Regarding the vBHosting Hack
 

This hack has been removed while its legality is investigated. If it is determined to be within the license, it will be returned.

so what happens to us who have allready installed it.
I have just converted all my subforums to use this instead.

*sigh*... this sucks.

I don't see anything wrong with the hack... it's not like the users have the full features of a vB forum... they just could customize the look of their very own part of my forum..

Sad news. :( I guess Jelsoft are worried this excellent hack will eat into license sales.

OMFG. Did my post say nothing? It lets a user create forums under a subforum and manage it. It is one instance, one installation. It TGOwhatever was legal, which basically let people have free vBs, then that hack is definately legal. *sigh*

As long as you don't give sub-forums out to other individuals nothing will happen. Chances are your system is completely incompatible for future vBulletin upgrades, but you knew that going into it right?

Maybe we need a VBHacks website not CONTROLLED by Jelsoft?

Looks like it. :rolleyes:

Upgrading vB will be no problem - almost no parts of the vBulletin are changed, there's just an additional admin interface to control it.

Actually TGWhatever is not legal that had already been decided. Each of those "Free" versions of vBulletin are considered to be pirated copies by us. This has become a very big issue lately with several hosts trying this and we have not given permission to anyone.

Your post had your opinion but based on previous staff conversations, the information was incorrect. As I said, after we review this and if it is decided to be okay, then I will restore it.

I was just wondering. It does use only 1 license? 1 Copy of the files? I have not checked out the hack myself, but I doubt there is any new installations of the whole vBulletin system itself. Can we get a clear statement of why an investigation is needed, and what exactly is being investigated?

before going over board with negative responses, wait to see what the verdict is

there is!

I'm currently in a mood that makes me agree to you. However we should wait for an offical statement by Jelsoft (I don't think Waynes personal meaning is the official company policy here).

However, if it would be really illegal, I wouldn't release this on any site, controlled by Jelsoft or not... so let's wait what Jelsoft sais...

Please share with the rest of the class. :cool:

Well looks like jelsoft are going overboard with negative responses themselves: Using this hack will make your installation "completely incompatible for future vBulletin upgrades". Based on the original post ref: investigating to be done, how the heck can they quantify such a statement? :)

Well, among the many past discussions, it had been said that it was legal. Either that or I'm not remembering it correctly.

If anything.. this hack will help Jelsoft.... because members will see how great vB's features are.. and will want to have their own FULL VERSION forum.. and will purchase a license from vB!

So if anything... this hack will expose more people to the vB forum system.... I know Invision board has something like this.. and it encourages people to get their own IPB forum.

Oh well.. Bad enough I have to pay for vB.. then wait 2 years for a new version.. and THEN I can't do want I want with my forum... *sigh*

Well ... while EvB is not currentluy under jelsoft controll, We take every measure to observe issues such as piricy ect ... all or 90% of hacks posted at EvB require the HTL to install ... the only place that you can get the HTL IS vborg ... the only way for ppl to download the HTL is if they have a valad licence ... thats how we protect jelsoft's intrests.

If we where directed to remove a hack by jelsof or a VB Team member ... it would be done!

He is referring to http://www.everythingvb.com/.

An investigation is needed because it assigns the right to use vBulletin to none License holders. This violates the vBulletin license and diminishes Jelsoft's copyright on the product.

Basically it allows you to setup your own EZBoard like system and it has been previously determined that this is against the license and violates our copyright.

I know about 50 websites (most of them are gamesites) that are doing exactly this. And I mean the 50 are those I personally know - of course there are many more. Big sites. Do you say all of them are illegal?

Which part of the license exactly?

This hack is about as illegal as having more than one administrator and about as "incompatible with future upgrades" as my shoutbox hack - although my shoutbox hack would be more "incompatible" as it makes a lot more file edits.

I think it is because of this part.

If they are using vBulletin and do not have written permission from Jelsoft Pty. Ltd. (the only holders of the vBulletin copyright, vBulletin-germany.com is just a reseller without authority to change the license agreement) and they are using an automated or semi-automated system to do it, then yes I am.

