Mystery solved. The description page doesn't say so (that I can see) but I've just heard from the seller. The copy of Delphi comes with an "Education" license. Basically this translates to personal use only, no right to distribute compiled software (whether free or for-profit): section 4.2 in http://dn.codegear.com/article/36957

It appears to be a legitimate copy then, and a legitimate seller, though the license info should really be prominent on the description page.

Since I haven't actually published anything in ages anyway, and would love dearly to play with it, I'm still a little tempted!

Hi Marek. The Delphi item on Ebay has up to $2,000 in buyer protection. If that buyer protection is applicable for us in eastern Europe, that would make it a safe buy (I guess).

-tamasd (January 15, 2008, 08:00 AM)

Does that in any way mean eBay is vouching for the seller?

-tranglos (January 15, 2008, 08:34 AM)

Okay, found it, and it does not. Eligibility for buyer protection only means that:

   1.  seller's eBay feedback rating is at least 50;
   2. At least 98% of the seller's eBay feedback is positive;
   3. The seller has a Verified Premier or Verified Business Account in good standing;
   4. The listing was on an eligible eBay site (eBay.com and certain other eBay sites self identified as such)
   5. PayPal is listed as an acceptable payment method; and
   6. The seller is a PayPal User from one of the following countries:

So it has little bearing on the actual merchandise, except to the extent that nobody must have complained about receiving pirated software from the seller. I asked the guy a question and will wait for response.

Hi Marek. The Delphi item on Ebay has up to $2,000 in buyer protection. If that buyer protection is applicable for us in eastern Europe, that would make it a safe buy (I guess).

-tamasd (January 15, 2008, 08:00 AM)

Does that in any way mean eBay is vouching for the seller? I suppose if he were selling pirated software he'd have been kicked off long ago. He's been at it for months, and has had an account since Oct. 2006.

(I once found a guy who was clearly selling "Nero originals" of various hard-to-find DVDs, claiming they were new and legit. A week later the account was gone.)

The price is luring! In our local distributor shop, the Delphi upgrades seem more pricey than regular full price in US Codegear shop.

-tamasd (January 15, 2008, 08:00 AM)

That's why I have a special place in my heart for resellers :) People have been badgering CodeGear about this for years, but they refuse to institute a direct sales channel.