Slashdot Mirror
Stealware: Kazaa et al Stealing Link Commissions
goombah99 writes "We all heard about spyware, well now Kazaa, Morpheus and LimeWire are sneaking a new type of nastiness onto your computer, software that - without you even knowing it - redirects commissions for online purchases you make from other vendors you make back to them. For example, if you buy a CD from an affiliate of Amazon.com, say some charity, the software fools Amazon into crediting the commission to Morpheus, not the charity! The story quotes a LimeWire Developer who admits 'While I agree that this is really a
bit of a scam, it is a way for us to pay salaries while not adversely affecting our users.' The insidious part is the stealware
program remains even if you delete the original P2P software. And you supposedly gave your permission when you clicked through the EULA."
Seriously.. I may not have a popular opinion here, but 99% of the people, including myself, using Morpheus, Kazaa and the rest are criminals downloading pirated music, movies and software. Sorry if you don't like the laws, but they are what they are. You can't exactly go to the cops and say that you want your money back because the dealer gave you rock candy instead of crack. They're stealing, you're stealing.. what's the difference?
Once immoral behaviour (stealing copyrighted material) is condoned and encouraged, people shouldn't be surprised when someone takes it one step further. Anyone who has stolen copyright (I'm sure a lot of you slashdotters) is being hypocritical when they criticise kazaa. Of course the RIAA is in the same business as kazaa anyway (ripping off artists). Maybe all the kazaa users should join the RIAA. There are genuine internet music companies who are trying to reinvent things (eg peoplesound.com). Of course they sign up unknown bands, not the (yawn yawn) Metallicas and REMs that the unimaginative love to download.