When I first got my computer it came with a version of PowerDVD
Worked great and I liked it…one night I was in an updating mood and checked to see if they had an update for my version…they did…however it was a sample one that only allowed you to run it for 10 minutes at a time
I didn’t know this when I downloaded it but I wanted to see just what changes they had made so this was not that big a deal and if it was enough better I would of upgraded
In my opinion while it was nice it wasn’t enough better to justify to me anyway the price so I was gonna just keep the version I originally had to begin with and move on
Problem was in order to install the new version they made me uninstall the old version and like an idiot I never thought to see if I could find my old disk or even if I had one in the first place(brain fart)…the place I bought the computer from may have preinstalled it
So I emailed the fine folks at PowerDVD and told them my problem and they pretty much told me to go pee up a rope…buy the upgrade deadbeat
This did not have the desired effect of getting me to buy their new version…instead I began a search for a place to get it at one of the million places online for free(no link for obvious reasons)
I now have their newest version of PowerDVD and it works peachy keen but was wondering just how ethically wrong am I for doing what I did?
Before you lambast me too much I DID have the PowerDVD in the beginning(bought and paid for as part of the purchase price of my computer) and I would of been perfectly happy to keep using that version because as I say I had no troubles with it but once they made me uninstall it just to try out their new version it was gone forever…when I contacted them I would of been happy just to get my old version back(I MIGHT have…um…paraphrased their response to me but they WERE very rude)
So did I strike a blow for the little guy doing what I did or am a shining example of what’s wrong with the mentality of everyone thinking everything on the Web ought to be free kind of thing?
Legally, you’re wrong, but I’m not one who favors the law’s opinion in every regard. I can say I would have certainly done the same as it’s asinine for the company to expect you to repurchase their software, when it was essentially the fault of their own (required uninstallation without backup). Plus it sounds as if their customer service leaves much to be desired.
The new way of packaging OEM software where they only give you a restore disk and not the actual product is a total scam, and I think you have every right to be upset about the whole situation.
Ethically, I’d say that what you did is somewhere above jaywalking and below driving faster than the speed limit. But then again, I’m not exactly the biggest anti-pirate girl out there, to put it mildly.
I thought of that actually and if I had come across the old version FIRST I might very well have done that
This was on my old computer and the upgrades were several versions newer(it wasn’t like going from 2.0 to 2.037…more like going from 2.0 to 5.0)…to be honest I’m not sure they would even have the version I had available online at one of those places(they tend to have the newest version)
On the other hand I could be fooling myself…I was mad at them and just getting back to my original state would of been a pretty tepid revenge
I wasn’t exaggerating when I said they were rude when I emailed them plus to me anyway it was a marketing decision to make you uninstall the old version knowing they had made deals with various computer makers to supply PowerDVD to computer buyers withOUT the disk knowing if you wanted their new DVD player you could NOT upgrade at the lower price…you would have to pay FULL price or do without a DVD player for which you had already paid
Of course this could all be me rationalizing what I did but if so it works for me
I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. I certainly wouldn’t pay for the upgrade–powerdvd’s pricing schemes are, to say the least, steep. I could get a superior hardware player for the price they ask.
I have traced your IP address on this board to your exact location and I also know your real name (it’s not really Turtle now is it Mr. Pirate). You should be expecting a little visit any time now from some parties that will be very interested in what you have done and just how you managed to pull it off without detection thus far. This wasn’t the first time now was it.
I would of gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddlesome kids
BTW The ironic thing about all this is…I have NEVER in my life…on any computer…EVER downloaded a single piece of copyrighted music AND until then I had never downloaded any programs that cost money for free
The PowerDVD guys took my um…pirate virginity
What’s left to say except “Ahrr prepare to be downloaded matey!”
in a world of greed and lack of customer support wherein MORE money is not railing in… we pirates are the carriers of karma… we inflict damage into the central core of the complany’s sole intent… MAKING MONEY. they don’t care about you anymore than most of them know what the programs they are selling even really do, or how they were written. as with music, most of the musicians that are supporting the RIAA’s complaint are those that are too lazy to tour. and those with crappy filler CDs houseing one or two good singles. and the RIAA hardly cares, about you, or the artist, BMG is in this colilition, and BMG gives CDs away.
none of these people care about their cutomers, nor the admiration that the customer has for the product… they just want to push you through the system, take your $$ and go home to their nice homes… never thinking about the people they steal from.
until we get some real customer service in this world, and less greedy SOBs who charge $2000 for a program that is only a few steps above it’s counterparts, but… has the logo, that sells… we will continue to balance the theivery.
