The solution to anti-piracy?

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  • Mas*Mind
    Senior Member
    • Jun 2000
    • 1444

    The solution to anti-piracy?

    Ok, I'm gonna post this suggestion here, since for some reason I can't post in the vb3 suggestion forum anymore since the upgrade...

    But I've been thinking on the anti-piracy issue for a while and think I've found a solution which will work 100%!
    • First every vbulletin version a user downloads from the members-area will contain the license-number of his license. Either in the code itself, it will be saved in the database or in a separate file, it doesn't matter as long as it is somewhere.
    • In the forum-footer there will be a link (next to the jelsoft copyright for example) which will say: 'check if licensed'
    • when you click on this link the license-number and the domain where the forum is hosted will be send to a form on vbulletin.com.

      (maybe just the showing of the license-nr is better, since with a link pirates can change the link to another one and pretend it's a link to vbulletin if the user doesn't notice it. In that case the piracy-checker just copies the license-nr, the forum-link and the domain and fills it in the form)
    • this form will check the jelsoft-database on the license-nr/domain combination and can decide of this is a valid combination (ie: if the license is allowed to use this license for that domain).
    • If it isn't: a piracy report will be send to the jelsoft-staff: these can take appropiate actions
    • if it is: nothing will be done, the license is valid


    So why is this waterproof? You can remove the license-code or change it right?

    True, but:
    • If you remove the license-code you violate the agreement/license (assuming the agreements will be changed on this matter)
    • If you change the license-code the code will not match the domain


    So either way: a piracy-checker can see if it's a valid license or not!

    Ofcourse this isn't a routine which automaticly will detect every pirated version, but it enables everyone to check the validity of that board/license. As long as I've not overlooked one flaw I think this is a 100% solid way of checking if a board is pirated...
  • LeeCHeSSS
    Senior Member
    • Jan 2002
    • 321

    #2
    You can spoof the referrer variable...

    Comment

    • Mas*Mind
      Senior Member
      • Jun 2000
      • 1444

      #3
      why? all the user has to do is copy the link in the browser? and that can't be spoofed

      That's what I mean that it's better to let it be done manually (ie: copying the license-nr and the url by hand) rather that letting it be done by a clickable link, since the pirater can modify the link to point it to a clone of the form on another domain or indeed spoof the referral variable.

      To make things clear: this is not meant as an automated process, it still has to be done manually.

      Comment

      • filburt1
        Senior Member
        • Feb 2002
        • 6606

        #4
        This is already how the system works, mostly.
        --filburt1, vBulletin.org/vBulletinTemplates.com moderator
        Web Design Forums.net: vB Board of the Month
        vBulletin Mail System (vBMS): webmail for your forum users

        Comment

        • Mas*Mind
          Senior Member
          • Jun 2000
          • 1444

          #5
          hm....where can I copy the license nr and fill it in in a form on the jelsoft server to check the license/domain combination?

          There only is a form where you can enter a url afak

          Comment

          • Icheb
            Senior Member
            • Nov 2002
            • 1291

            #6
            There is no such thing, you can only report the URL of the suspected forum.

            Comment

            • ManagerJosh
              Senior Member
              • Jun 2002
              • 9922

              #7
              Mas, gotta remember this is a visible source coding so people can make whatever changes they need to. That includes terminating all your anti-piracy tricks
              Last edited by ManagerJosh; Thu 17 Apr '03, 3:59pm.
              ManagerJosh, Owner of 4 XenForo Licenses, 1 vBulletin Legacy License, 1 Internet Brands Suite License
              Director, WorldSims.org | Gaming Hosting Administrator, SimGames.net, Urban Online Entertainment

              Comment

              • Icheb
                Senior Member
                • Nov 2002
                • 1291

                #8
                No, it's visible source, not open source. I bet James gets a heart attack every time he reads vB is open source.

