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Hi all,
i was googling for tweakui and came a result from handango.com => http://www.handango.com/SoftwareCat...Id=2&N=96806+4294910762&showBreadCrumbs=false
Check this guy is selling the tools he got free here at xda-devs.
the people who made the soft should do something about it...
I've just written to Handango. Please write to them to and get this thief off their books.
I have noticed that your vendor T.N Vietaus Trade (Australia) is selling a number of illegal (ie pirated or stolen IP) products, including Microsoft ROMs for Windows Mobile phones.
Also, he is reselling free products written by members of the xda developers forum at a significant mark up, free software for example being sold for $49.99.
Please ask this vendor to remove this software, or remove it for him.
Kind regards,
vijay555 (moderator at xda-developers.com)
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V
What a ****en Lame ass *****. THat is just the lowest you can go to, selling stuff that is offered to us here for free. **** him, ive written to them also to get this ***** from selling stuff on there. Good eye and thanks for making everyone aware of this.
I've sent handago an email as well. Keep the emails going.
what is the email?
Found the HQ phone number, will try to call (cant call anymore sorry) but will need more info on this like what app and other stuff that you can give
305 NE Loop 820
Suite 600
Hurst, Texas 76053
Corporate Office: 817-280-0129
Fax: 817-280-9628
He has ebooks in http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/category.aspx?bcatid=1129&av=14-275257
And same app's come up in the Microsoft handango page that is linked to the Microsoft Windows Mobile Product page Site http://microsoft.handango.com/PlatformTopSoftware.jsp?siteId=75&platformId=2&title=T.N+Vietaus+Trade+(Australia)&authorId=1811375
Mod needed
Can a mod post this in other forums so that everyone that has made a app can check if their app is in the selling list
Email of the supposed developer tnvietaus AT gmail dot com
And if im doing something wrong in giving this out, this info is on the web
This is insane.
haha I just left HORRIBLE reviews warning people on all of the links you just provided Mike.. lol.
I also emailed HIM... and Handango.
no, I just let them know that this stuff was available for free ...
The thing that IRKS me is he doesnt explain that there is MORE to just downloading and running the update to these.. so alot of people are probably ruining their devices.
FYI, this is one instance where the DMCA can be used to your benefit (if you are one of the software authors).
Do NOT write to Handango, et al, complaining that someone is selling free software.
Do write to the resellers and state, factually, that this person is selling software that *you* wrote without your permission or authorization. Also state, very factually, that you want the software pulled and any monies charged for the software to either be refunded to the purchasers or forwarded to you.
What would also help out is if all the software authors were to allow one person (perhaps vijay would be a good choice as he is both a mod and a software author) to act on their behalf so there is a single point of contact for XDA.
Tell me the address of Handago (and Microsoft, If I have read and understand well) and I also send an email.
Just a thought: many here (maybe me too?) searchin' and using no purchased software, and therefore one of us (or one of those having this "habit", if you like more saying so) has found not violating any legal or moral law. World goes around...
Gubbài.
He is selling over 90 titles, and they are ALL available here for free just about.. he is selling the dang HTC X-button for 24 dollars! lol.
derma, I think everyone here is realistic about software availability and software use... read around for my personal views on warez etc.
The board however has a strict policy on banning for distributing warez.
But, it takes some particularly spiteful cojones to steal someone else's work and then put your name on it and sell it. And then selling at an absurd markup... come on. There's reasonable cheekiness, but that's just taking the micky.
V
Understanding doesn't mean accepting
vijay555 said:
derma, I think everyone here is realistic about software availability and software use... read around for my personal views on warez etc.
The board however has a strict policy on banning for distributing warez.
But, it takes some particularly spiteful cojones to steal someone else's work and then put your name on it and sell it. And then selling at an absurd markup... come on. There's reasonable cheekiness, but that's just taking the micky.
V
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Just to explain my position about this.
