Scripps Employees Called 'Hackers' For Exposing Massive Security Flaw
Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Install0us, pirated iPhone app installer is shutting down
Install0us is an app that could be installed on jailbroken iPhones that would allow the user to installed pirated versions of commercial iPhone apps and avoid actually purchasing them. The developer of Install0us, puy0, recently posted in the Install0us forums that he has decided to discontinue work on the app and kill the project for legal reasons. You don't say?
Amazingly, puy0 states that he thought what he was doing was somehow legally defensible until he spoke to a lawyer and got a reality check. It turns out that helping people take things that cost money without paying for them is kinda sorta illegal.
The forum post is worth a read, just to see how ignorant puy0 actually was about the legality of stealing, or at least how ridiculous he's willing to look when groping for a way to explain his actions.
I, for one, am happy to see yet another pirate tool die off. Developers work hard for their 70% of the $1 to $3 they're able to charge for iPhone apps; they should be compensated. In the words of Wil Wheaton, don't be a jerk.
[via Cult of Mac]
Comments
21
Subscribe to commentsJarasMJan 29th 2010 10:04AM
I find this article extremely biased. Would be a good idea actually reporting what transpired instead of trying to ridicule the decision, the author and the app every second sentence. You can (and should) have your own views on the matter, but please do try to keep this objective and informative. Thanks!
synerageJan 29th 2010 10:32AM
...it's a blog, not a news site.
Jason ClarkeJan 29th 2010 12:10PM
"I find this article extremely biased."
As synerage says, this is a blog, not a news site. To be honest, this story isn't interesting enough to report if not for the ridiculousness of puy0's comments.
Stealing is wrong, and stealing software is just as wrong as someone breaking into your house and stealing your computer, or plugging their grow op into your outside outlet and stealing your electricity.
I suppose I should disclose here that I will always write with a bias, towards *not breaking the law or endorsing morally bankrupt acts*. That means I'm definitely going to make fun of people who are stupid enough to claim online that they thought there would be some way to legally defend theft.
DuckJan 29th 2010 4:50PM
"You wouldn't download a car"
4004Jan 29th 2010 10:36AM
Ohh...Thats a pity. I was very excited about it when beta-testing.
Anyway,there are many sources left for me to download cracked software. And it doesnt matter, if I use a TryIt,LikeIt,BuyIt principe
216Jan 29th 2010 11:41AM
On Android, apps that i pirate (and like) I end up buying. In the end, I pirate for demo purposes.
vicsvengeJan 29th 2010 11:26AM
@4004- the tryit,likeit,buyit principle might work for you, but for most people it doesn't. I've heard ridiculous conversion figures for pirated iPhone apps into paid ones. Like 1% or something. I'm not going to lie, I've pirated app store games before. And generally I don't play them. The ones I do play are the ones that I'm genuinely interested in and the ones that I want to see more of in the app store. Although I enjoy my jailbroken iPhone, I really hope Apple adds more functionality to the new iPhone OS so i don't need to jailbreak it anymore.
Matthew FleigleJan 29th 2010 12:14PM
There already is a app that does the same thing as install0us called AppCake. It works just as good, but it doesnt have the update checker for cracked apps.
Heaven'sHellslayerJan 29th 2010 6:44PM
Sounds like an Obama voter to me...
jason5272Jan 29th 2010 1:51PM
So these developers work hard for their 70% profit... what about the apps that people buy that are a complete crock? Those are basically people scamming other people out of their money for putting garbage app in the apps store. Can you return an app that turns out to be a rip off? Nope. Not with a long involved process with Apple. All and all I feel that things end up working out evenly. They can stop Install0us, but someone else will pick it up and continue... did the "idea" of Napster from back in the day ever REALLY get stopped? It is all corporate greed.
ZackJan 29th 2010 2:44PM
Yeah! Those evil people trying to make money! What's wrong with them?!
TraceJan 29th 2010 1:55PM
You see I actually use the app to try out apps. And BeeJive (the IM application) basically says f*** you to piraters. Every developer could do what they do. But do they? Nope.
OvenmittJan 29th 2010 2:01PM
Apptracker & Appcake FTW!
JarasMJan 29th 2010 3:54PM
I realize this is a blog, but I always considered the site a news blog rather than a personal blog, wheras the post mostly covers your feelings about piracy in general (which is a lengthy topic which I'm not in the mood to discuss right now). Consider this rather as disappointment in the amount of content, as I had to do further research about the topic, because solid information was scarce here.
I also don't understand why you find puy0's stand on the issue ridiculous, as copyright laws differ from country to country and the legality of the app actually IS disputable (being only a front-end to an Internet site, in a similar way TPB is "just" a search engine).
JarasMJan 29th 2010 3:55PM
Whoop, I was sure I'm replying to the thread. Oh well.
Jason ClarkeJan 29th 2010 4:37PM
We have an in-joke amongst the bloggers at DLS: until you've had a commenter call for you to be fired, you haven't really arrived yet. It always puts a smile on our faces to receive these comments.
Hugs!
DuckJan 29th 2010 4:50PM
iPhone App Piracy was always a little strange due to the low cost of the apps.
When it comes to something like an $80 game, that's a reasonable amount of money to put down for something you may or may not like, but a $2 iPhone app is nothing.
the pl4gueJan 29th 2010 8:58PM
Well just realized, Jason that even if you think a reader asking for you to be fired is cool and all, making more shit posts like this article are what will make us leave DS and go somewhere else for some good ol' unbiased news.
Billy GoatsJan 29th 2010 9:05PM
@the pl4gue
*yawn*
Go HawksJan 31st 2010 12:35AM
This doesn't even matter. As this goes away another will replace. Already have app cake and app tracker.