Recently, i've been looking to start my own website using a script which costs more than $500, I have found someone who has the script and who offered to give it to me for free. I know this is illegal as I wouldn't have a license to use it, but my question is how are the developers of the script going to know about my website? and if my site gets popular and generates good income would I be able to buy a license after I have used the illegal copy of the script so that everything becomes legal? Thanks
Unless it's patented or licensed software, there’s little to no chance anyone will care let alone come after you.
If you are short of money you may use the illegal copy but I think you should buy the licensed copy as soon as you earn some bucks from your website and Yes you can upgrade a nulled script to a licensed one later on
It's easy enough for a developer to find sites using their script and if it then turns out to be an illegal copy it's even easier to have that site shut down.
Don't listen to people who just say "there is little to no chance of them finding you". The fact is, some scripts have a call home and they can F*** you up. I tried messing around with Amember scripts on a dud URL before buying it, but the non-legal copy, left traces on my FTP server (which I can't find) that are screwing up the script now. You always want to be careful when it comes to trying pirated material online. Try searching for people who have done what you want to do and see if they had any problems... Little tip. NEVER ask a general question like "can I use this generic script', you are just going to get general answers that are usually not helpful and wrong (I shudder at some of the things I read here). Always be as specific as possible...
There is a key factor, one thing is receiving a script from a friend and another knowing from where the script came from. If you friend got the script through a warez site, those scripts come with tags inside noting they are "nulled" versions, thus script developers can track those versions and you will be in big trouble then.
First it is unethical, second it is illegal, if you can't afford it, don't use it, simple explanations.
Don't do it. If you can't afford the script, then you can't afford it and you can't use it. Find a solution that is legal and ethical. Do the right thing. Make the right choice everytime you can in life, you will be happier!
If it is nulled just Google "nulled" to find those sites using warez scripts, click on the links and then you will find hundreds of websites returning error 404, 403 or down after the copyright's owner made that phone call that Netpox refers to.
C'mon.....When I was new to internet I initially used nulled scripts...I wasn't born rich....and thats what gave me a start and now I don't need to use a nulled one...as simple as that....so if you really are desperate to use that script go ahead.... Dude , Thats not the way this happens . The company first emails you saying that 'I've found you using a nulled script and I'd request you to buy an Original one or else some action will be taken against you ' . This is what their first email says .
I beg to differ, you do not need to be born rich, few people are born with golden spoons. You do not need caviar to grow up, bread and butter will do if you can't afford caviar on toast. Same reasoning, you do not need to use nulled scripts when there are a lot of alternatives such as phpbb3, SMF etc that are available. Being new on the Internet or not having money is no reason why one should commit piracy.
The biggest aspect is how will you get security updates? You won't if you haven't bought it legit... There are loads of free scripts out there anyway so no point in paying $500 for one...
bull. "nulled" versions are often brought into circulation by the developers themselves, containing unobvious backdoors or other nastyness. if you make money off a script and sit in the legal reach of the creator best go legal. this is not office97 you run on your p75 in 1997 when Billyboy did not know what internet was. the nulled versions are mostly the best promotion for a good script. just look at how far VBulletin made it.
Yeah I've even developed callback scripts for widgets so I know which sites are running my script, believe me if they have a system like that implemented in more ways than one your going to get busted.
Its really comes down to ethics more than anything else. I know people can trace you if they want, but the chances of that happening is way too slim. Does that mean you should commit piracy? No! It means you have two paths, one is cheap/free, low risk and wrong and the other is legal, right, no risk, expensive and comes with mental satisfaction.
You don't have the money for the script, everybody can understand this. You can take the risk, because it's very slim and go for the nulled script (make sure it has no traces of the original script or links to developer sites). By the time you get caught, you will have made far more cash than the script is worth, but make sure you buy a licence as soon as you make enough money.
It is not whether you are easy to catch or not. It boils down to basic ethics and morals. It is wrong to steal Full Stop. Developers need to sell their software in order to make a revenue for them to develop more of their software. Using a illegal copy is no difference from going to 7-11 or any convenience store to steal something.