Its 5$ for a lifetime membership, i dont think thats asking too much.Bandwidth isnt free.OHN

As OHN said, bandwidth costs money.Get over it or don't release anymore freeeware if you are that sensitive about it. The hobby will continue.

I think there's one very easy way to settle this (atleast in the future):Make sure to add the clause "This package should only be distributed on websites that allow anyone to download the file for free" into your freeware releases' readme.This way, if a website like flyawaysimulation.com adds the package into their library, you have a case against them. At the same time, sites that make back their operational costs through advertisement or "added benefit" memberships can still offer the file for download.

Hello Mark,No, your not a miserable b*****d at all. You are making a valid complaint and I for one, will not be patronising a site that is using other people's files without consent.It's people like you that, keep the comradeship alive within this hobby.If files are released as freeware there should never be a charge, whatever way others, decide to do it?The hours of work involved in making freeware should be honoured by us all.Dave T. .........On the lovely warm Devon Riviera and active 'FlightSim User's Group' member at http://www.flightsimgrpuk.free-online.co.uk/

Hang in there Mark. You have a right to vent without hearing "get out of freeware" or "they have bandwidth costs". I am surprised at these types of comments. You wouldn't hear them if they were offering pirated payware titles, I assure you. Regards,John

Yep, hang in there Mark! Besides, it must be a very legitimate org to even offer the NoCD crack on the front page... My mind is pretty simple with this kind of sites; if they're prepared to cheat others, who guarantees they won't be inclined to cheat me knowing my credit card details? Good luck and kind regards Jaap

And how long is a lifetime? Until they decide they've collected enough $5?

>And how long is a lifetime? Until they decide they've>collected enough $5?The lifetime of these sites tends to be mercifully short - unless you're one of the mugs who paid, of course.No-one ASKS or DEMANDS these sites provide downloads, so how can they justify charging? If they can't afford to provide the downloads through more conventional cost-defraying means, get out of the hobby.And notice there's no PayPal account? PayPal requires stringent checks on account requests before awarding an account. Says it all really. Allcott

OHN and Edam, may the white dove of happiness settle on your shoulder. It'll probably poop in your top pocket, though.Oh, and if you click the banner below, please send me five dollars. Bandwidth ain't free, ya know ;)Mark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cathayhk.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/maamlogo2.jpg[/a]

>As OHN said, bandwidth costs money.>>Get over it or don't release anymore freeeware if you are that>sensitive about it. The hobby will continue.>> No actually he doesn't have to get over it, as he is the copyright holder of his work, he has the right to say how, where and if it is distributed. Nobody and no website has the right to distribute someone else work without their consent, unless the work is explicitly put in the public domain by it's owner. Just because, something is released as freeware does not make it public domain, and he maintains all rights to his work. Anyone or any site that violates those rights, are violating the law pure and simple. The law doesn't even require him to put any disclaimer to maintain those rights. If no explicit permission is given to distribute, then the right doesn't exist in the eyes of the law.

This constant crap about freeware copyrights doesn't mean a thing. Has ANYONE ever been able to do anything about it, except for the constant moaning and groaning? No. Again, get over it."You have a right to vent without hearing "get out of freeware" or "they have bandwidth costs". I am surprised at these types of comments. You wouldn't hear them if they were offering pirated payware titles, I assure you."I feel that pirated payware is an ENTIRELY different thing. If I were able to, and would release, a FREEWARE title, I wouldn't care less what was done with it. That's for the END USER to decide what he wants to do it it's on a site that charges. "Besides, it must be a very legitimate org to even offer the NoCD crack on the front page..."And just what is wrong with the NoCD "crack?" If you are a pirate you will be able to get the full version anyway. If you own a legitimate copy you have the right to be able to use that conveniently, without the hassle of having to have a certain CD in the drive. Both of these issues have been discussed here many times and there will NEVER be a resolution to either of them.>Edited for content. -JC

I don't see a difference between pirated payware or pirated freeware, you've stolen someone's work that has a monetary value. Just because they don't ask for money doesn't mean it's not worth anything. A lot of time goes into it. No one should profit off of a freeware designers product without his permission. How would you like to do something for free then have the end user turn around and sell it? I don't care if it's an FS plane or a book report (yes same thing happens to student reports these days), you're taking something that belongs to someone else that has a value to it and cashing in on it.----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satillite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

Interesting... They have 2 files that contain the AAL livery, and they charge to let people download them... Wasn't that illegal?Its 5$ for a lifetime membership, i dont think thats asking too much.Not the point. If freeware authors wanted for people to pay to get their work, they'd charge for it. If they don't profit from their own work why should others be allowed to do so? And you'd be surprised how many people have done just what you suggested, Edam... Partly because they were sick and tired of putting up with people like yourself telling them they had no right to want to protect their work because they're giving it away for free. Just because we give our work out for free doesn't mean we don't have the right to choose what happens to our work. Of course, you wouldn't understand any of this... You admitted you're not a freeware contributor. You just benefit from their (our) work and then when it's time to give moral support, we're on our own, right?Daniel P.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpgMember of SJU Photography. [A HREF=http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=9004]Click Here[/A] to view my aircraft photos at JetPhotos.Net!The official psychotic AA painter. :)

Exactly! That's a darn good suggestion, Janne. These sites have the right to charge for files, but they should never host freeware on a paysite without authors permission.I see this kind of crap everywhere, in every game in every genre where there are mods for it, some &!@#$ is going to rip it and not care thing-one about the author.Mark, keep fighting the good fight, and I understand the frustration. I'm with you. A site that operates itself in such a manner will get no traffic from me unless they decide to be civil and do something about it. The vast majority of FS add-ons is freeware, and the authors deserve as much respect as payware authors.Good luck, Mark!!-JeremyThe Ozark DogfighterHappy Flying!

"Both of these issues have been discussed here many times and there will NEVER be a resolution to either of them."I am glad you are not the one to determine where discussion ends. Feel free to move on to another thread if this one challenges you.I think you at least helped me understand why you feel the way you do. You raise some very interesting questions and also with your comments vs. the No-cd crack, state a very old cliche'. In all fairness to your post, you ask if anyone's been able to do anything about this issue. The answer--who can? Unless someone makes millions, chances are most freeware authors support themselves like you and I do. It takes money and time to litigate a copyright infringement case--these trashy sites know it, and so do the freeware authors. The ONLY defense we have is you, the consumer. If enough consumers raise a stink and protect the underdogs that most freeware authors are, this practice wouldn't take place because these sites' sponsors wouldn't get a dime. You mention you wouldn't care about what was done to your freeware work. Are you sure? It sounds like you haven't been in a position yet to know the answer. I haven't given very much in my life, but at least the meager offerings I've made with my own freeware applications and designs are something. I am very picky in what I put in my EULA's and so far, sites have respected them--but I also lock my home and a thief broke into it last year anyway. According to you, I shouldn't complain? Oh, you aren't saying that? But you are.... Compare freeware to charity. Imagine you hammer on a house for "Habitat for Humanity", and some hustler steals the house to make a buck off of the people it was meant for. Just because you gave your sweat for free, does that mean any jerk can walk up and steal the effort? I can't believe you or any reasonable person would feel that way.I could continue, but I don't want to make the flames of this thread any worse. It raises a very serious issue--that of an ungrateful--but loud--minority who feel what is for the giving is for the taking, You have a right to feel that way, that I grant you. But I will control how you say it--be forewarned.-John