Ethics of cracking software you paid for?

[dgatwood]

So I just moved to a new G5 and Antares seems to want me to spend more money to buy a &@(&#$^&*#@$ iLok for the "privilege" of continuing to use their software.

From a philosophical point of view, I am fundamentally opposed to hardware copy protection, and I do not knowingly purchase software that requires it. At the time that I purchased Auto-Tune, it did not, and I would not have considered purchasing it for even a single moment had there been even the slightest HINT that they might require a hardware dongle at any point in the future.

I sent them a stern letter demanding my right to continue using it under the terms that I agreed to when I purchased the software. However, I'm not convinced that they are likely to budge. As a professional software developer, I'm left with an ethical question: do I:

• Try to find a cracked version of a piece of this software that I paid for and legally have the right to use?
• Crack it myself?
• Sue Antares for the right to continue using it under the original terms?
• Sue Antares for my money back?
• Write an open source replacement for Auto-Tune and bask in the look of horror when they realize they screwed the one person in the world who hates dongles enough to screw them back?
• Buy the domain AntaresTechSucks.com and create a site about them?
• All of the above?

If I decide to go with a dongle crack, does anybody know of a dongle crack for the Mac Auto-Tune? Does such a thing even exist? Just so nobody accuses me of piracy, I've attached a photo of part of my proof of Auto-Tune 4 ownership (not including the serial information or my email address). In the background is the bottom left corner of page 3 of the printed Auto-Tune 3 manual.

My favorite part is when these asshats talk about it like I should be happy that their software now "supports" the use of iLok. Like somehow having to trust the future use of software to a flaky USB dongle seems sane? Between my parents and myself, we've gone through about twenty USB keychain drives in only a couple of years. I'm not about to allow hundreds of dollars to depend on something with the same fundamental design flaws.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

I feel your pain. I'm not fond of the iLok. I had one stolen and (surprise, surprise) none of the plugin mafi...I mean manufacturers... with which I had registered software (Digidesign and URS) would replace the stolen authorizations. Literally my only option was to rebuy the software at full price.

So the bad news: there are no iLok cracks for Mac. I personally would love it if someone would crack it just so the damned plugin makers would find a USEABLE and mature way to protect their software. I want them to make money... but not by reselling me shit I already bought.

I mix analog now, primarily, because of this. If they want to make all my in-the-box toys live on an easily stolen little bit of blue plastic they can go screw themselves. The only exceptions I've made so far are the fantastic deals Digi was giving away with the version 7 upgrade.

And if Digi wants to make pro tools LE run only with an iLok (like all their other versions, now) I may just have to buy Logic. It irritates me that much. Yeah, Logic has its own key, but at least I get something worth needing the key for. Like not needing anything else to run the software and no training wheels I can't remove...

Someday software protection will be mature. It sure isn't now.

-C

 

[Kryptik]

Write an open source replacement for Auto-Tune and bask in the look of horror when they realize they screwed the one person in the world who hates dongles enough to screw them back?

This idea I like a lot. Let me know if you need some help.

I've always hated those stupid dongles and intrusive protection schemes. I guess I get what I payed for. A dongle . yay, makes me glad I'm not a pirate .

Personally I'm getting to the point where I feel like actually encouraging pirating anything that requires a dongle just to spite, well Waves really. But that usually passes until the next time I hear about the crap that results in a broken or lost or malfunctioning dongle or computer crash or .....

I almost broke my cubase dongle. I forgot to unplug it and started putting my 40lb rackmout computer on it's back and I started hearing a cracking sound. Then my heart pounding. Stupid $600 chinese made piece of plastic.

I don't have any plugs that require an iLok yet and I hope I never need them. I actually don't think have any more room for another dongle and I sure as hell ain't buying a hub because companies have this misguided belief that these things are effective. Never mind bug fixes, implementing new features, improving customer service, no, we need a new challange for the hackers so it takes them an extra two days to come up with a crack.

