Something Should Be Done About This!

[Walter]

I went to look up free FSX planes on Google, and I came accros this. People order payware aircraft for free... Piracy! I don't know what to do about this, but it makes me mad.

{Illegal link edited out}


Walter

[Paul K]

The notion of payware being pirated is new to you ?

[Dangerousdave26]

The first thing we are going to do about is not advertise for them so I removed the link.

Its all over the place and all we can do is attempt to keep it out of here and continually ban those who are caught engaging in it.

[Walter]

No, but finding a whole website commited to doing it just got me very angry!

- Yes that was dumb of me. I'm sorry for posting that...

[Lionheart]

Its caused many companys and groups and people to fall out of this field.

[fsafranek]

Yep. Pirates are bad unless your name is Jack Sparrow.
Apparently I'm one though. Go figure.

http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=84
(http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=84)
So I sent him an email some time ago but have never gotten a response.


Hi.

I noticed that you have identified me as a software pirate in your forum.

http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=84
(http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=84)
This is based on my applying for membership at a piracy website.
Although I don't feel I owe you any sort of explanation since I have
done nothing wrong against you or any other flightsim software
developer but I will do so anyway.

I have been a painter for Alphasim/Virtavia for over 10 years. As such
I am always on the lookout for our products that have been pirated.
That means that from time to time I join websites so I can see what
they have available. I then give that information to Phil Perrot of
Alphasim so he can contact them or their server provider and try to
have the files removed. That is the only reason I join those sites.

If I download something it is only to verify that it is indeed pirated
Alphasim software -- I have my own legal copies of all Alphasim/Virtavia products I am interested in so I don't need to run the risk of a virus from a pirated copy. So I only download if it is absolutely necessary.

My own website, Mirage Aircraft for Flight Simulator, has the same
yellow "Stamp Out Piracy" graphics that you now have begun to
display. I was originally an affiliate of that effort before the website ended so I have been working against piracy for several years.

I am not a member of your website/forum so I can't post this there.
Please do the right thing and remove this false accusation.

Regards,
Frank Safranek
webmaster@mirage4fs.com
Mirage Aircraft for Flight Simulator
www.mirage4fs.com

Co-Founder, Freeflight Design Shop
www.freeflightdesign.org

My favorite ride at Disneyland remains "Pirates of the Caribbean". Arrrgh! :salute:
:ernae:

[Walter]

ARRR!!! ME HEARTIES!!!!

[pilottj]

yeah remember PSS? They were one of quite a few who have fallen to the pirates. Damn shame. I remember a while ago before PSS went down, I wanted to see if there were any updates for some of their nice airliner packages that I had. I couldn't remember their web address so I googled for it. The :censored: pirate links showed up before the PSS site, right in front on the first page...not like 50 pages back...front and center! If you are a developer, that has to be a real downer. We here as FS geeks already know the developers pretty well, but for John Doe basic FSX user looking for addons, that has to be hard to attract business for a developer.

[spotlope]

It really seems like a lot of this traffic could be cut off at the knees if Google were to de-list all pirate sites. If there's a single chokepoint that could bring 'em down, that would be it. Not that I have any hope of eradicating piracy, mind you...

[DarrenL]

Yep. Pirates are bad unless your name is Jack Sparrow.
Apparently I'm one though. Go figure.

http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=84
(http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=84)


That link doesn't work for me (probably as he is blocking simouthouse originating clickthrough)

However looking at his forum I see he has not only conveniently missed of the important part of your post but also grabbed a screencap from the pirate site showing your name on the memberlist (which incidentally says "account not activated" under it).

I was thinking though, wouldn't he himself have to join the same pirate site to be able to view their memberlist? Making him in his own twisted eyes a pirate too?

[Pips]

That guy named Webmaster on the Icarus site has some serious mental issues. :banghead:

[N2056]

I am aware of those posts. They have been discussed with other staff members. While the individual had his membership removed, he still comes in as a guest. Due to the nature of the problem I would ask that we take the high road and not start attacking any one person here, member or not.

[bruce448]

Don't worry Frank your not the only one listed and have had their account suspended http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=80

Bruce

[wombat666]

We can agree that the person in question has no real idea of our policy toward pirates and other thieves, but the rules at SOH apply to 'visitors' as well as members.
I suggest the subject be dropped.
:kilroy:

[strykerpsg]

Don't worry Frank your not the only one listed and have had their account suspended http://www.icarusgold.com/FS/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=10&thread_id=80

Bruce

Wow! They must cruise SOH still as all the links are now dead! Anyway, piracy is a shame and there are similar active measures taken with the Ariane Designs stuff too. He makes some absolutely great 737's but has been bit and the byproduct is minimal to no printable manuals forcing you to buy his printed versions. Unfortunate that there isn't more active means to prosecute some of these people and their websites.

Matt

[Mathias]

Someone may want to fill me in, is that all a reaction on the dreaded Grumman Goose plagiarism accusation from a few month ago?

[fsafranek]

Someone may want to fill me in, is that all a reaction on the dreaded Grumman Goose plagiarism accusation from a few month ago?
Yes, but we're not going to talk about it. :kilroy:

BTW, your Bf 108 Taifun looks awesome.
:ernae:

[warchild]

Yes, but we're not going to talk about it. :kilroy:

BTW, your Bf 108 Taifun looks awesome.
:ernae:

It flies pretty darn good too... :)

[Cirrus N210MS]

after reading the posts over at Icarusgold i wont ever waste my money on there stuff the way they treated the Good Name of The sim outhouse Thats just not cool

[warchild]

I'm ging to ask here that we not get into discussing Icarus Gold to any degree whatsover ok.. lets leave it all in the past where it belongs, or i'll have to pull the plug on this thread.
Pam