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eBay piracy - 8/23/2005 4:07:06 AM

Bromley

Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2002
Status: offline

I recently bought Starshatter on eBay. Turns out it's a pirated copy from Malaysia, not that you'd have guessed from the ~300 positive feedbacks (and zero negatives).

Just to avoid confusion I (a) am not going to play it and (b) don't mind if I lose the money (it's only �6).

Before I paid, I raised my concerns with eBay and got a standard response. As they did nothing, I went ahead and paid. When I saw that it was pirated, I mailed Matrix with the details. I then copied that mail to ELSPA. I've not heard from either though. I don't feel particularily vindictive towards this pirate, especially as he has ceased to trade on eBay and also as I apparently have a refund cheque winging it's way to me now. However, it seems a shame to waste the paypal details I have for him.

So if anyone from Matrix wants the details, I'd be happy to give them.

Everyone else, be wary of SE Asian sellers with loads of items and high postage costs - their feedback might not be negative, if only because the buyers were happy with their pirated software

.

< Message edited by Bromley -- 8/25/2005 2:30:18 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: eBay piracy - 8/23/2005 4:21:51 AM

Paul Vebber

Posts: 11430
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Portsmouth RI
Status: offline

Send it on to my paulv@matrixgames.com email. There is not that much we can do about it, as ebay really does the BAREST minimum to police thsi sort of thing.

The bottom line is, if its a "onsey" from someone saying thay bought it and want to sell it, that is one thing, but ebay bargain hunting for software at prices that are "too good to be true" are almost ALWAYS piracy. Same with music CDs.

If you want to support us and the hobby overall, BUY FROM US AND OUR OFFICIAL DEALERS. Otherwise you may think you are getting a bargain, but if 'everyone did it' we and the companies like us would cease to exist.

Thanks for teh heads up on this! We have no hope of stayig on top of it by ourselves...

< Message edited by David Heath -- 8/25/2005 6:21:54 AM >

(in reply to Bromley)

Post #: 2

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 3:04:50 AM

Bromley

Posts: 42
Joined: 1/16/2002
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Email sent to paulv@matrixgames.com.

BTW, although the seller has ceased to trade (eBay policy means that they won't tell someone like me why, but I guess they closed his a/c down), there's now a new seller with exactly the same description, pics and terms. Reported to eBay, but it does make you feel like a dutch boy staring at a dyke.

(I got it thanks) Paul

< Message edited by Paul Vebber -- 8/25/2005 4:00:59 AM >

(in reply to Paul Vebber)

Post #: 3

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 3:30:53 AM

Hanal

Posts: 2312
Joined: 11/1/2003
Status: offline

With all due respect, you really should not put the link here.......

(in reply to Bromley)

Post #: 4

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 4:02:53 AM

Gem35

Posts: 3420
Joined: 9/12/2004
From: Dallas, Texas
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quote:

Email sent to paulv@matrixgames.com.

better resend that to the correct email addy, bromley

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Post #: 5

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 4:03:35 AM

Paul Vebber

Posts: 11430
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From: Portsmouth RI
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Hmmm I got it OK.

(in reply to Gem35)

Post #: 6

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 4:18:53 AM

Pippin

Posts: 1233
Joined: 11/9/2002
Status: offline

While we are mentioning pirates.... not to get off topic but... I tried out Sid M's Pirates finally, and I am just lost... Playing repeated dancing scenes just doesnt cut it for me.... And the stuff that is related to real pirating just gets boring very fast.. I had expected something better from those who made Civ III. I found it just a big disapointment....

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Post #: 7

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 4:20:55 AM

Bodhi

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Joined: 8/26/2003
From: Japan
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Paul Vebber
Hmmm I got it OK.

Which is a surprise as you said:

quote:

ORIGINAL: Paul Vebber
Send it on to my pailv@matrixgaems.com email.

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Post #: 8

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 5:07:52 AM

Tankerace

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From: Stillwater, OK, United States
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I thought I was the only one who sometimes misspelled his own name

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Post #: 9

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 8:29:21 AM

ilovestrategy

Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
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Only 100% actual matrix products for me sir!

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Post #: 10

RE: eBay piracy - 8/25/2005 12:38:16 PM

stevel40831

Posts: 83
Joined: 2/6/2004
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bromley
Everyone else, be wary of SE Asian sellers with loads of items and high postage costs - their feedback might not be negative, if only because the buyers were happy with their pirated software .

There have been a fair number of items that I've been interested in on Ebay and ended up backing off of. I always dig for more info on the seller. Check out who he's sold to, what they bought, the price, etc. I've found that many of these scammers (mainly from the far east) create dummy accounts and build up their positive feedback by selling items to themselves (i.e., the dummy account) for 0.01 or other very small amounts (or "private" bidding). Research who's buying from them and what that person has for activity. Only takes a few minutes and is well worth the time.

Steve

(in reply to Bromley)

Post #: 11

RE: eBay piracy - 8/26/2005 8:31:22 AM

Charles2222

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Of course the funny thing is that the price they're paying for it is irrelevant, if they had their thinking cap on, because, afterall, they're getting their own money. If they were to pay $200 for example, does Ebay get a cut of that or something? If not there's certainly no reason to sell to yourself so cheap, but then they're probably thinking nobody will check so indepth, and even if they do there's always one sucker who won't.

(in reply to stevel40831)

Post #: 12

RE: eBay piracy - 8/26/2005 8:37:48 AM

Bodhi

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From: Japan
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Charles_22

If they were to pay $200 for example, does Ebay get a cut of that or something?

I believe ebay charges an initial "insertion fee" to list the item, then takes a variable % if it's sold.

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Post #: 13

RE: eBay piracy - 8/26/2005 9:35:58 AM

ilovestrategy

Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
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I'm pretty sure your'e right Bohdi. Sorry if this is off topic but I started uncommom valor 2 days ago and even though I don't know what i'm doing that game is addictive. And I'll be getting WiTP next week. If matrix keeps making games this good, I'll do my part by playing only official copies

. Good job Matrix!

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After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
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Post #: 14

RE: eBay piracy - 8/26/2005 5:17:23 PM

Erik Rutins

Posts: 37503
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
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If you read through these entries, it usually becomes evident that something is wrong. Often it is not in English, comes in a CD sleeve, is sold for $1.99, etc. We've shut down dozens of these auctions over the past months. They continue to pop up. Often they are inter-related. We'll see six illegal auctions and see that each seller shows up on the positive feedback of the other sellers, multiple times, thus boosting the feedback rating to high levels. It's all a scam.

If you see any illegal auctions on E-Bay or elsewhere, please e-mail Karlis at karlisr@matrixgames.com as he checks E-Bay daily to find these auctions and shut them down.

Regards,

- Erik

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Post #: 15

RE: eBay piracy - 8/26/2005 6:45:37 PM

Speedysteve

Posts: 15998
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From: Reading, England
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I use E-Bay a lot for my company Erik and will keep an eye out for these in the UK

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Post #: 16

RE: eBay piracy - 8/26/2005 10:58:56 PM

Tankerace

Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
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Only good thing about ebay is that's where I got my 1956 Martin Tenor Saxophone. Other than that....

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Post #: 17

RE: eBay piracy - 8/27/2005 10:22:15 AM

Pippin

Posts: 1233
Joined: 11/9/2002
Status: offline

They day spammers respect your privacy and your rights, is the day Ebay will stop trying to make profit off warez.

As long as they can make profit off something and not risk losing their business license or customers, they will continue to do it. This is what companies do.

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Post #: 18