Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!asuvax!ellymae!waycott
From: waycott@ellymae.phx.mcd.mot.com (John Waycott)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Software Piracy through Mail Order
Message-ID: <11201@ellymae.phx.mcd.mot.com>
Date: 6 Jul 89 01:04:17 GMT
Reply-To: waycott@ellymae.phx.mcd.mot.com (John Waycott)
Distribution: na
Organization: Motorola Microcomputer Division, Tempe, Az.
Lines: 41

I recently purchased a few programs from Software Discounter's of America
through the GEnie timesharing system. A very interesting problem occurred.
I bought copies of Fleet Street Publisher 2.0 and Degas Elite.

Well, I received them a few weeks later and to my surprise I got a copy
of FSP 1.0 in a box which was clearly labeled 2.0. What makes this interesting
is that Michtron, the distributor of FSP, NEVER SOLD version 1.0! The
box and manual were shrink-wrapped, and no warranty card was in the box.

I called Michtron and they told me to send it all back to them directly
and they would send me a proper version. They thought I was being ripped
off.

I can think of two situations that might have caused this:

1. SDA had a bunch of FSP 1.0 versions left over and repackaged things
   to get rid of their old copies. This seems unlikely since SDA would
   be deliberately engaging in fraud.

2. Someone who had FSP 1.0 bought 2.0 from SDA and returned the 1.0
   version to get their money back, keeping the new version. SDA then
   shrink-wrapped everything and put it back in inventory.

When I opened the Degas Elite package (also shrink-wrapped) the
envelope which contained the diskette had been deliberately cut open.
My guess is that someone bought the program, made a copy of the disk
and returned the package to get their money back.

Has anyone had any similar experiences with SDA or other mail order
houses? Although I was able to resolve the problem, I find it disturbing
that SDA apparently does not check their returned items for
completeness and that they sell "used" software as if it were new.

The real problem, however, appears to be blatant piracy. The recent
talk about piracy in this newsgroup has not really touched upon how
piracy can hurt those who buy the pirated products as well as those
who sell them. It is obvious to me now why many software vendors refuse
to give refunds and only exchange defective diskettes with the same program.

--
John Waycott   ..mcdphx!ellymae!waycott