Alpha Gripen

[harrybasset]

Has the Alphasim Gripen been added to their freeware catalogue? I've just seen a Gripen on FlightSim which seems to have been inspired by Alphasim.

[dhazelgrove]

It's one of the many just posted by Mohammad Faali.
I've no idea how good it is.

Dave

[hschuit]

I checked it out and it is the (still) payware Virtavia Gripen. It surprises me this Mohammad Faali character is allowed to upload stuff like this at Flightsim.com... Besides that, he has been uploading a lot of other peoples work lately (such as Bill Wolfgren's Flankers) without crediting the developers in the library file description. Are they sleeping at Flightsim.com?

[harrybasset]

It's one of the many just posted by Mohammad Faali.
I've no idea how good it is.

Dave

I was trying to suggest in a subtle manner that it might not be strictly legitimate.

[UnknownGuest12]

Noticed that too...thought that he was a prolific author but he is just assuming ownership "By Mohammad Faali"

If we take a look at aircraft.cfg we can find the names of real owners. Can´t understand how they allowed this in FlightSim...is this piracy or not?

regards

[DaveWG]

He's even left the original "readme" in the zip, which states:


COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

These files are a commercial product and should NOT be treated as freeware.
These files may not be copied (other than for backup purposes), transmitted or passed to third parties or altered in any way without the prior permission of the publisher. Any breach of the aforementioned copyright will result in the full force of law being brought to bear on those responsible.

All rights reserved - ALPHASIM 2007

[srgalahad]

Not all files anywhere get checked in that detail on upload.
Simply email Nels (his contact is on the FlightSim site) and suggest they may be improper and should be checked (include your concerns).

or choose the "It's someone else's problem" option

[Blackbird686]

Looks to be the original model and panel that comes with the Gripen model from Alpha/Virtavia. I have a licensed copy of the FS9 jet. I DON'T have it installed in FSX. I saw this same offering this morning at Flight Sim but didn't give it much consideration until reading this thread. Seems to me that this individual has possibly taken ownership of something that does not belong to him, I would say that you could call that piracy.

BB686:US-flag:

[harrybasset]

I don't have the Alphasim/Virtavia in my hangar to compare but I have sent a message to FlightSim.

[mal998]

Guys,
thanks for the heads up. I have sent Phil an email informing him of the situation.

[Bjoern]

Someone might want to notify him that despite not being available under the Alphasim brand anymore, the SAAB is still sold by Virtavia.
He should also give credit every time he uploads a complete package, not just here and there.

[mal998]

Looks like the Gripen was taken down immediately. This guy has no business uploading payware and promoting it as freeware. That's what we call pirating!

He needs to be informed of this fact if he doesn't alreday know it.


He been busy alright... http://www.fsxaddons.com/addons/author/mohammad-faali/184/

[JensOle]

Looks like he has "stolen" my IRIAF "Alicat" textures as well..

[StormILM]

I saw this guy post a F/A-18F and Mirage 2000 over at Flightsim.com today but immediately I recognized the models and belonging to KBT and Rollus. I hope somebody gets the word out to block this guy from doing what he's doing.

[dhazelgrove]

I'm a bit surprised that flightsim didn't pull all his items once the Gripen was removed.

If one's bad the others must surely be suspect.

Dave

[Jafo]

I'm a bit surprised that flightsim didn't pull all his items once the Gripen was removed.

If one's bad the others must surely be suspect.

Dave

As an admin for a graphics site [Wincustomize.com] when a 'rip' is uploaded/discovered it automatically taints every/all uploads by the same person. We look a little deeper [recheck the others] and typically IP-ban the person outright. [as well as withdraw all the submissions] ...;)

[hschuit]

I have asked D'Andre from AirDailyX (http://www.airdailyx.net/fsnewsbreaker/) to take a look and post a warning - many simmers follow his Daily News.

[fsafranek]

Just noticed this thread but have been concerned about this Mohammad Faali guy for some time. He fails to credit anyone for the work he bundles up. Nor does he include any documentation. And what's the point anyway? Gripen aside, You can get all the stuff he bundles legally from the usual download places.

