People stealing your paid apps?

[AndroidMan1]

As some of you may know i released an app 3 days ago called MegaAudio (http://androidforums.com/application-announcements/531852-new-megaaudio-app-free-paid.html),
The app has two versions , free and paid. I just did a quick google search for MegaAudio Pro apk and there is so many links to download the paid app for free. I just had to report the links as there is nothing else I can do.

Anybody else had this problem with people stealing your apk's?

 

[Hrethgir]

Probably every other developer who has a paid app has had this problem. Hopefully there will be enough people who like the free version who want to pay for the upgrade just to support you.

 

[AndroidMan1]

Probably every other developer who has a paid app has had this problem. Hopefully there will be enough people who like the free version who want to pay for the upgrade just to support you.

Yes i think so and hopefully yes

 

[Stupifier]

Or you could be the smart dev and make it particularly difficult to jack your paid-for app versions. I would make specific mention to Tasker and PowerAmp as examples. They have EXTRA measures in place to prevent app thieves from enjoying their work for free.

 

[Adauth]

Sucks. We can only hope that people choose to support the devolpers. I know I do. I'll gladly pay a few bucks if I feel the app is worth it. It's not going to break my bank and it promotes move devolpment.

 

[OfTheDamned]

I will never understand how people can afford to spend $100-$400 on a smartphone and then a minimum of $50 a month on service, but can't find the funds to pay $0.99 for an app. It blows my mind. When you consider who the app is targeting (people with large stereo systems at home or in their car) it is even more mind blowing.

 

[Seanette]

So true. As inexpensive as Android apps tend to be (I'm not sure I've paid over $5 for any of mine, but would for a good enough app), seems like piracy is more trouble than it's worth, aside from the moral aspect.

 

[aysiu]

I don't know if this is legal, but if I were in your position, I would go out of my way to post malware-laden pirated versions of your paid app so that anyone trying to pirate it would infect themselves, and people who pay for the legitimate version will be fine.

 

[Seanette]

I don't know if this is legal, but if I were in your position, I would go out of my way to post malware-laden pirated versions of your paid app so that anyone trying to pirate it would infect themselves, and people who pay for the legitimate version will be fine.

Legally quite dubious, I would think. Also very bad word-of-mouth if a developer is willing to dish out malware to people.

 

[aysiu]

Yeah, you're probably right.

 

[mikedt]

I've just done a search for MegaAudio Pro apk as well. Many of the URLs are here in China, as well as various torrent sites, e.g. PirateBay.

1) It's common knowledge that piracy is the national pastime here.
2) Google Play paid apps are NOT available here, except for Hong Kong.
3) Chinese don't really like paying for software anyway, even when it's easy and cheap.

 

[Cryssie]

I have mentioned before on this forum how difficult and convoluted it can be to pay for apps if you don't own a creditcard and/or live in a certain area.
Also, I believe not all apps are available worldwide and people do not like those restrictions in this internet day and age. So, when people really want it and can't get it, they will resort to piracy.
It really sucks for developers, but part of the problem is with Google. If apps are available worldwide and paying for them is easy, I believe a lot of the piracy will evaporate because a few cents really isn't worth the trouble.

 

[mikedt]

I have mentioned before on this forum how difficult and convoluted it can be to pay for apps if you don't own a creditcard and/or live in a certain area.
Also, I believe not all apps are available worldwide and people do not like those restrictions in this internet day and age. So, when people really want it and can't get it, they will resort to piracy.
It really sucks for developers, but part of the problem is with Google. If apps are available worldwide and paying for them is easy, I believe a lot of the piracy will evaporate because a few cents really isn't worth the trouble.

I've got Google Checkout, however the card associated with it expired last year sometime and the bank account was closed. Checkout won't let me change the card number to a new card on a different bank account, it only lets me change the expiry date, so it's useless. Think I've posted about this before on AF.

I do know about Getjar, as an alternative legal way for obtaining paid apps.

 

[Cryssie]

I've got Google Checkout, however the card associated with it expired last year sometime and the bank account was closed. Checkout won't let me change the card number to a new card on a different bank account, it only lets me change the expiry date, so it's useless. Think I've posted about this before on AF.

I do know about Getjar, as an alternative legal way for obtaining paid apps.

They really need to get their system working properly. I bought a few Visa vouchers and I had to jump through so many loops to get it to work.
What if you insert a new card and delete the old one? When Wallet decided to work, I could insert more vouchers/cc and set one as default.

 

[Ljooba]

I paid 230 euros for my SE in cash,now problem is in my country it's hard to have credit card,it's even harder to find proper job,if i had job i will have credit card,and then i will pay for apk.
I even don't have internet,i using wireless from neighbors.
I understand your anger like developer and any other developer for cracking apk and share on internet,but tell me what are my options are when i don't have how to pay???
Basic the problem are not people who download,the problem is people who crack,patch apk,rip movies etc.
BTW i don't use your apk.

 

[wxman2003]

I paid 230 euros for my SE in cash,now problem is in my country it's hard to have credit card,it's even harder to find proper job,if i had job i will have credit card,and then i will pay for apk.
I even don't have internet,i using wireless from neighbors.
I understand your anger like developer and any other developer for cracking apk and share on internet,but tell me what are my options are when i don't have how to pay???
Basic the problem are not people who download,the problem is people who crack,patch apk,rip movies etc.
BTW i don't use your apk.

