Shareware Programs Theft

I have noticed recently that a rash of sites are distributing files in self extracting programs that are not registered and are still shareware. It is illegal to distribute files using these programs until you register them and it even tells you when you start the program. I don't know why this is still happening when you can purchase these programs for under $50 over the internet. This is just my opinion but it could lead to major trouble for the person or persons distributing these files. If you can't afford the money then just zip the files and include instructions on how to put the file where it belongs. Bill

Quoted text (11 lines)

> I have noticed recently that a rash of sites are distributing files in self > extracting programs that are not registered and are still shareware. It is > illegal to distribute files using these programs until you register them > and it even tells you when you start the program. I don't know why this is > still happening when you can purchase these programs for under $50 over the > internet. This is just my opinion but it could lead to major trouble for > the person or persons distributing these files. If you can't afford the > money then just zip the files and include instructions on how to put the > file where it belongs. > Bill

Actually, Zip utilities themselves must be registered if they're shareware (most are), but I agree with your point 100%!

I don't know what programs you are talking about, but Pkzip and Winzip are also shareware (not freeware). At least they were the last time I bothered to read the copyright notes. Guess we all have to put our programs uncompressed on the net from now on! /Martin

There's nothing wrong with distributing ZIP files, regardless of how they were created. But unlike normal ZIP files, every time you send a self-extracting ZIP file to others you are also distributing parts of the copyrighted executable unzip software. Most if not all of the programs used to create them are shareware, and state that the archives are not to be distributed without registering the program first. Winzip is quite adamant about this as evident in their documentation: "UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU LICENSED TO DISTRIBUTE SELF-EXTRACTING ZIP FILES CREATED BY THE SHAREWARE EVALUATION VERSION OF WINZIP SELF-EXTRACTOR PERSONAL EDITION." There are quite a few sites illegally distributing these unregistered archives, with the most widely abused program being EasyZip Self-Extractor Pro. -- The IWCCCARS Project: Q & A Representative http://www.theuspits.com/iwcccars/qanda.html http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

I noticed when I took over IWCCCARS that some of the files on the IWCCCARS site were archived with an unregistered version of EZSFXPRO, while some were done with a registered version. I have since registered and paid for a copy out of my own pocket so that we could have legal archives. As I find the time, I plan to go back and re-archive the files. C'mon folks, we need to support those shareware authors who put out terrific tools in the hope that people will be honest. Register that copy of WinZip or Paintshop Pro you've been using for the last 6 months!!! Dave Sparks IWCCCARS Project: http://www.theuspits.com/iwcccars/index.html Late Night League: http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html Hawaii Handle: davids

Since it is not shareware, I guess that you can freely distribute ZIP files made with it.

I use Norton's File Manager to make all my ZIPs and Self-EXEs. Do you know if there are any restrictions as to the distrubition of these files? A page number in the manual would sufice. Thanks, Robert