A member of this forum (who shall remain nameless) has contacted 3 seperate people (to our knowledge) asking to buy unlicensed copies of our software at a reduced rate.

Any ideas how we should combat this sort of menace?

Get a rope!

Do you have any proof, first of all? (Screenshots would be nice)

Then maybe WHT can ban the specified person, if he is truly causing some trouble.

You should name and shame the theif...

Originally posted by Blak n Wite
Do you have any proof, first of all? (Screenshots would be nice)

Not in my hands right this second, I have posted this based on the feedback of 3 clients who have made legitimate purchases from us who were concerned about the approaches they received. I have purposely not named anyone at this time.

I am sure our clients could forward emails, PM's etc to back this up if essential.

Originally posted by voxtreme-matt
You should name and shame the theif...

What would it acheive?

I'd rather have the clients make *UN-EDITED* screenshots of the PMs/e-mails instead. You never know when someone might be framed (just being cautious :))

But three different clients in three different parts of the world?

All trying to frame someone?

I think not, but I'll be sure to ask them for some un-edited screenshots.

You can just harden your software really... Make call backs, etc...

Unless the person actually pirates the software, you can't really do anything...

Just watch over his/her site...

5....4....3....2....1.... WHO CARES????? As long as he doesn't get it, who reallly cares?

cr.

Originally posted by creid
5....4....3....2....1.... WHO CARES????? As long as he doesn't get it, who reallly cares?

cr.
I a know Creid.

Who cares?
I care.
The multiple recipient emails / pm's are indicative that some one intends to get this software without paying for it. It is likely this person has contacted more than three people, but only three have reported it so far. Maybe the odds are one in a hundred that some one will give him/her a copy, so in that case, all he/she has to do is contact a hundred people.
I have had people do this to me before, but I didn't report them, I only gave them a "moral" lesson. Maybe I should have reported it.
Anyway, when someone spends long hours programming something that others find useful, they deserve to get paid for it. Likewise, when I spend my hard earned dollars paying for such software, I think others should pay for it too.

if you can find out who they are report them to their isp.

This is a longshot but it wouldn't by any chance be Norton SystemWorks that is being offered at a reduced rate? I got an e-mail at two different, non-related, e-mail addresses on how I can get Norton SystemWorks 2002 Professional Edition for only $29.99 with free shipping. It's being sent by someone at a hotmail account and Symantec is still selling this product for $99.95. This may be a longshot but worth asking... :confused:

I have gotten the System Works offer also.
Someone should forward it to Symantec.

JFWS

It is very difficult to catchhold the pirates. If you know them catch and hang them with a rope.

Originally posted by JFWS
Someone should forward it to Symantec.

Just did. I planned on doing so but forgot. Thanks for the reminder.

I absolutly think you should put a callback in your program. Just make sure it is very clear what information is given to the call back server and what information is retained, and how it is used. You have to protect your hard work. I don't know any trustworthy people who don't feel the same way I do.