[chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates

[Dean Gibson]

If the purchase was from Amazon or other *reputable* seller, they should 
be able to take a return.  Not doing so for a counterfeit product, 
exposes them to further legal liability.

And I wasn't talking about how it affects those of you who buy such 
cables and *continue to use them* (they're not that expensive).  I was 
talking about how users who do so, affect ME. Granted, the actions of 
just one buyer doesn't affect me, but the collective actions do;  they 
affect all of us.

Years ago, some of you may remember that if you mailed a bill payment, 
and you forgot to put a stamp on it, the USPS would still deliver the 
envelop, and the recipient would pay the postage due, and your bill 
payment was posted on time.  Then, along came the "hippie" movement, and 
some decided to make the "evil" utility companies always pay the 
postage.  In short order, the USPS put a stop to that.  So, ever since, 
if you really forget to apply sufficient postage, your payment is 
returned to you.  Actions have consequences, and often, the actions of a 
relatively small number affect all of the rest of us.

On one Yahoo! forum for an Icom amateur radio product, there is often a 
(perhaps innocent) query about "where to download the service manual".  
Usually there is a quick response about where to download it for free.  
I used to object to the latter messages, noting that Icom sold the 
manual at a reasonable price.  The price I paid for my replies, was that 
I was moderated on the forum, but the person who provided the pirate web 
site address was not.  One person even claimed that "we were owed it, 
because amateur radio invented the cellular phone technology".

On another Yahoo! forum for a Yaesu amateur radio product, if someone 
posts a message about where to download the service manual, he/she is 
instantly banned by the moderator, and a warning is issued to the group 
about such posts.

Before I was retired, I made my living writing and selling software.  
Amateurs used to give these issues little thought. Recently there seems 
to be more awareness of the issues of both software and hardware piracy, 
which I am glad to see.  Nevertheless, in this thread there didn't seem 
to be much appreciation of the issue, with most of the advice being how 
to "get around" the tactics being used to prevent the cables from being 
used, rather than "is this happening because I am doing something wrong?"

Sincerely, Dean

On 2013-02-26 18:12, John W. wrote:
> Well, in most cases, no one knows they have a counterfeit until they 
> get the cable and it does not work properly.  I have not ever heard a 
> retailer saying "We sell fake chips".
>
> Fortunately, I will not be upgrading to Win8.  It brings nothing new, 
> insofar as functionality.  It does however, take away the start menu 
> and introduces a stupid new interface that only is effective for touch 
> screens.
>
>
>     *From:* Dean Gibson AE7Q <data at ae7q.net>
>     *To:* Discussion of CHIRP <chirp_users at intrepid.danplanet.com>
>     *Sent:* Tue, February 26, 2013 9:01:52 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates
>
>     I would like to address this to everyone who buys a cable with a
>     counterfeit Prolific USB-to-serial converter chip:
>
>     You may not think you are hurting anyone, but you are. Aside from
>     the legal and ethical issues with buying counterfeit goods, you
>     are financially affecting more than just Prolific (who sells
>     legitimate chips).
>
>     You are financially affecting *me*.  And in a very concrete and
>     tangible way.
>
>     Because of the extensive counterfeiting of their USB-to-serial
>     converter chip (and the theft of their intellectual properties:
>     http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=155&pcid=41 ),
>     Prolific has taken certain steps:
>
>      1. They have designed a new USB-to-serial converter chip that is
>         supposed to be more difficult to counterfeit, and selling that
>         to legitimate cable makers.  This chip will be supported in
>         Windows 8.
>      2. The present USB-to-serial converter chip will *not* be
>         supported in Windows 8:
>         http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41
>
>     So, how does this affect me?  I have and use thirteen
>     USB-to-serial converter cables with the old (legitimate) Prolific
>     chip.  These cables will *not work* when I upgrade to Windows 8. 
>     Instead, I will have to buy new USB-to-serial converter cables.
>
>     I will pay the *twice the price you would have paid* (times
>     thirteen), than if you had bought a legitimate cable.  Once, for
>     each legitimate original cable, and once again for a new cable.
>
>     So, for those of you who knowingly bought counterfeit cables *and
>     continue to use them*: *Thanks, guys*.
>
>     As a person who has contributed code to the Chirp project, has
>     written other open-source software for the amateur community, and
>     has maintained a couple amateur radio support sites (free and
>     without ads) for the past decade, you have made my heart very warm
>     with feelings of appreciation.  Or maybe just a bit hot.
>
>
>
>
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