin or any scripts for that matter but i still believe the owner should have checked.

[corman420]

Not everyone knows as much as you or I buddy. The person who purchased the site knows a lot about electronics, but can only use a computer to check email.

Watch your mouth...

How would you know if he even knew that the website he purchased used vbulletin? Do you think that was going through is head. Now I dont know much more than what was said, but that was uncalled for. Relax. Would your grandfather know to browse to vbulletin.com to check prices? No? Becuase that is a good comparison to who this person is.

License has been purchased and their site is now back online.

Thanks Vbulletin team!

[Chazel]

I have to agree with Delphi on this one. Yes, some people are not tech savvy, but it's plain stupid to pay $500 for something without knowing anything about it; and if he knew about it, he'd know that he was being overcharged by $340.

[linhhon2003]

Off-topic .
How do you know someone ' using Nulled vbb ? i think i know some web 'using null vbb but i dont know how to check that ( or just report them and vbulletin will check that?)

[SNN]

There is no way to check, just report them if you suspect they are using a pirated copy of vBulletin.

[Chazel]

I used to know of a nulled vBulletin and if you direct linked to one of their files, it said "Nulled by: ...". Apparently it's the same on other nulled versions, so it's easy to tell. I think vBulletin mostly checks if the website is in their database of user-entered URL's, then they can quickly narrow down reported sites.

[Floris]

These days the users who rip the software and distribute it and scam people buying it etc even use keygen to make false license numbers to look more legit. A very sad practice.

I am glad to hear you at least figured it out. You don't have to worry about giving away their details when you buy a license. Once a license points to the domain it won't be considered illegal. It is also very easy to replace the warez files with the legal files without losing any data.

A lot of people pirate the software, and our piracy department contacts users for who we can't find a license, and ask them to provide one. (Or give the option to stop using the software, or to buy it.) And a lot of users who find out they've been scammed, or figure out they might as well buy it, make the sale and buy an owned license.

We're looking forward having you as a customer, and we're sorry to hear you guys have a pirated version now, a bit more 'reading' could have resulted in avoiding this problem. But I am happy to find out you are trying to do the right thing now and resolve the problem. Resolving the problem will certainly take away any chance of running the risk of being hold responsible for copyright infringement.

[linhhon2003]

if someone edited " Powered by vBulletin� Version 3.6.8" to that thay want .Like :" M� nguồn vbulletin 4.5.6" it is legal or illegal? (demo : <<link removed>> and i believe they are using null (keygen) vbb.

[Wayne Luke]

No, it is not legal to rebrand the software. I have removed the link but the issue will be investigated. As the original question is answered, I am closing this thread.