As I wrote on the title of this post, I figure out what it can be the reasoning of this person but meanwhile I absolutely don't accept what he did (or it's better saying "what he didn't do" 'cos what he's selling it's not stuff of his own).
My thought doesn't want to be a provocation, at least not a gratuitous provocation, but a simple-soft thinking about a hard problem: copy-right (and use-wrong).
Obviously this is a real theft, more odious than that "normally" made to the detriment of that author of the software who sell his creation having the conceptual rights to do that. In this case we can see instead a double somersault: he sell something not of his own that originally is (was) free.
Hope being plain.
PS: "cojones"?! Maravilloso! ¡Hasta la revolución, siempre!
Gubbài.
It isn't just the markup, its the flagrant lack of informing people of the consequences of attempting to use those warez without having ample experience with their device. He just says 'For expert. Use at your own risk' he doesn't say .. 'If you don't know what you are doing your phone is dead.. d .. e .. a .. d' .. I feel bad for the people who have purchased these and tried to run them not knowing about unlocking and what not.. it's a shame
OMG, another one.
http://shop.my-symbian.com/Platform...0&productType=2&platformId=2&productId=208881
Where can i find the tweakUI here?
hanmin said:
OMG, another one.
http://shop.my-symbian.com/Platform...0&productType=2&platformId=2&productId=208881
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Review added saying it's free here.
OAA has been having some problems this week.
Right now I realize that I have been deleted from my own site, which I spent hours working on and getting to look nice.
Basically, the day I went to register the domain, a user on XDA by the name of 'akapoor' hijacked the domain right before I got it (due to my webhost delaying registration). I messaged him about it and was quite mad, but we worked together to get a site up.
He provided the domain and hosting, which I was kind of weary of but we went with it:
akapoor said:
evilpig said:
akapoor said:
evilpig said:
Hey man, I was just reading the thread and I'm curious if you somehow snatched the domain before my webhost did.
If so just let me know I can give you the nameservers to connect it to the site. http://android.teamriot.net
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Yeah man, not sure how it happened. Because when I saw your post on XDA saying that you registered it, i had JUST hit the submit button on Godaddy for the domain.
It was taking a while (4-5 minutes) but then it finally came through.
That's very weird though, I'll admit
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Hmm well would you be able to point it to my nameservers once the domain finalizes? That would work great
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I think I'll stick with my current host for now - but if anything goes awry, you'll be the first in my mind to come to.
Btw : What's your Gtalk. I'll hit you up and we can collaborate on this.
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He gave me admin access and I went straight to work. Now go to log in today and see my account is gone, all my posts are deleted. And threads thanking ME have been renamed to akapoor.
Also the news on the front page is changed to his name and I have been locked out of my own site.
This makes me angry, and would like help from you guys to do something about it. Even though the project is slow right now, the fact that someone would do this is evil.
I contacted him and he said it was someone else blah blah blah. Yea a hacker will hack into the site and delete my accounts, and rename everything to you. He got me admin panel back, so I went and backed it all up and deleted it from his servers. And then I moved it back to mine. I don't trust this asshole.
Also I need someone to help manage the project, the person who originally started the project just disappeared, and I am just a webdev.
The project is up @ http://android.teamriot.net (I gotta fix the look of the forums later on in the week.)
that is some shady stuff right now. what's up with xda and all this shaddy stuff going on lately. anyways, glad u got it back up and running.
I dealt with this in the past, the forum I founded a few years back had a very slow start, it was just my playground really to post up project i've been working on while also be able to discuss things with users, didnt want a blog.anyway, a started a project that was unique in my field, only other person doing it was charging insane pricing to a teen crowd, I spent 6 months reversing a certain phones firmware and writing code for said project and after it was done was contacted by someone to team up....long story short things were going great until one morning I was locked out of my own system(I paid hosting, owned/ceated domain, did all the behind the scene projects and other guy handled the public forums). we got into vicious hacking wars lasting a few days while arguing with the hosting company back and forth over who actually owned the site. host locked both out until I proved I owned everything as well as paid the bills, all proven with receipts, emails, etc. I did eventually get back control and still have the site but its been a ghostown ever since. I only keep it up for the same purposes it was for originally....my playground. guy was trying to turn this into a profitable business but thats not why I do the things I do online., I do this stuff because I enjoy it.
