[GoTTi]

hey i dunno what happend, but i read that the geek got his addon here removed cuz eventually it was gunna be moved to a paid for modification (possibly)...

whats that about?

that sucks IMO. this guy creates us hacks and addons for our communities. great addons alot of us use, and if he wants to make a buck or 2 he shouldnt be penalized for it by us or moderated!!!!!he does alot for this community. a good asset here. a user that contributes enough info here to write his own messege board and he gets repaid by being put out by a community he's been kind of enough to lay his hat down in and help others???????

what the hell? thats garbage! his auto link hack for 3.5 should absouloutely be allowed to be placed here for 3.5 in BETA mode so he can work out possible problems. maybe he wont charge people to use it, who knows....but even if he did he should be allowed to get users help on it since he is supplying us with it in the first place in beta mode.

[Brad]

The script was not 'banned'.

The script was a beta version of commercial software, meaning at some point all users of it would have to pay to countine running it. This is known as "baiting and hooking".

We do allow lite versions of commercial software (beta or otherwise) asuming they are free. This was not the case with this script thus it was removed after we discussed the issue with the author.

[Erwin]

If the free beta was to be kept here as a free "lite" version even after the commercial full release comes after, then it would have been allowed, but my understanding after speaking to the author is that when the commercial full release comes out, the free beta was going to be removed.

After discussion between the staff and with Jelsoft representatives it was felt that vBulletin.org is not the right place for companies to beta-test their commercial products.

This is in no way a reflection of how great a vB.org member the author is - The Geek is a fantastic coder and a great guy, and his hacks are appreciated by many. However, this site is in the end owned by Jelsoft, a company, and there are strict rules regarding 3rd party commercial software. I hope members understand this.

[ConqSoft]

It's no different than vBadvanced.com. Brian offers CMPS, which is free, and is allowed here on vb.org. His two paid scripts are only available on his site though.

[Andreas]

Right, but there are no Gallery or Links Directory Releases here.
It would have also been OK if the Beta stayed here as a Lite Version after the Final commercial Version is released - but that was apparently not the case.

[The Geek]

Sorry, but im confused. Are you saying that if I left it as a beta then it would be fine?

Thanks

[Erwin]

If you leave a free "lite" version once the full version comes out, it would be fine. Obviously, if it's a free "beta" of a "lite" version, it should probably be fine as long as the bugs can be fixed. Our rules spell it out. In your case, you stated that you were going to remove the "free" version once the full version comes out - that would be against our rules.

[The Geek]

So if I left the beta package and didnt take it down. Even though it was a beta with bugs - then that satisfies the rules?

I dont know how I feel about leaving broken software up for people to access even stating that its beta. I would love to offer lite versions - however that cant be done until the real ones are gold so its a bit of a catch 22!

Oh well, heres hoping Jelsoft comes up with a way forward for providing their customers an avenue for becoming aware of commercial enhancements. I would have saved over £150 if I would have known about vbAdvanced gallery before buying others.

Thanks

[spence2]

What if someone offered a free "limited" version of their commercial product?

.

[amykhar]

Even if a free version is supplied, it's my understanding that you can't link to the gold version directly. Of course, anybody with half a brain would just use google to find the gold version - which could improve your customer base a bit because at least you'll only get the percentage of members here who know how to use a search function

Amy

[spence2]

I have frequently noticed hackers directing support for their free hacks to another site. So, this is allowed, correct?

Assuming, of course, that support is available where they are directed.

[AN-net]

i believe to resolve that issue of taking support off site, vb.org created the "Premium Modification" Forums.

[BamaStangGuy]

I personally think it would be better if vb.org would allow for the distribution of commercial products within this site.

But thats me

[yoyoyoyo]

So, where The Geek made a mistake was in being honest?!? He could have just planned to do a paid hack all along, but not said anything, and then removed or changed the hack to a "lite" version at the time it went commercial, but instead he was honest and stated up front that it was a beta for a commercial program. I guess that shows what honesty will get you.

[bigcurt]

Originally Posted by BrentWilson

I personally think it would be better if vb.org would allow for the distribution of commercial products within this site.

But thats me

See the problem with that is though man, is that Jelsoft is a company, vbulletin.org is owned by jellsoft..you cant allow sales of commercial products on another businesses page. ALTHOUGH, I do not see a big deal in making a beta version and then saying here you guys can use the beta but the real version will cost..you see what I am saying? Just leave a link in your sig to it and be done with it and if people want the actual version than ok, or just wait for a lite version..that geek I think said he was going to release..nothing wrong with that .



~Curt