Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[OneOfManyPauls]

Going by that logic, everyone is free to distribute magware. I don't really think that you believe that it is.

It doesn't matter what you or I think what kind of harm is done or not. It is not in the user's hand to decide what to do with a software which has certain usage terms. The whole point of magware is to buy the mag with the software in it. That is also the agreement between the company/developer who wrote the software with the people who publish the magazine. Otherwise they would just release it as freeware.

I know that what you did is not the most evil thing in the world. I'm just saying that that is not the purpose of magware, and that it's not the intended way of distributing it.

I don't agree with your logic on this.

Yes, magware is used to sell magazines - just like feature-articles are used to sell other magazine types. It's a lure. The developers get to use magware as a means to get their product into the hands of users who may go on to become paid customers - especially as the magazines carry articles about the software and often about the developer too.

It is illogical to look at this as somehow different to all the other magazines that can be read via the various services. I have no doubt that there is a financial reward for the magazine publishers to have their magazine content within these services.

[chk071]

In which way does that contradict what I wrote?

Sounds like pretty much the same as what I wrote really.

The point was that the user can't do what they want with it. You can't copy the magazine, and give it to other people either.

[OneOfManyPauls]

Go back and read the post you replied to and cited having a problem with "that logic". ralfrobert had just explained how to read a magazine and act upon its contents to obtain the software. You labelled that as "not the most evil thing in the world"

[ThSProd]

In which way does that contradict what I wrote?

Sounds like pretty much the same as what I wrote really.

The point was that the user can't do what they want with it. You can't copy the magazine, and give it to other people either.

I mean, if the magazine contains a cd and you gift the cd to someone, you don't have the cd that you paid with the magazine anymore; it's the same for a key. If the software is used by me, you or someone else but is a paid copy, as it was paid with the magazine itself, nothing illegal it's done as your unique copy is yours. But maybe I'm wrong.

[ralfrobert]

Where do the serials come from? Bundled with hardware or free with a purchase?
Would like to get the Waldorf Edition 2 LE.

The serials for Waldorf Edition 2 LE on the last page obviously are from the Beat magazine. Which is illegal (posting the serials here). It's magware, not freeware, which you can just throw around here. They're also almost always not for resale.

So here is the legal way: Obtain an electronic issue of Beat magazine in question. For example, you can get it via Read-it (ad-financed), Readly (free test months), Pressreader or similar (often offered with the library card.)

Then go to www.serialcenter.de

... and select the issue from which you want to claim software. You are asked a control question to prove you have the magazine (word nr. x on page y) and have to pass a short registration. You then receive the code via e-mail.

I think Waldorf Edition LE is still available this way. Furthermore, I did not sell the codes, so the question is which law I broke. Or if I did any harm. But if you say so ...

Going by that logic, everyone is free to distribute magware. I don't really think that you believe that it is.

It doesn't matter what you or I think what kind of harm is done or not. It is not in the user's hand to decide what to do with a software which has certain usage terms. The whole point of magware is to buy the mag with the software in it. That is also the agreement between the company/developer who wrote the software with the people who publish the magazine. Otherwise they would just release it as freeware.

I know that what you did is not the most evil thing in the world. I'm just saying that that is not the purpose of magware, and that it's not the intended way of distributing it.

Yes, you have a point there. That's the reason why I outlined how to get the key the "legal" or 100% correct way without cutting any corners.

[gemada]

In which way does that contradict what I wrote?

Sounds like pretty much the same as what I wrote really.

The point was that the user can't do what they want with it. You can't copy the magazine, and give it to other people either.

I mean, if the magazine contains a cd and you gift the cd to someone, you don't have the cd that you paid with the magazine anymore; it's the same for a key. If the software is used by me, you or someone else but is a paid copy, as it was paid with the magazine itself, nothing illegal it's done as your unique copy is yours. But maybe I'm wrong.

I totally agree with this!

[chk071]

In which way does that contradict what I wrote?

Sounds like pretty much the same as what I wrote really.

The point was that the user can't do what they want with it. You can't copy the magazine, and give it to other people either.

I mean, if the magazine contains a cd and you gift the cd to someone, you don't have the cd that you paid with the magazine anymore; it's the same for a key. If the software is used by me, you or someone else but is a paid copy, as it was paid with the magazine itself, nothing illegal it's done as your unique copy is yours. But maybe I'm wrong.