----------------end of rant, sorry I get a little worked up sometimes

Crack it myself?

This can actually be easier than you think. I don't know how it works on a mac, but alot of this kind of thing in windows is in the registry. Make sure to make backups before attempting mess with any of this becaus you can seriously mess up the computer. It also keeps you safe from viruses.

Sue Antares for the right to continue using it under the original terms?
Sue Antares for my money back?

I'm sure you're already aware, but this will get you nowhere fast. It would be cheaper to buy another copy of autotune.

Buy the domain AntaresTechSucks.com and create a site about them?

Make sure you post links to WavesSucks.com, SteinburgSucks.com, and any other company that requires a dongle or iLok.

Or, how about an IntelliLokSucks.com

My $200.00, shit, it came with a dongle .

 

[dgatwood]

This idea I like a lot. Let me know if you need some help.

Very much so. My first attempt at building an alternative to Auto-Tune (back before I could afford to buy it) was a disaster. I made the mistake of trying to do it with an FFT. Couldn't ever find a way to smooth the transitions adequately. Of course, the pitch detection algorithm I was using probably wasn't so hot, either.

I'm looking for other algorithms as I write this. My initial GUI would be relatively plain (i.e. standard controls with no custom GUI), and I already have some ideas of how to do pitch correction that would be much less objectionable than the algorithm that Auto-Tune, and would even preserve natural vibrato. I'm just a bit stuck on the underlying DSP bits.

I'm sort-of thinking that frequency domain shifting is a bad idea anyway. I'm thinking about using a PSOLA algorithm like I think AT uses. It looks to be bordering on trivial to implement....

Another possibility is starting with http://www.bath.ac.uk/~masrwd/pvplugs.html and working from there.

I think I've found another possibility. If I can't get them to agree to a software reauthorization, I'll probably dump Auto-Tune on eBay (about the same time as I dump my old PowerMac G5 and audio card) and buying Yamaha's competitor. Unlike AT4, they actually released it as CFM VST, so I can use it with all of my VST apps.

At the time I bought Auto-Tune, they were the only choice. They no longer are. I have a sudden feeling of empowerment knowing that I don't have to put up with their bullshit anymore.

 

[dgatwood]

I'm sort-of thinking that frequency domain shifting is a bad idea anyway. I'm thinking about using a PSOLA algorithm like I think AT uses. It looks to be bordering on trivial to implement....

Okay. I've heard a PSOLA pitch shift up a fifth and down a fourth with a source that had a touch of reverb and it still sounded almost tolerable (better than AT when doing such insane shifts).

Suddenly I feel like writing an Audio Unit.

 

[noisewreck]

I don't think there is any ethical dillema with what you're describing. At the root of ethical conduct is trust. In other words, ethical conduct is one that cultivates trust. Antares broke your trust with them by requiring you to pay them for something that you've already paid for. I see no problem with giving them the middle finger and cracking it. Or telling them they lost a customer and go with Yamaha, or Melodyne or whatever as you suggested.

If they've decided to go with the dongle, they should provide that for free to any registered customer, and apologise for the inconvenience, not act like they're giving you the privilege of using some useless piece of plastic.

Of course the companies wouldn't feel the need for doing such stupid things, if there was no piracy, but that's a whole 'nother topic.

 

[zed32]

so on programs with a USB thingy, you have to plug it in each time you use the program? will it only work on one computer for the life of the USB dongle? i was thinking of buying Samplitude and using it on my current computer and then transferring it over to a new computer later, but i would have to buy the whole program over again, then i'd rather just wait til i have the new computer...

 

[Havoc]

Write an open source replacement for Auto-Tune and bask in the look of horror when they realize they screwed the one person in the world who hates dongles enough to screw them back?

I think this is the only long term alternative. All the others will cost money or have to be redone each time they decide to mess with the iLok. If you write a replacement you make a nice statement, help others and the only thing to do afterward is making it better.

