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Apple Converting Trial and Pirated iWork, iLife and Aperture To Full Versions

Posted by Soulskill on from the defensive-indifference dept.

tlhIngan writes "One aspect about the new OS X Mavericks release was that all Apple produced software was to be downloadable and updatable through the Mac App Store. However, this raises the obvious question: what happens to users who bought the software beforehand? Initial reports showed that the Mac App Store scanned your hard drive for software and offered to associate it with your Apple ID. The scans even found trial and pirated versions and upgraded those to fully-licensed versions. Even more interestingly, this is not a bug, and it appears Apple is turning a blind eye to the practice, giving away copies of iLife, iWork and Aperture to users who own trial or even pirated versions of the apps. Apple has also recently stopped providing downloadable trial versions of iLife, iWork and Aperture from their web site."

5 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Not a Dick Move by DexterIsADog · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Good job, Apple. This will likely increase revenue from some of those whom you make legit, and will warm the hearts of some who, like me, despise all things Apple. Well, a little less today.

    1. Re:Not a Dick Move by Anubis+IV · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's only a dick move to the people who actually bought copies of that software.

      So, if I understand you correctly, I'm supposed to get worked up into a tizzy because I paid $10 for Keynote, got years of use out of it, and am now getting a free upgrade to the next version, simply because software pirates and people who are shelling out hundreds of dollars for new machines are also getting that free upgrade?

      To put it bluntly, I have better things to do with my life than worry about such things (e.g. responding to Anonymous Cowards on /,), and, honestly, I won't begrudge someone else a good turn of events if I feel like I was treated fairly, which I was. But if you are worked up over something like this, then yes, to answer your question, Apple does offer refunds, so go and get your refund and be happy with everyone else this affects. I know I am, since I'll be getting years more of use out of a great piece of software, all for $10 spent years ago.

      That was money well spent.

  2. Win8 upgrade did the same. by Holammer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I bought Win8 using a pirated Win7. I suspect MS turned a blind eye as well, as my poorly cracked copy constantly nagged about being counterfeit software etc.

  3. Spot the Real Dick by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Apple is now providing it for free. Do the people who bought it get refunds?

    I don't know. Is Apple able to go back in time and prevent you from deriving any use of the products until today?

    For anyone that bought anything fairly recently, Apple does provide refunds...

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  4. iWork '13 is crippled by GrahamCox · · Score: 5, Informative

    Beware about jumping on this too soon. iWork '13 on the Mac has many features *FEWER* than the previous version, to bring it more in line with the iOS version. A lot of people seem pretty annoyed by this, and who can blame them? I guess the good news is that the older version is moved aside, not deleted by the upgrade.