I'm sorry but this logic could easily be applied to "assigning" administrators to our vBulletin installation or global super moderators to subforums. Aren't these groups being assigned the right to use vBulletin without a license? This hack just restricts what features this new group of administrators have access to.

Which probably makes it a good reason to check up and find out if this is legal or not. As the first post says : Once decided it is ok, it will return.

Hmmm.... interesting point. I can see why Jelsoft wouldn't want people to be able to do this (it certainly isn't in their interests), and in their place I would have specifically prohibited it in the license.

However, from my reading of the license I can see nothing prohibiting this. The closest I can see is a reference to distributing or leasing the software (which obviously is not legal), but not to allowing [unlimited] use of a specific licensed installation of vBulletin:

I'm confident that that language does not prohibit use of the software in this way (or in any way) - it merely prohibits the distribution of it.

[As an aside, as has been pointed out above, Jelsoft's argument here (and I realise that they haven't confirmed their position one way or the other yet) would also prohibit the assignment of co-admins.]

As the license stands at present, automation doesn't come into it.

/me makes all his users admins

Like I said, it will have to be reviewed. There is a chance that it will be determined to be within the license agreement and it will be re-instated. I had asked the creator to remove it voluntarily on a temporary basis while a review was done but he refused to do it stating he didn't have to abide by the Jelsoft License agreement. Maybe it was a language barrier issue that caused him not to do so. Maybe I didn't understand exactly what he meant exactly by not having to abide by the license agreement. Maybe he was given some false information by someone who doesn't have the authority. Right now, we have to review the hack to see what it does, check the code and so forth.

LOL!!!

Well I'm sorry to get so heated ... I'm sure vB will see that this hack is within TOS.. and the License Agreement. I have faith in vB.

Let's hope you're right. I'm not very confident this will happen based on the strong language Wayne has been using in this thread. ;)

I can see how this may be an issue with people that use this hack the wrong way i.e. John Doe sets up a domain called virtualvb.com, installs his vb board then installs this hack and uses the vb subscription feature to charge people to have their own miniature forum within his forum. But what about us members who actually see a good benefit from this within our own community, rather than try to make a profit?

Profit isn't relevant here (that may be a moral consideration for some, but it isn't a legal issue given the current license terms).

I reported it a day ago or so, it did not have a stand alone installer, it was forcing you to install a hack to install it self, which gets into the whole HTL debate. Which has been discussed over and over again.


Personally i would have removed it under thoughs grounds and left it be.

However i personally think this does undermind jelsofts license, if you want someone to have a sub forum, theres no problem with setting one up and letting them be a moderator. Ive done it for a few friends who dont have the knowhow or the webspace, but thats its extent. This basicly allows anyone to have their own ezboard setup which would hurt the vB community overall.

As a supporter of a company you should learn there is a difference between "Do you have written permission to do illegal things" and "I'm not sure if your hack is within our license agreement. Would it be possible to remove the download until we have discussed this within our staff?".

You have seen what happens in the first case. I personally believe you had prefered the result of the second one. I'm always trying to work together with others as long as they are friendly. Feel free to ask NTLDR as we had very much PM conversation the last days and I think we have found a good resolution for our problems.

Not sure if you read the license of vBHosting. It's clearly stated there that exactly this is not allowed...

this hack wont be back - well not in is current form anyway - if jelsoft back down i bet they make it so its a restricted version of what it could of been.

GameCrash congrats m8 on a well thought out hack.I was waiting for it to come out of beta like many others and never thought for a min it would get removed.

Also after reading all the posts - one thing aint certain

How long till the decision is made ?

Then I have bad news for you. Following Wayne Luke, this is extremely illegal as this is exactly what my hack does...

Okay, I'll go to bed now. I have to get up in about three hours to go to work. We'll see if I get some sleep... let's hope the (vBulletin)world looks better tomorrow.