I have no, never have had, will not have pirated software on my pc.

However, I vehemently object to scanning beyond a software owners content.

11 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Any more references to FS Labs in this PMDG discussion will be hidden.

I don't understand. Why would we go in that direction to threaten and hide a post that reveals the truth? They did something wrong in violation of certain laws, learned the hard way, apologized, and fixed the problem.  We should be able to share views and facts freely without fearing such threats. These hiding posts are a new trend here, very disappointing. 

18 minutes ago, flyingscampi said:

What products are you referring to? I thought this was about PMDG flagging pirated copies of its 737?

I’m talking more generally, not just about this case, that may or may not be true.

Windows, Mac, gadgets, home devices, you name it, already collect and transmit data, often with very little transparency about what’s being sent or who has access to it. That’s why I don’t like the idea of more surveillance. 

5 hours ago, JYW said:

I don't think there's anything illegal with software checking for a current, legitimate licence.

Correct. Nothing wrong with them getting a “ping” for their product. What is a violation of the FTC rules in the US is for them to hold your other licenses hostage because of an alleged violation with out due process. They essentially failed to protect their product by trusting a random person, who leaked it. That person ultimately is financially responsible for the harm they incur. For example, if a radio station plays a leaked song from an artist, and you listen to it and record it on let’s say a recordable tape, would it then give the right for that artist or record label to come into your home and collect all of the legitimately purchase songs you’ve purchased? No, the radio station would get sued even criminally prosecuted. 

What appears to be happening from what I’ve read instead is they are asking people who have already bought products to pay them to get access to those products again. It’s definitely a gray area that they’re navigating in. 
 

3 minutes ago, LRBS said:

I don't understand. Why would we go in that direction to threaten and hide a post that reveals the truth? They did something wrong in violation of certain laws, learned the hard way, apologized, and fixed the problem.  We should be able to share views and facts freely without fearing such threats. These hiding posts are a new trend here, very disappointing. 

Because it serves no useful purpose. It happened nearly eight years ago and they apologised and withdrew the relevant software.

Unless PMDG do the same thing (highly unlikely) then to continue to bring up the FSL incident is not relevant.

Just now, Johnny19 said:

I’m talking more generally, not just about this case, that may or may not be true.

Windows, Mac, gadgets, home devices, you name it, already collect and transmit data, often with very little transparency about what’s being sent or who has access to it. That’s why I don’t like the idea of more surveillance. 

I totally agree, I had an anxiety attack recently looking at the security certificates installed on my Android phone.

I just feel PMDG is being unfairly criticised in this thread for detecting piracy of its own software.

Wow, the gnashing of teeth and dramatics that erupt on anything PMDG related never ceases to amuse 🙂 It's actually a thing of wonder to see how if PMDG so much as sneezes the amount of response/reactions they can garner.

Yes they could have done the 2024 upgrade for free, but let's be honest.. even if the upgrade fee is above $20 or $30 or $40 or whatever, tonnes are still going to get it. There's even likely going to be server issues due to influx of buyers on day one like the initial release days of the 777, etc etc. And then like the last few times, the PMDG 737 will be stay atop the most-used/favorite aircraft add-ons on surveys like Navigraph's. 

Bottom line, irrespective of certain PMDG personalities, they make solid high fidelity add-ons. And without much competition they are going to rake in the sales. If they overreach this time with too high an upgrade fee, then let's see if the market really speaks enough to give them food for thought (my hunch, likely not).
 

Edited December 16, 2025Dec 16 by lwt1971

1 hour ago, RobJC said:

I went to breakfast Saturday. Had an omelette, coffee and toast. The wife also had similar. We stayed for 45 minutes. The bill was $40. The benefit wore off in 5-6 hours, and then we prepared for dinner. 

Buying an upgrade to a product that will provide hundreds of hours of benefit is definitely not something i am going to think about for one minute. Now, flying to Hawaii cattle car instead of first class, saving thousands? Yes, i think about that. Eating at a nice restaurant and dropping $500+ versus buying and cooking at home, saving $300? Yeah, I think about that. 

This PMDG upgrade is literally the definition of no brainer - to me. 

You certainly have some expensive eating places where you live. $500 for a meal.(Presumably for 2) Unbelievable.

5 minutes ago, IanHarrison said:

You certainly have some expensive eating places where you live. $500 for a meal.(Presumably for 2) Unbelievable.

Definitely not out of the realm of possibility. I ate solo at a Ruth Chris's without booze and it cost around $150 for just for me. Add in some apps, bottle or two of wine, and yeah, you can hit $500.

Edited December 16, 2025Dec 16 by BrammyH

26 minutes ago, BrammyH said:

Definitely not out of the realm of possibility. I ate solo at a Ruth Chris's without booze and it cost around $150 for just for me. Add in some apps, bottle or two of wine, and yeah, you can hit $500.

Insanity.

6 hours ago, Johnny19 said:

When PMDG is suspected of doing something

The operative word here is suspected.   And suspected by whom?   Internet rumor and gossip? 😉

Look, I was absolutely not defending PMDG.  Like a lot of people, I'm pretty disillusioned by them and don't like the way they do business, on a number of levels.

My point was just that we shouldn't act like a kangaroo court here and start accusing them of breaking laws, etc - until there is proof.

As far as we know, no-one here has been subject to PMDG's actions on this, so perhaps we can't be sure as to what they are doing.

Someone in another comment has just referred to PMDG "asking customers to buy back ALL their licences" - this is how false information gets spread.   From what I've read, they are asking the people who used the pirated 737 to pay for that licence, in order to get access to their products back.  That's different to them asking them to buy all of their PMDG products again. 

If they are crossing the line with regards to their actions, I hope they get held to account.  I hate what FSL did years ago and I've not bought their products since.   But there was clear evidence then, I'm not sure we have such evidence about PMDG at this point. 

Edited December 16, 2025Dec 16 by JYW

53 minutes ago, IanHarrison said:

You certainly have some expensive eating places where you live. $500 for a meal.(Presumably for 2) Unbelievable.

High end place for sure. But my point was that there are plenty of opportunities to save money on things that only last a short time, versus something that potentially provides hundreds of hours of enjoyment. 

It will need to be a very low cost upgrade for me as I'm quite happy with I-Fly's 737 MAX 8 and was totally surprised to learn PMDG did not prioritize bringing their most popular plane to 2024.  

3 hours ago, JonathanC said:

This is directly and obviously ChatGPT.

No it isn't. 

Edited December 16, 2025Dec 16 by Tuskin38

On 12/15/2025 at 10:22 AM, Fiorentoni said:

And what will the upgrade cost (= discount)? The fact that they don‘t talk numbers three days before indicates it will be a pretty high price and they are looking for impulse purchases.

I mean there‘s no more talk of „price of a coffee“, by now it‘s „full price but a „substantial“ discount“. That sounds like 30-40 dollars, which would be outright ridiculous for an update that encompasses about 2 big Fenix updates (which were free (!)).
Will I pay it? Of course, what else can I do. 

Of course I‘d also be happy to be wrong about the price… but it‘s the fourth time or so PMDG drags their 737 to a new simulator and previously it was always a hefty upgrade fee, so I can‘t help but see the pattern.

$7,37,800