I receive email frequent from sites selling premium software for 90% less than retail. Example: http://rogoemd.com. After combing their site, it does not say anything about the software being illegal. They say their prices are so low as they only provide a download and no manufacturer support is provided. However, I think this is essentially a copyright violation. Does anyone esle have a take on this as I would like to try to buy a Photoshop CS2 at a low price if possible? Alternatively, does anyone know where I can get an Adobe Photoshop CS2 license legally for a low rate since adobe is already up to CS3?
Lower prices, in and of themselves, do not mean illegal software. ESD (electronic software delivery) and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) software are traditionally cheaper than retail software. However, the difference in price is usually not 90+%. There are a few other things that bother me about that particular site: 1) In most cases (including Adobe products), ESD (which is what this site offers) and OEM software can still be registered. There may be stipulations (such as with OEM you are generally only allowed to install it on the hardware it came with, even if you uninstall from the original hardware before putting it on a new machine), but you can still register it. 2) Legitimate software would include license docs. 3) We only sell full versions, but most of our products have updates that make them "fully functioning and operating". Never mind the bad grammar, why would a full version need any sort of update to make the software fully functional? Furthermore: (from Adobe) While some of these are only applicable to non-ESD software, some of them seem to apply here. I find this site very suspicious. It is registered to an Alex Rodriguez that gives a partial Finland number and address. The host is in China. Escaping copyright anyone? Here is a spam abuse report on a site also registered by this person: spamvertised.abusebutler.com/whois.php?dom=kirasoftd.com More spam issues: stupidspam.blogspot.com/ Apparently he has many names and is considered one of the spam 'kings' of Russia: stupidspam.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-digging-on-leo-kuvayev-aka-alex.html As for where you can get a legitimately reduced price on software, are you a student or work for the government or in education? Usually you can get a significant price reduction if any of those are true.
Eh, they are just some people from another country trying to make some money. Ignore those methods and try saving up some money.