Free legal download

I have an IT forum, and I wanted to a free download section for download freeware licenced software like Google SketchUP, Recuva, MySql and similar things. Just to check is that allowed because I know many forums were deleted due to posting of illegal download links.

Nope its not allowed. The ToS say

Illicit contents Forums that welcomes or promotes warez, piracy, hacking, cracking, spamming, attacks against networks or servers, pornography, racial hatred, crimes against humanity, inappropriate activities on the servers, or any other actions which violate any applicable laws, are not allowed. Any forum which contains texts, links, pictures, animations, videos or any other content recognized as illegal will be deleted without notice or warning. Forumotion.com reserves the right to delete any accounts or forums considered like not conform to the rules quoted here or specified in Forumotion.com or in the international website rules according to the international internet law. Any illegal content or act can or would be reported to the concerned services and prosecuted.

It's illegal to post links to freeware?

Even if its off the forum and you post a link to it its still considered as breaking the ToS

MrMario, the ToS says nothing at all about freeware licensed software. Can you tell me where it says you are not allowed?

I can totally understand that applying to cracked software and warez, but I'm curious why freeware is off limits when it's not specifically included in the TOS?

I'm talking about a program that's provided to the public for free by the manufacturer that hasn't been hacked or cracked in any way. For instance, on Cnet, and download.com, you can download anti virus software like AVG for free. Say I had a member on my forum that needed a free anitvirus program; I couldn't post a link to the free AVG download on Cnet? A legitimate download site?

Do you have the permissions to distribute the software even when they are freeware?

In my opinion Freeware just means, its free for use. It has got nothing to do with its sharing. You can download the software & use it, but distribution of the software is another parts.

Mr Mario wrote:Even if its off the forum and you post a link to it its still considered as breaking the ToS

Sanket wrote:Do you have the permissions to distribute the software even when they are freeware?

In my opinion Freeware just means, its free for use. It has got nothing to do with its sharing. You can download the software & use it, but distribution of the software is another parts.

I wasn't talking about distributing software. I was talking about posting a link to a site that does have the permission to distribute the software.

Two representatives of forumotion are saying that if I bought a great program online, or found freeware at a valid website legally allowed by the manufacturer to distribute the software and shared the link to that site with my members, not the actual program as a download, just the link to go to the site that does host it, my forum could be pulled for breaking TOS? Is this really how you guys are interpreting the section of the TOS quoted below?

Forums that welcomes or promotes warez, piracy, hacking, cracking, spamming, attacks against networks or servers, pornography, racial hatred, crimes against humanity, inappropriate activities on the servers, or any other actions which violate any applicable laws, are not allowed. Any forum which contains texts, links, pictures, animations, videos or any other content recognized as illegal will be deleted without notice or warning. Forumotion.com reserves the right to delete any accounts or forums considered like not conform to the rules quoted here or specified in Forumotion.com or in the international website rules according to the international internet law. Any illegal content or act can or would be reported to the concerned services and prosecuted.

The way I interpret the underlined is that any linking to illegally cracked warez type programs is not allowed. I feel that you guys need to get together and get a valid response prepared for future questions of this type instead of a blanket, "No, you can't do that."

Matter of fact, I know of a very well respected website hosted by forumotion that's whole premise is about providing links and advice to people that need help with their computer problems and they have entire categories devoted to pointing members to recommended websites that have helpful programs.

Geekpolice.net

IMO, one of the biggest problems at this forum is the breakdown in communication either from the staff just not knowing the answer, misunderstanding the language in the TOS, or from non-native English speaking staff trying to interpret what native English speakers are asking.

As long as you aren't breaking the ToS of providing copyright information, software that is illegal I see no problem. I know GeekPolice does software that is not illegal and they are still here.


Its not are fault for understanding what's being asked but it is how the person reads it and knows whats going on and we are in all in different area's and we don't work at Forumotion so we can't always give you a good answer about this stuff only Typlo works right at Forumotion. Typlo would be a better choice for these questions. If you do have anymore question best thing is to talk to him via pm.