 

[foreverain4]

i use cracks for all of the software i own.

xp pro (actually own 2 copies)

sony vegas
sony acid
sony soundforge

waves


etc.

so much easier when i have to wipe my OS drive clean for a fresh install of xp

 

[tranceporter]

Waves bad business practices, request help

I've been a relatively happy legit user of Waves 4.0 Platinum user for over a year now. Then my hard disk died. I reinstalled XP, went to re-authorize, and found that the Waves folks will not help me re-authorize my copy, they want me to buy an iLok plus pay a big upgrade fee. I don't need/want the upgrade, I just want the 4.0 software I already paid for to keep working.

I'm VERY pissed off, almost all of my mixes use Waves 4.0 Platinum plugins, and now I can't even bring up my mixes enough to *visually* see the settings, let alone get any audio work done. I can no longer do any further business with a company that treats their user-base like this, and I'm decided I want to find decent or better plugins that give me roughly the same functionality as Metaflanger, Linear Phase EQ, Multi-tap delay, RVerb, and TruVerb (the plugins I use most frequently).

I am looking for any and all options that will help me get Waves 4.0 platinum back to running on my machine, if anybody here has ANY ideas and can point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.

-->Neil

 

[MadAudio]

i use cracks for all of the software i own.

xp pro (actually own 2 copies)

sony vegas
sony acid
sony soundforge

waves


etc.

so much easier when i have to wipe my OS drive clean for a fresh install of xp

What you're doing is theft. This is totally different than what dgatwood is going through.

 

[Ford Van]

What you're doing is theft. This is totally different than what dgatwood is going through.

I don't get what you mean.

 

[MadAudio]

I don't get what you mean.

That's because you're a troll.

I really respect your knowledge, skills, experience, etc., Ed, but your online personi just rub me the wrong way. Kinda like sandpaper on an open wound.

 

[Docaroo]

That's because you're a troll.

I really respect your knowledge, skills, experience, etc., Ed, but your online personi just rub me the wrong way. Kinda like sandpaper on an open wound.

I think you mis-read the post mate...

He says he has cracks for the software HE OWNS!

Not that he uses the cracked software, but that he has bought the software but finds it easier to use it with a crack!

I often do this with PC games, download a No-CD crack or something so I can play the game without digging out the chuffing CD everytime!

 

[MadAudio]

I think you mis-read the post mate...

He says he has cracks for the software HE OWNS!

Not that he uses the cracked software, but that he has bought the software but finds it easier to use it with a crack!

That seems very odd to me. Why would a legitmate owner need to crack software? What advantages could there possibly be? Why would a program work any better? My knowledge of programming is quite outdated, I'm sure, but if what you're saying is correct I'd like an explanation.

EDIT: And to be clear, we are talking about foreverain4's post, right? Because I absolutely agree with dgatwood about the original premise of this thread.

 

[TuoKaerf]

Sometimes companies restrict how many times you can register a copy of the software and when you run out of them, you have to call them and explain to them why you want another.

I ran into this a few months ago with Finale 2005. I use Finale on a weekly basis (writing winter drumline/arranging percussion parts for fall marching band shows) for some extra income. Well Finale only gives you 3 times to register the software. So if I install on my PC and Mac, that gives me one extra. When my PC crashed the first time, I had to use up that last registration. When it crashed again (of course during a week when I needed to finish a score) I had to call them and try to convince them to give me another registration of software that I paid good money for. It shoulden't be up to them to decide how many times I wish to install the software, or how many of my computers I decide to put it on.

That is why you might want to use a cracked version when you have your own.

 

[Hi_Flyer]

I've been a relatively happy legit user of Waves 4.0 Platinum user for over a year now. Then my hard disk died. I reinstalled XP, went to re-authorize, and found that the Waves folks will not help me re-authorize my copy, they want me to buy an iLok plus pay a big upgrade fee. I don't need/want the upgrade, I just want the 4.0 software I already paid for to keep working.