If this is whats going on with you and this guy pulled a similar stunt I would walk away and never return. if you owned the domain, as well as legal rights to the database fight it, otherwise theirs going to be 2 sites with the same usersbase only 1 will be larger in the end...one will die. I know the situatation as to why It was started and honestly dont see a real need for it. it would be nice to replace all the closed portions but continuing the project would only come back later when HTC decides to crack down on drivers which unless you guys have the datasheets and skill/time to rewrite will take longer than its worth, which will need to be redone as new models come out. just gottta decide for yourself if its worth continuing with it.
Good luck, ****ty situation I know.
BinaryDroid said:
I dealt with this in the past, the forum I founded a few years back had a very slow start, it was just my playground really to post up project i've been working on while also be able to discuss things with users, didnt want a blog.anyway, a started a project that was unique in my field, only other person doing it was charging insane pricing to a teen crowd, I spent 6 months reversing a certain phones firmware and writing code for said project and after it was done was contacted by someone to team up....long story short things were going great until one morning I was locked out of my own system(I paid hosting, owned/ceated domain, did all the behind the scene projects and other guy handled the public forums). we got into vicious hacking wars lasting a few days while arguing with the hosting company back and forth over who actually owned the site. host locked both out until I proved I owned everything as well as paid the bills, all proven with receipts, emails, etc. I did eventually get back control and still have the site but its been a ghostown ever since. I only keep it up for the same purposes it was for originally....my playground. guy was trying to turn this into a profitable business but thats not why I do the things I do online., I do this stuff because I enjoy it.
If this is whats going on with you and this guy pulled a similar stunt I would walk away and never return. if you owned the domain, as well as legal rights to the database fight it, otherwise theirs going to be 2 sites with the same usersbase only 1 will be larger in the end...one will die. I know the situatation as to why It was started and honestly dont see a real need for it. it would be nice to replace all the closed portions but continuing the project would only come back later when HTC decides to crack down on drivers which unless you guys have the datasheets and skill/time to rewrite will take longer than its worth, which will need to be redone as new models come out. just gottta decide for yourself if its worth continuing with it.
Good luck, ****ty situation I know.
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Well lucky for me, I talked to him and he played dumb saying it wasn't him. I convinced him to give me passwords to the admin panel and got all my files and databases and deleted it from his server. So he has nothing but an empty domain now. He also logged into another admin account when I was moving it to my site and started deleting forums and users, I had to add the database to my site a 2nd time and instantly delete him and ban him.
I moved it back to my hosting (which I really wanted in the first place) and I will get a new domain in the near future.
Domain Name
evilpig said:
Well lucky for me, I talked to him and he played dumb saying it wasn't him. I convinced him to give me passwords to the admin panel and got all my files and databases and deleted it from his server. So he has nothing but an empty domain now. He also logged into another admin account when I was moving it to my site and started deleting forums and users, I had to add the database to my site a 2nd time and instantly delete him and ban him.
I moved it back to my hosting (which I really wanted in the first place) and I will get a new domain in the near future.
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is he willing to transfer the domain name? you can always do that if you wanted to maintain the same name .. he just has to give authorization in the registrar for you to take the domain .. just a thought
LucidREM said:
is he willing to transfer the domain name? you can always do that if you wanted to maintain the same name .. he just has to give authorization in the registrar for you to take the domain .. just a thought
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I have the .org version, and I will transfer it to evilpig. Or I will point it to his DNS servers if he wants. I got it in the beginning before the .com site went up. So I just have it sitting there. I don't give a damn about the $10, so if the community will use it, I'll donate it.
evilpig: PM or email me and let me know if you want to use it. You can run the hosting so this can't happen again. I'll email you the transfer code or just change the DNS, whatever you want.
