hello guys..in a few months or so i plan to start a small webhosting company.. i have posted this question at vbulletin forums also currently, how do i tell if some of my client has installed a pirated copy? is there any method? I mean on Vbulettin site i know there is a link to report.. but that is usually if its a warez board or something.. Some times its possible that the board is very legit.i mean about general topics..but its running a pirated copy..how does one knoe? I as a webhost..can i make out?I want to know because i can be better informed.. Thanks again..
You can't, as far as I know, a good indicator though is if the copyright is removed, as most people don't like to pay extra for the branding free option...
Well usually if it's pirated and you don't notice eventually you'll receive a notice saying check this site and such. From there you should know it's pirated since the user does not provide a license or anything like that. Another way to tell is a lot of the php files should contain a license number normally. On the non licensed versions they do not contain a license usually or some name of a guy who hacked the thing to begin with.
It's not really your place to check the scripts being run on your hosting for legitimacy. If you get notification, be sure to take the offending site down immediately. It's odd your asking about vB when there's millions of paid script applications that could be illegal. Yes the piracy link on vB is for illegal installations, and not just for boards running a warez site or similar.
Sweetfunny is correct, it's not your job (or plausible) for you to verify if each install of a script (in this case VBulletin) is legitimate. Ultimately your job as a host would be to follow up any complaints that are made (by VBulletin presumably), if a complaint is made by a disgruntled user point them to the VBulletin abuse form. You're protected by safe harbor as a host so as long as you follow up any complaints you're golden.
Well if someone is using a NULLED install of vB and does get caught in the act, they (vB) will send in a mail to you telling you about it and that is when you can act and force them to either buy the paid version or find another host.
Do that, and also in the admin panel on the index page, there will be something different about it than the legit vBulletin.
Didn't there used to be a special URL you can type into VB boards to see if it's registered, or am I thinking of something else? Anyway, I agree it's not something you need to worry about as a host.
cesay..thats what i had heard long back..thats why i asked here..but that wa way back..like i think a year back.. btw thanks for the advice guys..i guess its best to do..when Vb contacts me.. thanks anyways..