Is it illegal??

stevenv said:
My guess would be no, so long as you also include the applicable license e.g. GPL
Click to expand...

Do I need to Apply to get this license or must I put a link that says "this software has been distributed under the GPL License" and then the description of the license?
 
i would rather put a direct to DL link on your site. That would mean people go direct to that DL on the source site.

That way you acknowledge the ''author'' of said software & don't make it look like you're trying to take it for your own work.
 
Venomous said:
i would rather put a direct to DL link on your site. That would mean people go direct to that DL on the source site.

That way you acknowledge the ''author'' of said software & don't make it look like you're trying to take it for your own work.
Click to expand...

+1 - rather link to the vendor's own preferred download page - that way your visitors get the latest.
 
Freeware and Shareware (in it's original form) is definitely allowed, provided that
YOU are hosting the actual file and not just hotlinking it from another website.

Abandonware however, is a very grey area, and for all intents an purposes should
be considered illegal to host, just to be on the safe side.

In case you're uncertain of what hotlinking is, it's essentially hyperlinking your
download directly to the file hosted on the publisher's site. The reason this is
frowned upon, is that you're using the publisher's bandwidth and skipping any
adverts (for advertising revenue) which the publisher may have on their website.

You'll find that most websites have a system in place to stop hotlinking anyway.
eg. the link will expire and change every 24-hours.
 
The Cape Computer Club took legal opinion when they started their website in 2001. The answer was much the same as the above, as long as you host (keep) the files you are offering for distribution and it is not obviously stuff like Microsoft Word, then there are no restrictions.

See http://www.ccc.za.org
 
chrisc4290 said:
The Cape Computer Club took legal opinion when they started their website in 2001. The answer was much the same as the above, as long as you host (keep) the files you are offering for distribution and it is not obviously stuff like Microsoft Word, then there are no restrictions.

See http://www.ccc.za.org
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can't open the link on my cell.

Do they acknowledge the ''author''/developer in some way?
 
Why host the stuff when it's hosted elsewhere - it just costs bandwidth money - my 5c
 
Okay
So basically hotlinking is "illegal" and can even cause a lawsuit for using someone else's bandwidth. However if I host the files on my web server, as long as I give the Author some credit, then it should be okay to host the files?
 
ngadao08 said:
Okay
So basically hotlinking is "illegal" and can even cause a lawsuit for using someone else's bandwidth. However if I host the files on my web server, as long as I give the Author some credit, then it should be okay to host the files?
Click to expand...
i'd say that sounds right. Just don't host or offer links to copyrighted material. Unless say the link is (example) direct to MS or a retail storeif say someone's looking for say office.
 
Totempole said:
Freeware and Shareware (in it's original form) is definitely allowed, provided that
YOU are hosting the actual file and not just hotlinking it from another website.

In case you're uncertain of what hotlinking is, it's essentially hyperlinking your
download directly to the file hosted on the publisher's site. The reason this is
frowned upon, is that you're using the publisher's bandwidth and skipping any
adverts (for advertising revenue) which the publisher may have on their website.
Click to expand...

That is a very broad statement and completely wrong, imo. Not every free title has advertising and not every free title allows distribution. It depends on the license. The whole purpose of GNU is to allow redistribution but not every free title is released under GNU / GPL. Many free, opensource titles do exist that have no affiliation to GNU or its license. So what stevenv said: depends on the license per title.
 
ngadao08 said:
Okay
So basically hotlinking is "illegal" and can even cause a lawsuit for using someone else's bandwidth. However if I host the files on my web server, as long as I give the Author some credit, then it should be okay to host the files?
Click to expand...

You don't want to hotlink. You want to link to a vendor page that offers the software for download, reason being that if you don't, you're going to either have annoyed clients who aren't getting the latest version, or you're going to have to fix 404 errors yourself when the vendor moves the stuff. Too much PT IMO.

ALSO, if there are special legal restrictions on using and distributing the software, you aren't liable for any abuse by your clients and you aren't abusing anything yourself. Next thing you know, your farts will smell like daisies and the world will be a happy place! Ok, scratch the former.
 
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GreGorGy said:
That is a very broad statement and completely wrong, imo. Not every free title has advertising and not every free title allows distribution. It depends on the license. The whole purpose of GNU is to allow redistribution but not every free title is released under GNU / GPL. Many free, opensource titles do exist that have no affiliation to GNU or its license. So what stevenv said: depends on the license per title.
Click to expand...


I think you misread Totempole's point about hotlinking bypassing the publishers website.

For example look at Winzip and TOAD. They offer "freeware" versions, however, you may run into problems hosting these files or providing links directly to them on the publishing site. Most publishers make it difficult, if not impossible, to hotlink the file directly.

A lot freeware is provided to encourage people to pay for the "Pro" versions. Publishers require that you register and provide a functional email. The purpose being that you can use use their freeware versions without charge, but you provide contact details for their marketing. Ofc, you give them once-off hotmail account or something, but thats beside the point.

By hosting these files, you cut out their marketing and this is where you can run nto legal problems.

I cant really imagine why anyone in this day-and-age would allow their files to be hosted by someone else because it prevents them from access to their "customers". Probably the dumbest business decision you can take.
 
zippy said:
I think you misread Totempole's point about hotlinking bypassing the publishers website.
Click to expand...

Then he made it very badly. That, or you are making up his point. The question is can this guy host freeware and I do believe I answered it.

You do make another valid point though about products like WinZip that do require some sort of who are you before they let you download.
 
summary:
some files must be hosted by you
others you need to provide an access link to the host's site
IE
find out what the terms are around the software before hosting/linking it.

Correct? Incorrect?
 
ngadao08 said:
Okay, so the best option is to hotlink to the vendor's website.
Click to expand...
The best option is go on a case by case basis. Quite often it will be explicitly stated whether you can redistribute and if there are any conditions attached.
 
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