Stealing apps because one can't pay is no excuse.

 

[Cryssie]

Stealing apps because one can't pay is no excuse.

The validity of your argument put beside:
I am having problems with defining the use of pirated software/music/entertainment as "stealing". The label is based upon the assumption that every pirated download equals a lost sale and this has been shown to be incorrect. Also: nothing is taken away, it is copied.
The problem is the huge scale of it. (internets)
Also: it brands pirates as criminals, which is not really desirable imo.
Labeling it as stealing got us all in the ACTA mess.

There is a percentage of pirates who do it, simply because they can, but for a very large part, piracy can be stopped by fixing issues with availability and artificially high prices.

 

[wxman2003]

The validity of your argument put beside:
I am having problems with defining the use of pirated software/music/entertainment as "stealing". The label is based upon the assumption that every pirated download equals a lost sale and this has been shown to be incorrect. Also: nothing is taken away, it is copied.
The problem is the huge scale of it. (internets)
Also: it brands pirates as criminals, which is not really desirable imo.
Labeling it as stealing got us all in the ACTA mess.

There is a percentage of pirates who do it, simply because they can, but for a very large part, piracy can be stopped by fixing issues with availability and artificially high prices.

I can't afford a Mercedes. Doesn't mean I have the right to one. Don't blame them for not mass producing them and selling them for 1/3rd the price. That won't stop people from stealing them either.

 

[Ljooba]

I agree with Cryssie,now i didn't steal it,i just download copy of movie,or music album,or apk,if i download something 4 my self and no body else i don't see my self like criminal,but if i share that well that another thing.
All of you ask your self what would be the purpose of internet if we don't have piracy???
To watch You Tube,send mails and nothing else.
You can't afford Mercedes,but if someone made copy and sell you for 1/3 of full price you would not accept that???
I'm poor and because that i don't have to use internet or don't have to eat today,or maybe i don't have to live???
If we don't make compromise where would our humanity would be.

 

[Phases]

Well, I for one have just now asked myself "What would be the purpose of the internet if we didn't have piracy", as requested, and I can think of many reasons. Particularly, all those that I imagine came to mind when the internet was first invented and mainstreamed.

Collaboration, communication, storage, etc. Theft doesn't come to mind. And that's what it is. Saying you don't agree with the price that is set or availability or whatever is just an excuse. The owner of the work has the right to price it and make it available as they wish. You do not have the right to take copyrighted work with specific terms of service just because you don't agree with what they've chose to do.

I realize I'm a minority though. I'm surrounded by people who pirate movies and music and apks all the time. I shake my head at them, and they shake their heads at me for shaking my head at them.

Edit: As for the Mercedes. Sure someone can build a knock off for and sell it for 1/3 the price and you can buy it. But they can't go and steal Mercedes parts from warehouses and build them, call them their own and sell them a 1/3 of the price.

All THAT said, this thread is dangerously close to finding its way into the PCA section (or having some of the posts moved out and into there). Sorry for contributing to that, AndroidMan1!

 

[wxman2003]

I agree with Cryssie,now i didn't steal it,i just download copy of movie,or music album,or apk,if i download something 4 my self and no body else i don't see my self like criminal,but if i share that well that another thing.
All of you ask your self what would be the purpose of internet if we don't have piracy???
To watch You Tube,send mails and nothing else.
You can't afford Mercedes,but if someone made copy and sell you for 1/3 of full price you would not accept that???
I'm poor and because that i don't have to use internet or don't have to eat today,or maybe i don't have to live???
If we don't make compromise where would our humanity would be.

The people who developed those apps worked hard developing those apps that you steal. So they should work free for you because you cant afford it? Next time you get a job, work for free because your boss cant pay you. See how that works and get back to us.

 

[mikedt]

They really need to get their system working properly. I bought a few Visa vouchers and I had to jump through so many loops to get it to work.
What if you insert a new card and delete the old one? When Wallet decided to work, I could insert more vouchers/cc and set one as default.

Thanks I'll give that a try. Although there's no need for me to use Checkout at the moment, because of location.

 

[Ljooba]

The people who developed those apps worked hard developing those apps that you steal. So they should work free for you because you cant afford it? Next time you get a job, work for free because your boss cant pay you. See how that works and get back to us.

Works like this,you download piracy 2,we all do,but i have courage to admit that,and still i'm free & poor & enjoy in all benefits using internet!!!

Don't say "Get a job" you don't know how bad thing are in my country,so plz go watch your your self,don't judge me!!!

 

[Phases]

Works like this,you download piracy 2,we all do,but i have courage to admit that,and still i'm free & poor & enjoy in all benefits using internet!!!

I don't.

Don't say "Get a job" you don't know how fck up thing are in my country,so plz go watch your your self,don't judge me!!!

That doesn't give you the right to steal commodity items then laugh at the people you are ripping off.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

 

[Slug]

Works like this,you download piracy 2,we all do

Please don't assume that everyone has the same lack of ethics as yourself.

p.s. please also mind your language. If it can't be said without tripping the site filters then it shouldn't be said in any other way.