                Comment

                • Skeptical
                  Senior Member
                  • Oct 2000
                  • 2007

                  #9
                  Why are people so interested in becoming the internet police? Mind your own business already. I paid for my license. The last thing I need is some nosy people clicking on links on my site for no other reason than to kiss up to some other company.
                  Well, there it is.
                  - Keeper of the Grove

                  Comment

                  • MUG
                    Senior Member
                    • Apr 2002
                    • 1191
                    • 2.3.0

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Skeptical
                    Why are people so interested in becoming the internet police? Mind your own business already. I paid for my license. The last thing I need is some nosy people clicking on links on my site for no other reason than to kiss up to some other company.
                    Agreed. Nobody other than Jelsoft should have access to my license information.

                    Comment

                    • bigmattyh
                      Senior Member
                      • Apr 2001
                      • 956

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Skeptical
                      Why are people so interested in becoming the internet police? Mind your own business already. I paid for my license. The last thing I need is some nosy people clicking on links on my site for no other reason than to kiss up to some other company.
                      It isn't all about "kissing up" (although it sure is for more than a few people around here)...

                      I personally want strong piracy protection for the simple reason that the more they can keep piracy under control, the more valuable my license is. If everyone can get a pirated copy, then why buy a license? I've already bought a license, so it's in my best interests to keep that license valuable.

                      Also, if there's no incentive to buy a pirated copy (other than your own self-imposed moral sense -- don't get me wrong, that's the best reason), Jelsoft would likely have fewer sales. And with fewer sales but a constant or growing company, either costs (including developer/moderator pay) have to be cut or prices must be raised. Since one of vBulletin's strongest selling points is its service, it is unlikely that they'd cut their employees' pay. Thus, it would be likely that prices would increase, and thus, I also have another personal reason to keep piracy down.
                      iComix :: web comics

                      Report Post | IP: Logged

                      Comment

                      • Floris
                        Senior Member
                        • Dec 2001
                        • 37767

                        #12
                        maybe just the showing of the license-nr is better


                        Yeah, that will stop piracy

                        If nukepirates contact me that the domain doesn't match, I will just reply - we are currently moving to a new server and didn't update the domain yet - .

                        Comment

                        • Icheb
                          Senior Member
                          • Nov 2002
                          • 1291

                          #13
                          Originally posted by xiphoid
                          [/i]

                          Yeah, that will stop piracy

                          If nukepirates contact me that the domain doesn't match, I will just reply - we are currently moving to a new server and didn't update the domain yet - .
                          And that will of course hold them off forever .

                          Comment

                          • LeeCHeSSS
                            Senior Member
                            • Jan 2002
                            • 321

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Icheb
                            And that will of course hold them off forever .
                            Well, there's enough servers on the web to keep moving all year long

                            Comment

                            • Skeptical
                              Senior Member
                              • Oct 2000
                              • 2007

                              #15
                              Originally posted by bigmattyh
                              It isn't all about "kissing up" (although it sure is for more than a few people around here)...

                              I personally want strong piracy protection for the simple reason that the more they can keep piracy under control, the more valuable my license is. If everyone can get a pirated copy, then why buy a license? I've already bought a license, so it's in my best interests to keep that license valuable.

                              Also, if there's no incentive to buy a pirated copy (other than your own self-imposed moral sense -- don't get me wrong, that's the best reason), Jelsoft would likely have fewer sales. And with fewer sales but a constant or growing company, either costs (including developer/moderator pay) have to be cut or prices must be raised. Since one of vBulletin's strongest selling points is its service, it is unlikely that they'd cut their employees' pay. Thus, it would be likely that prices would increase, and thus, I also have another personal reason to keep piracy down.
                              I agree.

                              But shouldn't this be the concern of Jelsoft rather than us customers? I mean if I happen to come by a board that's obviously in violation I'd report it. But to actively propose methods that intrude into my privacy... that I cannot support.

                              Or maybe it's ok for Microsoft to have a BIG button on every W2k's desktop that says "check to see if license is valid".

                              No thanks.
                              Well, there it is.
                              - Keeper of the Grove

                              Comment

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