I could go into why you're wrong about .air files and such and why handing someone that single file violates multiple copyrights... but I'm pretty certain you really don't care much about protecting intellectual property.

Oh my goodness. And that final nana nana booboo twist. Wow. I'm all about protecting a developer's property, but I have a level head about it.

Lesse... who owns the rights to the elevation data? Who owns the rights to the rest of the .bgl's contents in that .cab file? Do any of you seriously grasp the sheer amount of licensing required to create the 'world' in FS? The cost?? I realize that breaking a tiny little thing like a copyright or speeding, or doing a rolling stop through a light or a stop sign means nothing to a great deal of individuals... but right is right and wrong is wrong. This acceptance that you can do 'a little wrong' and it's not... is irrational.

The funny thing is while everybody is arguing someone probably privately PM'd the guy and said here's a copy of the file zipped. End of story. At the end of the day no one should be stupid enough to upload those files for free download or suggest passing around files like that on a public forum, especially out of respect to Avsim. I suggested buying a new copy since it is pretty easy to get hold of cheap (for me at least in London) If I was out in Bahrain I would be screwed and would need someone to send me the files. I doubt Microsoft would send out a Swat team to his house anytime soon so lets use some common sense. What exactly can you do with Asia Cab file alone? Nothing, so whats the bid deal, unless he is secretly asking for every FS9 file 1 by 1 so hopefully he will have the default FS9 installed on his system in 10 years or so ;)

The OP has a legal copy of FS9, right? So, he has the right to use the software. Whether he gets the file from the original disk or in some other manner should not matter.

I'm all about protecting a developer's property, but I have a level head about it.

Are you - would you have a level head if someone asked for the latest PMDG 737 files? EULAs generally absoutely prohibit re-distributing files . They don't say "unless you're doing for a good cause and promise you're not a pirate". EDIT

The OP has a legal copy of FS9, right? So, he has the right to use the software. Whether he gets the file from the original disk or in some other manner should not matter.

He has only the right to use the software provided on the CD/DVD, not any other. When I buy a car I have the right to use that car. If it breaks down I can't steal another from the seller

Are you - would you have a level head if someone asked for the latest PMDG 737 files? EULAs generally absoutely prohibit re-distributing files . They don't say "unless you're doing for a good cause and promise you're not a pirate". EDIT He has only the right to use the software provided on the CD/DVD, not any other. When I buy a car I have the right to use that car. If it breaks down I can't steal another from the seller

Why not?Cant beat a bit of thievery .cheersSwagman

Exactly why I only buy my games via Steam or a Direct Download method. He paid for the license to use the software and his .02 cent medium failed now he is forced to shell out more money for another license. That's why I hope FLight gets a day one release on the WIndows Marketplace or hopefully a Steam release. ala Fable/GTA4 since Steam does support GFWL which Flight will be.

OK, felony this...copyright that...this conversation is for one set of rules. Theft is theft but which country's rules is everyone gravitating towards and does it make it universal?Mark

There is also the idea of "implied warantee" that the orignal media should be free of defects. When used properly, the CDs should remain readable. In most software EULAs, the user has the right to install on one machine at a time, but that implies that the media will remain readable to allow the software to be moved to another machine. I'd say that Microsoft owes him another disk, unless the one he bought was damaged from mis-use.

There is also the idea of "implied warantee" that the orignal media should be free of defects. When used properly, the CDs should remain readable. In most software EULAs, the user has the right to install on one machine at a time, but that implies that the media will remain readable to allow the software to be moved to another machine. I'd say that Microsoft owes him another disk, unless the one he bought was damaged from mis-use.

If this had been a new purchase and it failed to install the OP would entitled to a replacement. However the fact that he's asking here and saying he wants FS back implies that the disk did previously install and so was free of defects when supplied.

When I buy a car I have the right to use that car. If it breaks down I can't steal another from the seller

The car analogy doesn't apply here. The extra car costs the manufacturer money unlike the cab file.

The car analogy doesn't apply here. The extra car costs the manufacturer money unlike the cab file.

That is the classic pirate's argument - piracy doesn't cost the developer money.

That is the classic pirate's argument - piracy doesn't cost the developer money.

Just because I pointed out that your analogy was wrong I became a pirate? I never said it was ok to send him the file, because I am no lawyer and I don't know if it is piracy or not. But I still think you are analogy is wrong.

I don't recall if FS9 asks for a serial or not, but in my mind he paid for a serial number ala FSX. If he lived next to me and wanted to reinstall FSX due to his DVD being cracked, would I be wrong in lending him mine and he used the license key he paid for?

I don't recall if FS9 asks for a serial or not, but in my mind he paid for a serial number ala FSX. If he lived next to me and wanted to reinstall FSX due to his DVD being cracked, would I be wrong in lending him mine and he used the license key he paid for?

Yes. The Eula and the law prohibits this