Imagine one guy would buy the mag, and gift the magware plugins to every user in the world. They would have sold one copy, which probably, just probably, isn't enough to pay the bills.

Unlikely case. Just to make a point. What's important is what's written in the fine print. And that surely isn't "If you bought this mag, you can send out free plugins to everyone you know.".

[ralfrobert]

In which way does that contradict what I wrote?

Sounds like pretty much the same as what I wrote really.

The point was that the user can't do what they want with it. You can't copy the magazine, and give it to other people either.

I mean, if the magazine contains a cd and you gift the cd to someone, you don't have the cd that you paid with the magazine anymore; it's the same for a key. If the software is used by me, you or someone else but is a paid copy, as it was paid with the magazine itself, nothing illegal it's done as your unique copy is yours. But maybe I'm wrong.

I totally agree with this!

Another way to look at it is the following: There is a business model behind magware. The software company wants to get visibility for its product range. The publisher makes the publication more valuable by adding software. In addition, they get more visibility for their digital and print mags as well as your e-mail address for marketing. In case of Beat / Falkemedia, I have to say they respect your wishes (i.e. newsletter cancellations) and are totally legit in what they are doing.

The whole thing that happens there is nothing but a business with certain intentions behind the things that are going on. People, as far as I've noticed by now, most of the time want to be "good at what they do", so this is one thing I respect. The other thing is that there are certain rules on top of the law that I am trying to stick to as far as possible.

In this case, it's fairly easy to pick up a library card, look into the digital mag and get the plugin. Why not? To be honest, I buy Beat from time to time (old-fashioned guy who likes colorful printed things) and also enjoy parts of it. It's not high-end stuff, targeted more to beginners.

Just my 2c. (This was a long post, and it will be my last on the subject.)

[chk071]

In this case, it's fairly easy to pick up a library card, look into the digital mag and get the plugin. Why not?

Well, exactly. An issue of Beat mag is 5 € digitally. For the whole Waldorf Edition LE 2, that's already a bargain, and you even get magware on top of that.

[ralfrobert]

In this case, it's fairly easy to pick up a library card, look into the digital mag and get the plugin. Why not?

Well, exactly. An issue of Beat mag is 5 € digitally. For the whole Waldorf Edition LE 2, that's already a bargain, and you even get magware on top of that.

By the way: When I got started some years ago, I picked up the two "usual suspects" for magware (Beat, only German at this time, and Computer Music). The latter comes with a huge software library. And most of the stuff is very usable. I think it took me about two years until I had replaced nearly everything from the collection with other stuff.

The mags are an excellent resource for beginners to get the engines running.

[chk071]

Yeah. I bought an issue of Computer Music in 2011 (which was very expensive here... I think I paid 20 €), which had z3ta+ on it, full version, and that was great to get started with. I rate CM a bit higher than Beat, but, Beat also had some nice magware freebies.

[GaryG]

small point: the books and mags you can borrow from a library are not 'free', they are licensed by the publishers who do make some income from having them available, your council tax is going towards paying for them.

[Hans25]

Cherry Audio Quadra for 8,21€ is a no-brainer deal
https://www.plugin.deals/best-audio-plu ... n-8e-deal/

it really is, but that page is just an affiliate redirect to https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/ ... 402-Quadra

And now its pretty much a big brainer-deal

[ThSProd]

Imagine one guy would buy the mag, and gift the magware plugins to every user in the world. They would have sold one copy, which probably, just probably, isn't enough to pay the bills.

Unlikely case. Just to make a point. What's important is what's written in the fine print. And that surely isn't "If you bought this mag, you can send out free plugins to everyone you know.".

Yes, of course your point would be correct if my key would be usable for an unlimited time from an unlimited number of people; but as far as I know one key is usable one time and just for one person. So, if I don't need it and I just gifted my own key to someone else as ralf did, I only gifted my copy to one guy, and not to "all the world". So I don't understand what could be illegal, as I'm not making copies out of mine own software. Hope this makes sense as english isn't my first language.

[chk071]

Yes, of course your point would be correct if my key is usable for an unlimited time from an unlimited number of people; but as far as I know one key is usable one time and just for one person. So, if I don't need it and I just gifted my own key it to someone else as ralf did, I only gifted my copy to one guy, and not to "all the world".

No, you gifted it to a guy who never bought the mag, without even knowing whether or not you are supposed/allowed to give it away. Regardless of whether you or I think it's not the worst crime or offense of all time, it is surely not in compliance with the terms of the software of the mag.