Evilpig (i love your avatar by the way) have you brought this to the attention of a forum Moderator? They should definitely be aware of anyone using this site to take advantage of other people. And what you've explained was a blatant disregard for any of us...
I believe what he did was intentional, from the beginning when you announced your intentions. This is unacceptable...
I hope something is done about it....
ttabbal said:
I have the .org version, and I will transfer it to evilpig. Or I will point it to his DNS servers if he wants. I got it in the beginning before the .com site went up. So I just have it sitting there. I don't give a damn about the $10, so if the community will use it, I'll donate it.
evilpig: PM or email me and let me know if you want to use it. You can run the hosting so this can't happen again. I'll email you the transfer code or just change the DNS, whatever you want.
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Thanks man. The .org should be up in 24-48 hours.
sykokenndogg said:
Evilpig (i love your avatar by the way) have you brought this to the attention of a forum Moderator? They should definitely be aware of anyone using this site to take advantage of other people. And what you've explained was a blatant disregard for any of us...
I believe what he did was intentional, from the beginning when you announced your intentions. This is unacceptable...
I hope something is done about it....
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I hope a mod will catch this thread and do something about it.
Ok so it's been brought to my attention that Evilpig's, accusations are purely FRAUD.
I agree that I had registered the domain - but I did not STEAL it. Since your host had not registered the domain in time, I had taken the opportunity to do so.
I'd like to clarify that Evilpig's was the one attempting to take over the hosting and domain the entire time. (see convo's below)
As per the logs, it turns out that Jared's IP was registered as last logged-in.
The biggest complication with the accusations that Jared is imposing is my own benefit of providing him with the administrator access after the situation.
As anyone can verify, I had not been an "active" member on the site. (in the sense that I would not log in everday.) I would visit the site on a weekly basis.
There would be no need for me to get into the site, change everything as Jared claims, and make the site my own.
You've been trying to persuade me for the hosting since day one.
9:08PM 9:08 PM
would you mind if I hosted the site and set up the domain to point to it?
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Oh and Jared, I'd like to remind you that you are failing to stay upto your word.
Jared: with this project
any money is going to you for hosting and the rest could be saved up for who knows what
3:25PM Jared: woot already $1.13 on ads
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I haven't received any compensation, as you stated would occur.
I've tried to contact you, but I get no response.
All in all : These actions were clearly done by him as his motive was to migrate the site/domain to his own hosting so that he could take total control.
His accusations toward me are considered defamation, and I hope this gives you a sense of the actual character of Evilpig's.
I do legally own the domain and what he has done is effectively theft of the site which is my intellectual property.
Actually, as he is the web dev and I see no contract, he owns anything he personally works on regardless of what domain he uploaded it to.
Period.
So... you own no intellectual rights to anything. You own no copyright, nor do you own any form or fashion anything carried on under the domain name.
You simply own a .com. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I don't want to get in the middle of this, but I work in the industry as a developer for web applications, graphic design, and minor creative development of projects. Without a contract, copyright, or trademark (in the case of logos or other property) all you can do is thank him for the work he did and move on.
This is why if you register a domain and collaborate with someone, you always have it in writing. Otherwise, when you try to screw someone, they can just walk away and take everything.
All you can do is feel bad that you didn't think it through first.
Well, I think Jared's role needs to be clarified then.
As far as web development goes, I had installed and configured all of the applications used, i.e. WordPress and phpBB.
All Jared had done was have someone create a banner and add it to the site, which I really don't consider to be "web development."
It would still be his content if he added to your wordpress in the form of posts and uploads. Regardless of his role. Again meaning that without a contract or some other legally binding action, you can't accuse him of stealing intellectual property.