I'm VERY pissed off, almost all of my mixes use Waves 4.0 Platinum plugins, and now I can't even bring up my mixes enough to *visually* see the settings, let alone get any audio work done. I can no longer do any further business with a company that treats their user-base like this, and I'm decided I want to find decent or better plugins that give me roughly the same functionality as Metaflanger, Linear Phase EQ, Multi-tap delay, RVerb, and TruVerb (the plugins I use most frequently).

I am looking for any and all options that will help me get Waves 4.0 platinum back to running on my machine, if anybody here has ANY ideas and can point me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.

-->Neil

well if you really want to know, I'm pretty sure you can find this sort of stuff on P2P file-sharing networks like soulseek.

 

[Docaroo]

yes this post, read these bits:

i use cracks for all of the software i own.

xp pro (actually own 2 copies)

...

so much easier when i have to wipe my OS drive clean for a fresh install of xp

I also agree with the original poster, the company have been retarded in this case - and will lose more than him as a customer I'm sure! I hope he manages to stick it to them! But back on track...

That seems very odd to me. Why would a legitmate owner need to crack software? What advantages could there possibly be? Why would a program work any better? My knowledge of programming is quite outdated, I'm sure, but if what you're saying is correct I'd like an explanation.

Well consider this, I have 20 PC games installed on my hard drive... That means I have 20 DVDs/CDs lying about and whenever I fancy playing one of the games I actually have to go fish out the disc to play. For this reason, I will often find a No-CD crack for the game so I don't have to do this. There is no reason for having a CD in to play a game other than for verification purposes. People realease No-CD cracks that alter the original .EXE file of the game so that the code that looks for verificiation is either gone or "fooled".

As for things like Win XP, i'm not sure why youd need that "cracked". I have XP Pro and only ever install it from a CD copy of the original incase it got scratched broken...

It might just be easier I guess for the other software he mentions, IE don't need CDs in, i'm sure there are some dongle cracks out there too....

 

[Crash ©]

The version of XP Pro I have is a crack copy that came directly from Microsoft.. The plus side is I can put in on ANY machine as many times as I want without having to go through the internet registration and verification process.. Same way with the copy of Office XP I have. Telling MS you're a developer has benefits..

Dongles have been around for years though... The first ones I can recall were for printer interfaces that were supposed to keep you from using a printing program from more than one computer... Of course when you network the printer and put the "dongle" on the print server printer port to decifer the information rather than at the computer, you could send info from as many computers as you could fit on your network and it'd still work since the "dongle" was still in line in front of the printer. But that's another delima...

If you've bought the software and they "upgrade" it to require you to buy something else, they've changed the terms of which the original sale was made and broke the original TOS. IMHO, you should be able to crack it.

Several years ago I resorted to getting music through Columbia House, since they were one of the last holdouts where I could still get vinyl... About a month after getting my 12 - 1 cent RECORDS, they sent me a note that I needed to choose another medium to get music, because they were discontinuing the sal of RECORDS.. I sent them a nice little letter back saying the only reason I signed up with them was because they could supply reocrds and that if they couldn't provide for the terms of the contract which had been agreed, then I could not be bound to the contract and to cancell my membership... That was the last I heard of them...

--
Rob

 

[RWhite]

I'd say go ahead & crack.

I purchased legal copies of Sonic Foundry's (now taken over by Sony) Sound Forge, Acid, and Video Factory. I won't bore you with the long story but after years of arrogent bullshit & non-customer service I finally gave up trying to be legal and make my legal copies work the way they were supposed to. I just found hacked copies of all the programs I had purchased and most of my problems were resolved.

While I live in the Windows world where cracks are much easier to come by, I would try to do that first. Argueing with a company that uses that type of protection scheme is pointless, and sueing anyone is equally pointless. You bought their product - you should have a clear conscience when you steal it.