Some of the freeware stuff he had collected and redistributed was supposed to be only available from specific sites or not at all. Thor's Hammer's Rafale, the VPA Rafale, and the Gmax Academy Mirage 2000 series are three examples. I'm just waiting for him to bundle up Roland's Rafale C/M or Mirage 2000. Given the history of that I expect Dassault will come down hard on any webmasters who host those files. That will teach them to stop blindly (automated) accepting uploads.
:ernaehrung004:

[Blackbird686]

Just noticed this thread but have been concerned about this Mohammad Faali guy for some time. He fails to credit anyone for the work he bundles up. Nor does he include any documentation. And what's the point anyway? Gripen aside, You can get all the stuff he bundles legally from the usual download places.

Some of the freeware stuff he had collected and redistributed was supposed to be only available from specific sites or not at all. Thor's Hammer's Rafale, the VPA Rafale, and the Gmax Academy Mirage 2000 series are three examples. I'm just waiting for him to bundle up Roland's Rafale C/M or Mirage 2000. Given the history of that I expect Dassault will come down hard on any webmasters who host those files. That will teach them to stop blindly (automated) accepting uploads.
:ernaehrung004:

He did credit Pierre Marchadier (GMAX Academy) for the model in his posting of their Mirage 2000 over at Flight Sim, but that's about it. There was a lot more to that package than just the basic plane including multiple repaint skins, panel with gauges.... etc. I get angry when I read that someone has laid a claim to something that IS NOT THEIRS. We have nearly lost several good developers because of this...

BB686:US-flag:

[assassinezzio]

It seems Mr Mohammed Faali is still at it, uploaded the alphasim v22 osprey for fsx to flightsim today. I could be wrong but im pretty sure that's also still a payware product. Messaged flightsim & Virtavia just to bring it to their attention.

Allen

[Victory103]

It seems Mr Mohammed Faali is still at it, uploaded the alphasim v22 osprey for fsx to flightsim today. I could be wrong but im pretty sure that's also still a payware product. Messaged flightsim & Virtavia just to bring it to their attention.

Allen

It is, just purchased a few months ago to get my Osprey fix in. Noticed it ready for download today.

[dhazelgrove]

It is, just purchased a few months ago to get my Osprey fix in. Noticed it ready for download today.

What disappoints me is that over 130 people have already downloaded it.
I hope that flightsim pulls it quickly.

Dave

[fsafranek]

At Phil's request I contacted Nels at Flightsim this morning.



Hi Nels,

There is a real issue with uploads from Mohammad Faali. His latest is the V-22 Osprey. This is the original Alphasim model still sold in Pilot Shop under Phil's new company name of Virtavia. There have been 200 downloads (one by myself to verify -- check the cab file and the cfg in the panel folder -- he removed all other references). That product is currently selling for $25. That's $5000 I believe or about $1500 out of your pocket, not to mention lost profit to Phil and the rest of us who are still a part of Alphasim/Virtavia .

I urge you to stop automatically accepting uploads from this guy.

Best regards,
Frank Safranek
- Alphasim/Virtavia
- Team SDB Scenery


I just checked and the file has been taken down.

[fsafranek]

He did credit Pierre Marchadier (GMAX Academy) for the model in his posting of their Mirage 2000 over at Flight Sim, but that's about it. There was a lot more to that package than just the basic plane including multiple repaint skins, panel with gauges.... etc. I get angry when I read that someone has laid a claim to something that IS NOT THEIRS. We have nearly lost several good developers because of this...

BB686:US-flag:

When Pierre and the GMAX Académy (http://gmax-ac.fr/) stopped making their aircraft available publicly following a lot of criticism of the FDE of their Mirage 2000 series they did agree, following a lot of pleading and assurances on my part, to make the Mirage 2000 series available from two sources: my website (http://www.mirage4fs.com/mirage2k_all.html#gmax_2k5f) and the Virtual French Air Force (http://www.frenchairforce.fr/) website. I don't think it says that in any of the seven packages though.

