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| Thread ID: 72633 | 2006-09-20 08:30:00 | Free software... not really | music_man (5482) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 485856 | 2006-09-20 08:30:00 | My friend went onto www.thinkall.com and clicked to get her bridge game. She filled in the information and was asked if she wanted 3 other CD's free. She chose the other CD's and No Where did it state she would ever have to pay for them, only the shipping fee. She gets the CD's and all turn out to be Freeware (Audacity, Blender, GIMP, Easy Bridge). In the CD's it says that she gets to keep 2 and must cancel her order online then send those other 2 CD's back to the US (Like $9NZD) within 15 days or she gets billed for them (as they have her credit card number). Is this somehow illegal? They are selling open source and free software? |
music_man (5482) | ||
| 485857 | 2006-09-20 08:44:00 | Their terms of use are on the website though as below . Legal? Possibly . Moral? Unlikely . Of course they may be selling the handling, media and packaging, the software is free . Anyone that would give out their credit card without reading the T&C on the web is always going to be in for a surprise at some stage . This one is a shocker . 7 . Membership and Billing . THINK ALL provides numerous products, services, and software in connection with its business . With respect to software provided hereunder, there is a non-refundable shipping and handling fee for the initial complete four CD software set . You may keep any two CD’s free of charge . The other two CD’s are yours to review during a ten day trial period . If for any reason you decide the complete set is not for you, simply visit us at www . thinkall . com/freeCD . html before your ten day free trial expires . You will need to follow the instructions at such web link to indicate your intention to return two of the CD’s, and you will not be charged for the complete four CD set . If you elect to keep all four CD’s or you otherwise fail to comply with the foregoing instructions, you will be billed the discounted price of $24 . 95 (which is up to 80% off the store price) for each of the other two CD’s . Every four to five weeks, you will receive four new THINK ALL software CD’s based on your preferences with the same ten day trial terms as your first shipment described above . You may discontinue shipments any time by visiting our web site at . thinkall . com/freeCD . html," target="_blank">www . thinkall . com for more information and filling out the appropriate cancellation information therein contained . 10 . Authorization . Unless and until this agreement is cancelled in accordance with the terms hereof, you authorize the company to charge your credit card to pay for any charges previously agreed upon as described in Section 7 . You hereby further authorize the company to charge your credit card for any and all products provided by the site . You are only allowed to have one membership per website at a time . |
godfather (25) | ||
| 485858 | 2006-09-20 11:46:00 | Technically they are entitled to charge a fee for distribution of free software. The "free" refers to freedom, not cost. Under these circumstances the vendor may, however, be acting illegally. Please note that I am not a lawyer but am just a free software advocate. Audacity, the GIMP and Blender are released under the GNU General Public Licence. A copy of this licence must be included with each package. There are usually two files called COPYRIGHT and LICENSE. The first must specify the copyright holders and the second must contain a copy of the GPL. If the licence is not included then the distribution of this software is illegal. If these files have been removed or obscured in any way then please mention this so that the violation can be reported to the copyright holders. Under these licences your friend is entitled to copy these programs off the disk and use them however she likes. The vendor cannot legally restrict this as the GPL does not permit distributors to restrict the use of this software by any recipient. I'm afraid I can't help with the payment and legal side of things. If your friend feels that they have been deceived by this company then they may seek the counsel of a lawyer. It may well be the case that the physical media must be returned, regardless of your friend's free software rights. I just spent several hours today giving away free copies of these programs as a slightly late celebration of Free Software Day. Nothing annoys me more than those who attempt to use free software to manipulate others. Please contact me if you need any further help. |
TGoddard (7263) | ||
| 485859 | 2006-09-20 11:54:00 | Is it possible to get your bank to cancel your credit card and issue you with a new one? | Greg (193) | ||
| 485860 | 2006-09-20 13:12:00 | Hi Check out: www.thinkallpublishing.com I explored a CD and those files were not there. She definately feels decieved! Thanks very much for the help. |
music_man (5482) | ||
| 485861 | 2006-09-20 22:20:00 | Ring your bank and tell them you have "lost" you card and arrange a new one:2cents: | Arnie (6624) | ||
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