I'm not picking sides, I just want to clarify to everyone before people start throwing mud in each others faces.
Last thing this community needs is people being shady and going behind each others backs. Open source is not about who did what and who gets the most fame and notification. It's about working on something for a greater cause as a community. Those who deserve it will get their recognition without stealing, threatening, or taking anything.
With great pleasure i read today that Notion Ink Adam tablet is available for preorder. i want to ask some questions
1. What operating system it will running? Rumours refer Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is the operating system
2. If the above is true will it support upgrade to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) when it will be ready?May be is running a custom version of Android or stock one?
3. About 3G does it cover GSM 900,1800 and UMTS 2100?
4. Will google market be available?
The tablet hasn't even passed the FCC. As of now, it doesn't even exist in a form available for consumers. The site also allows you to provide your billing info without providing a shipping address, which should set off a big red scam alert flag in your head.
--
Sent from my HTC Supersonic.
The tablet hasn't even passed the FCC. As of now, it doesn't even exist in a form available for consumers. The site also allows you to provide your billing info without providing a shipping address, which should set off a big red scam alert flag in your head.
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Thanks for the info my friend.I didnt know that it did not passed FCC.Really now i wonder why they start taking money from people.That's stupid ,not to say more bad words.
I think i must look for alternatives.
Many people like me, who don't search for info before buying something, are easy to get fraud.
Not a scam
aelole said:
Thanks for the info my friend.I didnt know that it did not passed FCC.Really now i wonder why they start taking money from people.That's stupid ,not to say more bad words.
I think i must look for alternatives.
Many people like me, who don't search for info before buying something, are easy to get fraud.
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Click to collapse
I beg to differ with you guys. Its genuine and The pixel Q version of the tabs are already sold out and they showcased this device in CES much before you have had any clues about Galaxy tab or any other for that matter. Between I have visited their office (Bangalore, India) personally 2 days back.
They have launched a developer section too. And if you talk technically then they have managed to solve android app's inability to handle large screens.
Notionink's introspection on all your doubts.
http://notionink.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/introspection/
harsha_aithal said:
I beg to differ with you guys. Its genuine and The pixel Q version of the tabs are already sold out and they showcased this device in CES much before you have had any clues about Galaxy tab or any other for that matter. Between I have visited their office (Bangalore, India) personally 2 days back.
They have launched a developer section too. And if you talk technically then they have managed to solve android app's inability to handle large screens.
Notionink's introspection on all your doubts.
http://notionink.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/introspection/
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Here's the original report, and even though the "billing info without shipping info" has been fixed, it still doesn't change the fact that it hasn't even passed the FCC. I think I'd entrust my money with an actual well-known manufacturer with a product that I can see and touch before I buy.
Why is it that the pessimist is always the first to respond. Whatever. On the FCC issue, I vaguely remember that they did something so that you can't find it but I can't remember where I found that.
Pikabob said:
Why is it that the pessimist is always the first to respond. Whatever. On the FCC issue, I vaguely remember that they did something so that you can't find it but I can't remember where I found that.
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Well, when you're dealing with money for a luxury product that has several alternatives it's okay to be pessimistic. Better safe than sorry in a situation like this, no?
aelole said:
With great pleasure i read today that Notion Ink Adam tablet is available for preorder. i want to ask some questions
1. What operating system it will running? Rumours refer Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) is the operating system
2. If the above is true will it support upgrade to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) when it will be ready?May be is running a custom version of Android or stock one?
3. About 3G does it cover GSM 900,1800 and UMTS 2100?
4. Will google market be available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here, have some valuable information:
"We have done something with our FCC application and it will be little difficult for you to find us!"
to answer your questions:
1. It will most likely run on 2.2 at first but "Eden is extremely compatible with 2.3" this implies that they are working on it.
