Keep it Legal Please

[Jason Dunn]

I should have explained this when I opened up the forum evidently, but let me be perfectly clear: I can't allow the discussion of eBook "warez". In addition to personally finding such theft morally disgusting as an author myself, the liability issue is huge: if you start sharing how to steal eBooks with each other, and a publisher decides to stop by this forum, guess who could be held liable? Pocket PC Thoughts (me).

Please respect my request in this matter - there are certainly other ways for you to get & share this information.

[Jason Dunn]

I should have explained this when I opened up the forum evidently, but let me be perfectly clear: I can't allow the discussion of eBook "warez". In addition to personally finding such theft morally disgusting as an author myself, the liability issue is huge: if you start sharing how to steal eBooks with each other, and a publisher decides to stop by this forum, guess who could be held liable? Pocket PC Thoughts (me).

Please respect my request in this matter - there are certainly other ways for you to get & share this information.

[Jereboam]

I'm sorry, but I haven't seen any real discussion of "warez" here since you opened the forum or beforehand actually...unless you have deleted any threads. There was one mention of an IRC chatroom which both the poster and I thought was probably inappropriate and duly invited any mod to remove the offending post, which is exactly what happened.

So, I feel offended that you feel that you have to post such a stern warning - immediately bringing up such emotive terms such as "morally disgusting" and "steal" - I sincerely hope that it wasn't directed at me, as I have spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars, pounds, euros, rubles - whatever - acquiring legal and licensed copies of all my software, ebooks, music and so on ad infinitum, despite the (for example) readily available pirated copies of all of the above in Russia. I am a long term advocate of freeware, as I find many of these free programs superior to their commercial alternatives.

We're not children. I know these are your forums, but if someone has broken the rules perhaps a quiet message to that individual rather than a blanket warning would be more appropriate?

Thanks for listening...

J'bm

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Jereboam

There was one mention of an IRC chatroom which both the poster and I thought was probably inappropriate and duly invited any mod to remove the offending post, which is exactly what happened.

Right, and that one post is exactly why I need to be up front and clear about the policy here regarding illegal eBooks. As long as I'm clear on our stance, people will know not to post things like that again, and we won't have a problem. :wink: There's no room for subtlety or confusion where this issue is concerned, and while I regreting making you feel singled out (that was not my intention - I didn't mention any names or link to any threads), this is not an issue on which I will "tip-toe" around.

[maximus]

While we are at it, why not include discussions about any kind of warez (apps, games, OS, PPC2K3, etc.) ... Things that are logically not to be discussed in a well-respected forum.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Maximus

While we are at it, why not include discussions about any kind of warez (apps, games, OS, PPC2K3, etc.) ... Things that are logically not to be discussed in a well-respected forum.

I've never made an official announcement, but we've had dozens of discussions about warez and it's never been a major problem here - pretty much everyone knows my stance on it.

[Jereboam]

Well, the implication that all that is happening is chatter about where to rip off illegal ebooks is still clear, and while you did not mention any names or threads the reference was obvious.

The fact that there have been dozens of discussions about warez/roms and so forth that you have let go means that your sudden warning appears to be very focussed.

I am not requiring you to tip-toe around anything, but subtlety? Yes, when you depend upon your users to generate content in the forums then attention to people's sensibilities is required.

I still maintain that the tone of your post was less than your readers deserved.

J'bm

[Steven Cedrone]

Originally Posted by Jereboam

The fact that there have been dozens of discussions about warez/roms and so forth that you have let go means that your sudden warning appears to be very focussed.

When have you ever seen a post about warez or ROMs where links were not immidiately removed by the moderators on this site... :roll:

Discussion is one thing, but when the line is crossed...

Steven Cedrone
Community Moderator

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Jereboam

The fact that there have been dozens of discussions about warez/roms and so forth that you have let go means that your sudden warning appears to be very focussed.

Really? How interesting. My moderators and I are quite quick to nail those threads down when the pop up, but if we've missed some, please list the URLs where I can find them. Your implication that we're somehow turning a blind eye to warez and piracy in this forum is quite insulting. Please provide proof for your accusation!

Originally Posted by Jereboam

I still maintain that the tone of your post was less than your readers deserved.

And you, sir, seem to be the only one getting defensive over my message. I wonder why that is? (it's not a nice feeling, having your integrity insulted in a public forum, is it?)

[maximus]

Originally Posted by Steven Cedrone

When have you ever seen a post about warez or ROMs where links were not immidiately removed by the moderators on this site... :roll:

I was curious. Did you do that manually, or using a script ?

[Kati Compton]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I was curious. Did you do that manually, or using a script ?

Manually. It would be extremely difficult (understatement) to write a script that could intelligently find and remove ONLY warez links.