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App Auto-Tweets False Piracy Accusations

Posted by Soulskill on from the i'm-spartacus dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Certain iPhone and iPad applications from a Japanese company have broken software piracy detection mechanisms that are sending out tweets on the user's own Twitter account, saying, 'How about we all stop using pirated iOS apps? I promise to stop. I really will. #softwarepirateconfession.' The trouble is, it's sending these out on accounts of users who actually paid up to $50 or more for the software and who are legally using it. The app is asking for access to users' Twitter accounts, but does not give the reason why it is asking, so the author of the article concluded (rightly) that things were being done deliberately. Would you want your legally purchased software to send out messages to all of your contacts on Twitter or on other social networks saying that you were a software pirate? Would you excuse the writers of the software if it was just an error in their piracy detection measures?"

10 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. no by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    no

  2. App permissions by danomac · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Generally if I have an app asking for Twitter/Facebook credentials and it appears completely unrelated to the app I just remove it and move on.

    1. Re:App permissions by cjpa · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This app cost 50$ and it was only when the user got an update, that the app insisted on getting Twitter credentials. So he paid heavily for an app which subsequently sent out a dodgy update. Not a very nice practice.

    2. Re:App permissions by green1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You don't honestly believe that bit about the walled garden protecting the users do you?

    3. Re:App permissions by EGSonikku · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As an iOS user since the original iPhone I have a few points to make.

      Firstly, part of me wishes it were more open and that's why I've always used available jailbreaks.

      Secondly, when one looks at the amounts of malware available for each platform it does become clear that the 'walled garden' does seem to have an affect on device security.

      It really is a double edged sword, but I can see the merits of both arguments.

      --
      - "Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem"
    4. Re:App permissions by danomac · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I didn't actually realize it was a dictionary - people actually pay more than a buck or two for an app? Considering a dictionary is available online, $50 for a dictionary app seems to be kind of silly.

  3. Legal liability by Lisias · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is character assassination.

    You know that old joke about crying "FIRE" in a crowded theater? The bottom line is that you must be damn sure the place is really catching fire before doing that.

    The software owner should be legally charged.

    --
    Lisias@Earth.SolarSystem.OrionArm.MilkyWay.Local.Virgo.Universe.org
  4. Regardless... by klingers48 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...Of whether or not the user has pirated the software, this kind of name-and-shame digital vigilantism on the part of the software author is just playing with fire. Especially (but not only) when it's shoddily coded and hitting false positives.

    I can imagine them sitting around their dev table brainstorming "Ok guys, what's the best possible way we can open the company up to libel and defamation lawsuits? Hey, I know... Let's even give people who use and rely on Twitter as a business tool an opportunity to claim commercial losses against us as a result of an automated piracy accusation going out to their X-million followers!"

    Sometimes things just aren't thought through very well...

  5. I wouldn't of paid $50 for the app by Nyder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    and everyone that knows me knows I pirate software, music, movies, whatever. In fact, I'm the go to guy.

    See, I tell people I pirate software, so no, the app wouldn't bother me.

    But it goes to show, the only people that buy dvd/bluray's are the ones who get hit with DRM and warnings about copyright, because I sure as fuck don't get those when I download pirated versions.

    You buy goods because you like the abuse. I pirate the goods because I don't like to be abused.

    --
    Be seeing you...
  6. Re:Who would pay $50 for an iOS App? by _merlin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When I'm in a country where I have severely limited vocabulary in the local language, a good dictionary application is one of those can't-live-without things that I actually do depend on for getting by. I haven't seen how good this application is/isn't, but I'd pay more than $50 for a great dictionary app. Also, a mobile version is more valuable than a desktop version. I know from experience what it's like pulling a notebook computer out of a bag when I get stuck trying to read a sign or communicate with a stranger. I'll give you a hint: it's not as practical as pulling a phone out of your pocket.