2."This was a big step in converting your Android to a tablet version OS (and one of the updates coming in 3.0)" I'm not sure what this implies, but it might mean we will get 3.0
3.I have no idea, the whole 3g thing is a little confusing
4."Will it support the Google Market place? Or do you have your own market place/App Store that you are developing?
-We will have our own market place."
however, it probably won't take long for the devs to get the market on it.
TheBiles said:
Well, when you're dealing with money for a luxury product that has several alternatives it's okay to be pessimistic. Better safe than sorry in a situation like this, no?
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yeah I totally agree on the fact that it is okay to be pessimistic, but most of what you heard that makes the adam sound shady came from one series of articles on android police. I'm not sure, but I bet that if they tried they could make any company sound shady. Anyway, if Notion ink sounds shady, it's not really their fault, they are extremely inexperienced. It is a company run by 20-something year olds with no business experience straight out of college. They're bound to make some mistakes.
Hi, as you may know my Google developer account has been suspended. I have lodged appeals to have Google reconsider their decision but they have failed to respond. This is not uncommon for them and is quite disappointing. A petition has already been started by another developer to get Google to treat developers more fairly. If you would like to show your support, please sign up on the link below. For every 10 sign ups via my link below, I will make one of my watchfaces available for free to download. I had just created over 10 new watchfaces when my account was shut down.
Many thanks for your support!
Petition link:
http://www.change.org/p/sergey-brin..._medium=email&utm_campaign=mailto_link_mobile
julz said:
Petition link:
http://www.change.org/p/sergey-brin..._medium=email&utm_campaign=mailto_link_mobile
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Click to collapse
No problem, signed the petition straight away. Its a pleasure to support you, even in such a small way. Thanks for all the hardwork. I have enjoyed using your watchfaces. Really sorry about what Google have done. You kind of get the feeling that devs working on Android Wear will not suffer the same treatment.
Although new watchfaces would be nice, I have lost all of your free-to-download watchfaces from Play store, when I flashed the KK 4.4.4 update for my phone. Any chance you could upload them somewhere and make those available for download?
gandalf_grey91 said:
No problem, signed the petition straight away. Its a pleasure to support you, even in such a small way. Thanks for all the hardwork. I have enjoyed using your watchfaces. Really sorry about what Google have done. You kind of get the feeling that devs working on Android Wear will not suffer the same treatment.
Although new watchfaces would be nice, I have lost all of your free-to-download watchfaces from Play store, when I flashed the KK 4.4.4 update for my phone. Any chance you could upload them somewhere and make those available for download?
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Thanks mate!
Guess what... as of about 60 seconds ago Google has decided to reinstate my account! I will be selectively republishing my watchfaces - only those that are original designs though just to be safe.
My offer to release a free watchface for every 10 petition signatures still stands though and I will release them here free when each target is met. The watchfaces will still be available to purchase via Google Play (once I'm set up again).
Thats great. Glad to hear google saw sense.
post your watches on the amazon market. That's why competition is good.
kill_dano said:
post your watches on the amazon market. That's why competition is good.
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Hi, yes this is something I've started the process of doing but will hold off now as my google account is back online. Unfortunately the time and effort spent publishing to amazon takes time away from actually designing new watchfaces. It takes me about 15-20 mins per app to get it prepared and listed on amazon or google as I need to do the graphics for each.
I think the reason to close the account in the first place was due to the violation brands name/designs. I warned about this in some post and put a link to the page which had alot of information for developers/designers what they need to know when designing something that already exists. But cant find that post anymore. Hmmm... Odd... Anyway, the problem is mostly that people uses other designs/part of the designs or brand name as part of their own designs. Just checked Play store and it seems to be that they removed those watchfaces violating other brands like Rolex etc. Am I right?
