akalatheory Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 The only problem I've ever had with nulled software is my own personal guilt. I've heard of people reporting nulled forums to IPS but I don't know if anything ever came out of it at all. I read on their forums somewhere that for the most part they don't care but you just won't be able to get updates, support, or paid features. Whether they've updated that since I last read it though, I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Tony Posted April 15, 2013 Administrator Share Posted April 15, 2013 The only problem I've ever had with nulled software is my own personal guilt. I've heard of people reporting nulled forums to IPS but I don't know if anything ever came out of it at all. I read on their forums somewhere that for the most part they don't care but you just won't be able to get updates, support, or paid features. Whether they've updated that since I last read it though, I don't know. This is somewhat true. I'd imagine IPS factors three things into whether they'd take action on a nulled community: [*]Size - is the community large enough to earn a profit, that it's unacceptable that they haven't purchased a theme? [*]Content - if the community is already in the business of distributing pirated content or sharing other questionable content, they'll likely pursue legal recourse. [*]Worthy - really a combination of the two points above. IPS will try to determine if it'd be worth their time and resources to take any legal action against a community using a nulled board. Essentially, if you're a smaller community just trying to get by (even with a sizable member count), IPS will likely ignore you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akalatheory Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 On 4/15/2013 at 6:39 PM, Davlin said: This is somewhat true. I'd imagine IPS factors three things into whether they'd take action on a nulled community: [*]Size - is the community large enough to earn a profit, that it's unacceptable that they haven't purchased a theme? [*]Content - if the community is already in the business of distributing pirated content or sharing other questionable content, they'll likely pursue legal recourse. [*]Worthy - really a combination of the two points above. IPS will try to determine if it'd be worth their time and resources to take any legal action against a community using a nulled board. I think a big issue would be whether the nulled forum actually is making money using their software or not. That is usually an automatic deal breaker right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crim Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 I personally used Nulled XenForo before but I ended up using IPB because it's much superior in my opinion. You can pretty much get away with nulled forum software with off-shore hosting that don't have such strict copyright laws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest martin101 Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 I personally used Nulled XenForo before but I ended up using IPB because it's much superior in my opinion. You can pretty much get away with nulled forum software with off-shore hosting that don't have such strict copyright laws. All of you who mention 'off-shore' are probably meaning outside of US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Matt Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 I've never used nulled software due to the fact of being too scared of getting into legal issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phun Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Whoa this topic is really amazing, finally some valid discussion on WebFlake. I really enjoy these. What people mostly beleive is that it's safer to use a retail version of a product and that nulled versions are easier to track. However, this is a mistake. I actually beleive that it doesn't really matter what you use. You ought to be caught one day for using non-licensed software. I think Davlin's list of things is very accurate so i'm going to type the same thing here. The things IPS will most likely look for when they are checking (patrolling) for unlicensed software are removals of copyright text, added copyright text, certain text not being linked back to IPS etc. etc. So let's think like IPS for a second, how would we make a decision whether to take action against a website running unlicensed products? How big is the community? Is it big enough to pursue legal action or not? Most likely forums with around a thousand members won't get noticed easily. "Big" communities are also "bigger" on the web. They are easier for people to come by and they get noticed, so naturally bigger sites also have a bigger chance to get noticed by IPS. Let's say you have 50 thousand members and no license, you're sure to get contacted sooner or later. Websites like webflake will be even higher on the priority list (you know why). If you're a small website, you'll have less of a chance to get noticed by IPS. And probably, by the time you start growing or have grown into a fully developed community, you'll have enough money (raised?) to purchase the license anyway. Which is what most people do. Seriously, spend the money on the license. It'll be worth it in the long run ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 From my personal experiences; and talking to one of the employee's in the IPS company, IPS doesn't majorly care about nulled software; as long as it isn't generating money on a substantial amount. Don't get me wrong; they may still take action against your site but regardless as Phun and Davlin have already said; Size is a HUGE factor when they are considering taking down a forum. Recently one of my friends has needed to take down their forum because IPS thought it to be able to make enough money to buy a proper license; yet it turned out that my friend was only running it for entertainment purposes; after a couple of months, the site was still up, IPS didn't take any further action; maybe because it takes time. My friend stopped running the site from June; but it is a prime example that IPS are still human and they understand that some people can't pay for things so they go to nulled software. While many companies aren't like IPS; always money grabbers and such. IPS show humanity and compassion all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phun Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 it is a prime example that IPS are still human and they understand that some people can't pay for things so they go to nulled software. While many companies aren't like IPS; always money grabbers and such. IPS show humanity and compassion all the time.Then maybe IPS should know that we're basically giving away free trial versions of their product, if communities grow big with their software it will surely bring in new clients. At least, that's how i always thought about it...When i was still a young webmaster i also started with IPB nulled and later bought a license. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Then maybe IPS should know that we're basically giving away free trial versions of their product, if communities grow big with their software it will surely bring in new clients. At least, that's how i always thought about it...When i was still a young webmaster i also started with IPB nulled and later bought a license. hahaha; they should pay you for the lovely advertisement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sportainment Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 To be honest I only ever use nulled forums to test out new software, or software I am not used to. I normally install the three big ones IPB, vB and xF and design my site on each of them seeing which one I like best and then buy a license for it. Some advice though:-Do not remove the copyright information - internet users are not dumb and stupid we know what IPB looks like, what vB looks like what xF looks like. Immediately when I go to a website and see no copyright I immediately start to think that it is nulled. It is just screaming to me "I am nulled please report". And don't publically brag about having a nulled version, because some people have tried before and gotten caught and then they see others using it and immediately "sour grapes" kicks in and they report it themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolie Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Well today some kid reported my site and the webhost shut us down because of a complaint by IP but it was hosted in US so I think we will have to change to an offshore, any idea's on a good webhost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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