The Rafale M from Bruno Mérelle (alias "Thor's Hammer" in the forums) is supposed to be available only via the Virtual French Air Force (http://www.frenchairforce.fr/) website. And the Rafale B/C from VPA was only supposed to be available from their website (http://rafalevpa.xooit.fr/index.php). That was one of their agreement points with Dassault. Both are over at Simviation but I've emailed Peter about it.

[Blackbird686]

I was over at Simviation at around 11:00 MST this morning and I didn't see either the VPA or "Thors Hammer" Rafale packages, nor the GMAX Academy Mirage 2000. The admins must have yanked them from the library.

BB686:US-flag:

[mal998]

I sent this guy an email today requesting he cease and desist uploading things that do not belong to him. We'll see if it does any good.

Here is his website address: http://www.fsxaddons.com/contact/

[WombRaider78]

He has quite a bit of work up on Simviation. I do not like his updates.

http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1&keywords=+Mohammad+Faali&categoryId=&page=0&filename=

[Naismith]

I sent this guy an email today requesting he cease and desist uploading things that do not belong to him. We'll see if it does any good.

Here is his website address: http://www.fsxaddons.com/contact/

Don't go there his webpage has a long running script which crashed my IE.

[hairyspin]

He has quite a bit of work up on Simviation. I do not like his updates.




He's put more of the Rafale up: just a matter of time before Simviation and he discover the Wrath of the French...

[Jafo]

Don't go there his webpage has a long running script which crashed my IE.
Went there via Chrome...no issues.
Looks like a D.I.Y. [private] site where he 'hosts' work by others but upped by himself....IE no-one probably gave him permission to distribute.
Credit or not, that's copyright violation.

The appropriate DMCA is...


SAMPLE DMCA TAKE DOWN NOTICE
My name is INSERT NAME and I am the INSERT TITLE of INSERT COMPANY NAME. A website that your company hosts (according to WHOIS information) is infringing on at least one copyright owned by my company.
An article was copied onto your servers without permission. The original ARTICLE/PHOTO, to which we own the exclusive copyrights, can be found at:
PROVIDE WEBSITE URL
The unauthorized and infringing copy can be found at:
PROVIDE WEBSITE URL
This letter is official notification under Section 512(c) (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html#512) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (”DMCA”), and I seek the removal of the aforementioned infringing material from your servers. I request that you immediately notify the infringer of this notice and inform them of their duty to remove the infringing material immediately, and notify them to cease any further posting of infringing material to your server in the future.
Please also be advised that law requires you, as a service provider, to remove or disable access to the infringing materials upon receiving this notice. Under US law a service provider, such as yourself, enjoys immunity from a copyright lawsuit provided that you act with deliberate speed to investigate and rectify ongoing copyright infringement. If service providers do not investigate and remove or disable the infringing material this immunity is lost. Therefore, in order for you to remain immune from a copyright infringement action you will need to investigate and ultimately remove or otherwise disable the infringing material from your servers with all due speed should the direct infringer, your client, not comply immediately.
I am providing this notice in good faith and with the reasonable belief that rights my company owns are being infringed. Under penalty of perjury I certify that the information contained in the notification is both true and accurate, and I have the authority to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright(s) involved.
Should you wish to discuss this with me please contact me directly.
Thank you.
/s/YOUR NAME
Address
City, State Zip
Phone
E-mail

[fsafranek]

I sent this guy an email today requesting he cease and desist uploading things that do not belong to him. We'll see if it does any good.

Here is his website address: http://www.fsxaddons.com/contact/
Mitch, Phil and I have discussed this in emails but the guy who has the fsxaddons website is not the guy uploading things. I don't understand how that assumption was made. He is just another site that blindly accepts uploads -- like flightsim.com, simviation.com, and others. So pounding on him is very misdirected. Following an email from mal998 and another from Phil however, he has removed all uploads from this Muhammad guy.
:ernaehrung004:

[JensOle]

I have been in touch with flightsim.com and simviation about the problem. My last search showed no files on flightsim.com..

[dhazelgrove]

I have been in touch with flightsim.com and simviation about the problem. My last search showed no files on flightsim.com..

They're all still up at Simviation, though. All 4 pages of them.

Dave