This is good for everyone who does some design works
Copyright basics for graphic designers – Part 1 ... to 3
http://myows.com/blog/copyright-basics-for-graphic-designers-part-1/
Short version
http://www.onextrapixel.com/2013/09/05/10-copyright-laws-every-graphic-designer-should-be-aware-of/
Sent from my phone - Note 10.1 (N8000)
enigma_x said:
I think the reason to close the account in the first place was due to the violation brands name/designs. I warned about this in some post and put a link to the page which had alot of information for developers/designers what they need to know when designing something that already exists. But cant find that post anymore. Hmmm... Odd... Anyway, the problem is mostly that people uses other designs/part of the designs or brand name as part of their own designs. Just checked Play store and it seems to be that they removed those watchfaces violating other brands like Rolex etc. Am I right?
This is good for everyone who does some design works
Copyright basics for graphic designers – Part 1 ... to 3
http://myows.com/blog/copyright-basics-for-graphic-designers-part-1/
Short version
http://www.onextrapixel.com/2013/09/05/10-copyright-laws-every-graphic-designer-should-be-aware-of/
Sent from my phone - Note 10.1 (N8000)
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Click to collapse
Thanks for this. Yes it was although what finally triggered my account suspension was based on an incorrect ruling. That is why I was able to get my account back and took precautions to prevent further issues by removing all my other watchfaces that were a potential risk.
Thanks for the links, I'll have a look into them for future reference.
Think that it was actually better that Google did something than any of those companies demanding their legal rights. It might have been nasty situation.
Sent from my phone - Note 10.1 (N8000)
Yes, exactly right... I had already started to make modifications such as removing logos but I think it is safer just to remove them all and start with my own designs.
How many times have we struggled to find a phone at a decent price. Only to find it on some random website which we are not 100% sure about. So I thought I might start this thread.
I'm hoping if you post a website that you found a phone on someone else might be able to help you out and tell you weather it's safe or not.
Of course use your common sense if it has not http:/ or https and no SLC certificate don't even bother posting because I imagine you will get called an idiot.
I thought I would also write a few guidelines to look at, what to look for and how to know if the website is fake.
(I'm not sure if this has been done before, if it has been then I'll remove it)
It Goes without saying always buy from reputable companies. This is mearly a helping hand, to separate the wheat from the... Bad wheat.
1. Does the website have a SLC certificate. And a valid one at that. This basically is a safe for your card details.
If no, the don't even entertain the idea.
2. Is there a https or a http.
Again, no? Don't even think about it
3. If possible to check, is it hosted by a reputable company.
At least this way, if anyone else has been done by the company they will make sure this website can't be rehosted to stop scaming, if it's not, you have no protection, remove thine self from the site.
4. Is there any links or deals linked to external websites? For example does the website have an special deals available from reputable voucher websites like wowcher.
4.a If yes can verify it on the voucher companies website.
This means people use this site, and also if they have voucher codes on check outs try see if you can find any for the check out online.
5. Does the website look well made.
Does it look like it's been bodged, stolen, quickly thrown togeather or built with low resolution pictures.
6. Are there any policy's, returns and terms and conditions
Again this is important, these need to be present.
7. Is there a contact number, email address or address of the company.
7a. Perhaps research the location, does anything come up? Do you get a reply from the email. Can you get hold of the number?
Although this is not a sure fire way of making sure the company is legit, it is very helpful to know the company has a Base of operations. And the map doesn't point to some blokes back garden. And if it's a block of offices you can check, as by law, they are displaying the company's who have been or are Based at said address.
8. Are there any reviews about the website and its services.
8a. Do the people who reviewed the site only have a single review? Or multiple.
I know reviews are helpful, but very often you'll find 5-6 people have reviewed a website and its services but often the people might have only one review to their name. So take the reviews with a pinch of salt.
I hope this helps anyone. If your not 100% confident walk away, it's not worth it, pay the extra and just get it else where. But if you are going to buy from a site, use a credit card, and make sure your bank has a active fraud squad team. This will give you some security.
ALSO! Understand You purchase from websites at your own risk.