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If the purchase was from Amazon or other <b>reputable</b> seller,
they should be able to take a return. Not doing so for a
counterfeit product, exposes them to further legal liability.<br>
<br>
And I wasn't talking about how it affects those of you who buy such
cables and <b>continue to use them</b> (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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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".<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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?"<br>
<br>
Sincerely, Dean<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2013-02-26 18:12, John W. wrote:<br>
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<div>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".<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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<div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times,
serif;font-size:12pt"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><b><span
style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Dean
Gibson AE7Q <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:data@ae7q.net"><data@ae7q.net></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b>
Discussion of CHIRP
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com"><chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com></a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b>
Tue, February 26, 2013 9:01:52 PM<br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b>
Re: [chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates<br>
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I would like to address this to everyone who buys a cable
with a counterfeit Prolific USB-to-serial converter chip:<br>
<br>
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).<br>
<br>
You are financially affecting <b>me</b>. And in a very
concrete and tangible way.<br>
<br>
Because of the extensive counterfeiting of their
USB-to-serial converter chip (and the theft of their
intellectual properties: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
rel="nofollow" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
target="_blank"
href="http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=155&pcid=41">http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=155&pcid=41</a>
), Prolific has taken certain steps:<br>
<ol>
<li>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.</li>
<li>The present USB-to-serial converter chip will <b>not</b>
be supported in Windows 8: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
rel="nofollow" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
target="_blank"
href="http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41">http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41</a><br>
</li>
</ol>
<p>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 <b>not work</b> when
I upgrade to Windows 8. Instead, I will have to buy new
USB-to-serial converter cables.<br>
</p>
<p>I will pay the <b>twice the price you would have paid</b>
(times thirteen), than if you had bought a legitimate
cable. Once, for each legitimate original cable, and
once again for a new cable.<br>
</p>
So, for those of you who knowingly bought counterfeit
cables <b>and continue to use them</b>: <b>Thanks, guys</b>.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<br>
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