Is this a VST Scam or Illegal?

[simba2000]

Hello,

Im new to the VST scene. Is this a legit sale or a scam for Keyscape on eBay?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vst-Plugins...UAAOSw171faQwM

I have seen a few of these type of sales for VST plugins where they say they are taken from old laptops and fully functional but no ability to get updates and legal via EU laws.

Thanks!

[Drew Stephenson]

Page doesn't work for me so it might be a scam that's already been removed.

[muzines]

It doesn't matter where they are "taken" from, you can't legally resell software, because you never own the software, what you own is the license to use it - no licence in the deal, then you're paying for nothing.

In the case of the Spectrasonics stuff, selling this software includes transferring the licence owner to the buyer, and there's a fee for this.

Anything else, is just piracy.

I can't check the terms of that ebay listing as it's been removed, but I expect it's the same old people selling dodgy stuff to suckers.

[Rockrooms]

It doesn't matter where they are "taken" from, you can't legally resell software, because you never own the software, what you own is the license to use it - no licence in the deal, then you're paying for nothing.

Oracle thought so to and lost in their case in the EU Court of Justice:
"All software that has been "sold" for a lump sum payment in combination with a perpetual licence is in principle eligible for resale." :

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail ... 1afa52a2d8

This has driven a lot of the "cloud" subscription licenses that are increasingly common as they are no longer a perpetual license.

[muzines]

Oracle thought so to and lost in their case in the EU Court of Justice:
"All software that has been "sold" for a lump sum payment in combination with a perpetual licence is in principle eligible for resale." :

I think you misunderstood me. I was comparing the difference to selling your *licence*, along with a copy of the software (which is most cases is allowed), versus people just selling a copy of the software, *without* including their licence, which is just piracy.

[Rockrooms]

I think you misunderstood me. I was comparing the difference to selling your *licence*, along with a copy of the software (which is most cases is allowed), versus people just selling a copy of the software, *without* including their licence, which is just piracy.

Ah, fair enough. It sounds like this was firmly the in the latter category.

[muzines]

What typically happens is that someone downloads a dodgy copy of "Software X" from the net.

Feeling great about how smart and clever they are, they then list the software for sale on ebay - not too cheap, which would make it look dodgy, but expensive enough that people might think "Ok this seems a likely selling price for this" so it seems more "legit".

Then they need to invent some way of plausibly selling this multiple times over, so they'll often say things like "These copies were an unused education bundle for college" or "Genuine distributor stock for resale" or other b*llocks, so they can list 50 copies etc.

And when those run out, you just make a new listing for the next 50 copies or whatever...

Unfortunately, ebay get a cut of sales, so they don't care in the slightest about this kind of piracy trade, unless it negatively affects their platform in some way. So scammers sell and profit, people get their software "cheap", ebay profits, and everyone's happy (until upgrade time...)

[Martin Walker]

Just a heads-up that I've noticed this identical thread popping up on other music tech forums.

It still seems a legitimate query, but it does make me wonder what the intention of the OP is, especially as they don't seem to have returned to respond to our comments.

Martin

[zenguitar]

With my cynical head on, I can't get rid of a nagging feeling that the original post might have been made to promote the link.

Andy

[simba2000]

No...not at all....not trying to promote the link. Honestly inquiring about this software and I posted a similar question in different other areas (VI Control)...anxious to get answers.

I did purchase a similar VST set from Ebay, downloaded, and installed it. Haven't tried it in my DAW (still learning and setting up...I'm quite new), but I had no problem installing...no request for license, etc.

As I am getting my feet on the ground, I will remember to come back to this site....excellent info and very helpful folks. Thanks again.

[zenguitar]

Don't worry, I don't let my cynical head take control. We get targeted by so much spam here, and whilst most is easy to spot some spammers are very creative. I was just musing out loud.

You are very welcome here

Andy