Shhh, this is a secret!!!
 

There's this FREE board modification that can't be named, that's been upgraded to be compatible with vB3 (as has been requested here, and here). It seems anytime we try to let the people who've been asking for this upgrade, know about it, another board mod deletes the thread because they think it's an advertisement. So while I can't say what this service is I can let people know we have one, that many people have shown interest in it, that's free. I guess if enough people contact the mods and ask them if they'd allow LEGAL posts about FREE modification to be posted, then I can let you know about it.

Perhaps someone can convince them to actually read the site rules:

Rules Regarding Commercial/Paid Hacks:

1) You can link your commercial/paid scripts/hacks/services in your signature but without any promotional language (eg. "best", "cheapest" etc.). The signatures rules still apply to such signatures.

2) Paid hack, scripts or commercial addons can be discussed in vbulletin.org without being promoted. However, authors of the commercial hack or addon cannot start threads discussing their own products or promote it in anyway in vb.org posts. If a commercial hack discussion thread turns into a promotional thread, it will be closed or deleted. If authors are found using another account or encouraging a friend account to circumvent this rule, all accounts involved will be banned.

3) Beta or Lite versions of commercial hacks/scripts may be released here as long as:
a) The beta or lite version is fully functional
b) The beta or lite version is not time limited in any way
c) The beta or lite version is completely free
d) The beta or lite version is stand-alone and completely separate to the full version
e) A link back to the full version is allowed, as long as no price or promotional language is embedded into the beta or lite version.

4) Addons for commercial hacks may be released here as long as:
a) A free beta or lite version of the commercial hack has been released here as per Rule (3) above.
b) The addon is fully functional
c) The addon is not time limited in any way
d) The addon is completely free
e) A link back to the full version is allowed, as long as no price or promotional language is embedded into the addon.

5) Uncommercial vbulletin hacks that integrate vbulletin into third party independent commercial software CAN be released in vbulletin.org provided that the hack thread is not created to promote the sales of the commercial product. (Independent scripts are the software that are able to run without needing vbulletin).

If it were me, who charged people $160 for a MB script, I think I'd let people know about FREE services that improve the functionality of that script. But hey, that's just me. I like people to get the most of what they pay for (even if it's free).

You can't expect them to be perfect :)

Somehow we have a different definition of free.

When I look at your site, it seems to me as if I would have to show your ads if I want to use it. That's already not free for me, as it's lost revenue for me, because I could place other ads there or could keep it adfree, making my board a nicer place to be.

If it doesn't have ads, what is the difference between the free and the paid version?

You are not allowed to advertise on this site. From what I can see your hack requires the users to place ad's on their forum, which is just anthor form of making money off of them.

Well regarding the word free, look at the posts above.

And i really don't know why you are posting the rules.
Everyone can see them already on the rules page.

Or to be more specific, most rules doesn't even fit for that topic.

1) Signature Rule: We are talking about a thread
3-5) Rules about releasing modifications. Well, you did not release anything here on vbulletin.org you were just providing a link

so the mean Rule nr 2 fits.
So to come to an conclusion, if you upload a free script, then you can link to your site as well, but all you did was just advertising, and that's not allowed.

It would normally except none of the ads are paid for -- they are all donated ads for either non-profit organizations or causes supported by the creator of the site. In other words the ads convey the opinion of the author, sort of like what any post on any message board does. I guess that would make your post a paid advertisement, too.

Since the install script is different for different board and version, and is subject to change, copying the script from the site makes much more sense.

I INFORMED people of the upgrade, designed specifically for the needs of those who have requested it at this very board. I had already ran the post by a moderator who said it was okay. You guys need to get together and decide what your rules actually mean, then let us know.

Whatever ads they might be, they are still ads, and removing them would cost me.

I don't understand why the install script is different for different versions of vBulletin. If you mean vB2 and vB3, you are allowed to start a thread for each version.

Also, other modifications get updated as well. Still, the authors find the time to update the files here on vbulletin.org. If you don't think you have the time, either don't update it or don't post it at all.

Also, in regard to your running the post by a moderator: while the moderators here are very competent, the admins have the last say, and their decision overrides that of the moderators. Anyone can make a mistake, so don't blame them of not being organised :)

I took a look simply because I was curious and the having to go with a pro account which carries a charge, even though you may not get charged for it if you have a $0 balance seems funny in a scam like way to me.

The vB3 specific script runs only through the plus/pro CGI script. Maintaining a zero balance may seem "funny" but it's still free. Since you never have to enter any sort of information that would allow us to get money -- it'd be hard to be a "scam".

The "ads" include PSAs for http://www.missingkids.com, Terri Shiavo, promos for SpelChek and President Bush. Obviously the promo for SpelChek is an ad but it is displayed 1 out of 12 times. And I understand that some people may disagree with the opinions expressed at http://www.terrisfight.org/ and at http://www.georgewbush.com/ but they are still an expression of opinion, just as your posts here have been. I'll assume no one objects to the message at http://www.missingkids.com (but it really wouldn't surprise me if someone did)

There are spell checks one can load on their own server if they want to spend a considerable amount of time. Spell checks that one can copy and paste the text to and from on other servers, but this one is designed to be easy to install and allow a smooth transition while doing it (no need to copy and paste in order to check spelling). The service has been up since January and has so far lost money because most people choose the free version, and in all honesty I can't bring myself to charge people for the ads, since they result in so little actual return. The original intent was to provide the service left in the vacuum created when spellchecker.net yanked their free version. The ads are there simply so that I'm not handing out server usage and getting nothing in return. I really don't see why that gets people in such a tizzy.

When the service was first launched the code was bandwidth intensive and had to be changed. Unfortunately "mod files" had been created and people were still using those. Recently we discovered that quite a few boards were still using the older scripts and running up the bandwidth. As we continue to develope the script, it becomes hard to offer updated install files when older "mod" text files remain on different sites. We've managed to catch the older "mod" files and when they are used alert the user to obtain the newer version, but in the end, it is much easier to go to the site to get the latest, rather than depend on old "mod" files that lay about for years on various "hack" sites.

As for the moderators, after reviewing the PMs it turns out the exact same moderator deleted all of the threads, even after we complied with ever single requirement he demanded.

You ran those posts by me and I informed you then that they were NOT ok. I also discussed your second post with one of the Admins here and we came to the same conclusion. You have said an Admin and a Mod okayed your posts and that has NOT happened.

That was me and you did NOT comply. If you had posted the free version, you would have complied. You were told that, sir.

Just peeking in a moment...

SpellChek, questioning the judgement of moderators or admins about the rules of a messageboard should be limited to email correspondences. On many boards public questioning is a quick ticket to a ban, and besides - it's not very diplomatic to try to correct a host in his own house.