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Cnet's Download.com and the installer scam
Lashiec:
Years and years of hosting software and letting everyone on the net download them for free has apparently taken its toll on CNET's finances, which are now offering software packages wrapped in their own custom installer, complete with the omnipresent toolbar offer. Not only that, but developers subscribed to the Premium Service have the option to provide the original, unmodified installer for its own software, presumably for a meager monthly fee.
Not only this move is completely unacceptable from an user point of view, but also breaks the TOS included with many software installers, which disallow modification of the original installer, or re-distribution of the software under different terms. As you can see in the picture above, even VLC, which is distributed under the GPL, doesn't escape CNET's clutches.
NINJA EDIT: According to the FAQ linked above, registered users still can get the original installer. The rest can go... grab the installer from the developer site themselves.
via Slashdot
skwire:
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
This really pisses me off since some of my software is listed on that site and now has this extra setup garbage. FWIW, I have never submitted any of my software to ANY site other than my own. I have sent an email to CNet and have asked them to remove my software from their site. For posterity, and since I had to submit it via their online form, here is the email I sent them:
SpoilerHello,
My name is Jody Holmes and I am the author of at least 22 pieces of software currently listed on the CNET Downloads site. It has recently come to my attention that CNET has started wrapping these downloads within their own installer. I am vehemently against this sort of behaviour and would like all of my software removed from website immediately.
I have never submitted my software to any website other than my own personal site. I will assume your listings were added via an automated PAD file mechanism of some sort. Therefore, I do not feel I am bound by your Terms of Service (if that mattered).
Again, please remove the following pieces of software from your listings:
http://download.cnet.com/trout/3000-2139_4-75373479.html
http://download.cnet.com/boot-snooze/3000-20432_4-75328890.html
http://download.cnet.com/files-2-folder/3000-2248_4-75373366.html
http://download.cnet.com/trout-portable/3000-2139_4-75374410.html
http://download.cnet.com/file-bucket/3000-2248_4-75373254.html
http://download.cnet.com/spinzip/3000-2250_4-75373355.html
http://download.cnet.com/spinzip/3000-2250_4-75373355.html
http://download.cnet.com/drop-zone/3000-2248_4-75373370.html
http://download.cnet.com/snap-db/3000-10254_4-75373480.html
http://download.cnet.com/playtime/3000-20431_4-75373382.html
http://download.cnet.com/zero-zipper/3000-2250_4-75373255.html
http://download.cnet.com/text-2-folders/3000-2248_4-75373257.html
http://download.cnet.com/album-printer/3000-20418_4-75324964.html
http://download.cnet.com/piggy-banks/3000-2130_4-75373483.html
http://download.cnet.com/keycounter/3000-2094_4-75373358.html
http://download.cnet.com/barbecue/3000-2075_4-75374434.html
http://download.cnet.com/size-matters/3000-20432_4-75327828.html
http://download.cnet.com/covart-ops/3000-13455_4-75374435.html
http://download.cnet.com/file-punter/3000-2248_4-75373364.html
http://download.cnet.com/tiffsy-turvy/3000-2193_4-75327980.html
http://download.cnet.com/bestimate/3000-20418_4-75373484.html
http://download.cnet.com/cliptrap/3000-2094_4-75373373.html
Thank you for your time and attention.
Jody Holmes
[email protected]
http://skwire.dcmembers.com
f0dder:
If they're labeling it as an "obligatory download manager" instead of an installer, they can probably get away with it.
This really pisses me off since some of my software is listed on that site and now has this extra setup garbage. FWIW, I have never submitted any of my software to ANY site other than my own. I have sent an email to CNet and have asked them to remove my software from their site. For posterity, and since I had to submit it via their online form, here is the email I sent them:-skwire (August 22, 2011, 02:53 PM)
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:up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:
Stoic Joker:
This really pisses me off since some of my software is listed on that site and now has this extra setup garbage. FWIW, I have never submitted any of my software to ANY site other than my own.-skwire (August 22, 2011, 02:53 PM)
--- End quote ---
Wow! Did not know they were going around grabing things at random. Good to know, thanks.
KynloStephen66515:
This really pisses me off since some of my software is listed on that site and now has this extra setup garbage. FWIW, I have never submitted any of my software to ANY site other than my own.-skwire (August 22, 2011, 02:53 PM)
--- End quote ---
Wow! Did not know they were going around grabing things at random. Good to know, thanks.
-Stoic Joker (August 22, 2011, 04:03 PM)
--- End quote ---
They have ALWAYS done that, apparently, not enough people submitted work directly to them, so "stealing" it was their only real route to market.
They have now broken SO many T&C's and license agreements by doing this!
I see thousands of cease and desist orders, removal orders, and legal battles in the next few hours!
Bye bye Download.com, you will not be missed after this horrific move.
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