Bootleg PET cd?

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Have a question for you guys. I was the high bidder on a PET CD on Ebay. After several weeks I finally received it today. But it's a recordable cd with no label at all. So this is an obvious copy of the PET. Is PET copywrited? For some reason I don't think I should keep this.

lambic2000 · lambic2000's Garage

There are probably one million five hundred thousand three hundred and twenty six PET cd's on auction at eBay. I have seen them from $25.00 to as high as $70.00. I am willing to bet that a great majority of them are copies or "bootlegged". If you have a copied cd, then you can do several things. You can contact Safeharbor at eBay and start an investigation through eBay's Fraud Protection Program. The policies established by eBay prohibit the selling of copied cd's. You could also contact your local Post Office because this could be considered mail fraud. I have not purchased one off of eBay for fear that I too would receive a bootlegged copy. Good luck!

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Having written several commerical programs, I do not like copy infringement. I will contact Ebay thank you for the suggestion.

Britwrench · 09-13-2001, 05:43 AM

As PET5 is not available outside the dealer network, ALL CDs offered for sale are un-authorised copies.

PrerYDoG · 09-13-2001, 11:36 AM

What is PET?

lambic2000 · lambic2000's Garage

PET stands for Porsche Electronic Parts Catalog. It is a CD that dealers use to look up parts in the service department.

Diesel · Diesel's Garage

You did get what you paid for, right? Does it work on your computer? You should be happy you got it, not looking for a way to screw the guy who sold it to you!

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Dan, '78 Pearl white 924

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I should be happy that someone is ripping off another individual's work? I don't think so. Thats a very on-sided arguement. As for getting what I paid for, what would be the retail value of such a product, if it's not available to the retail market? How should I know what it's original value is?

asidrave · asidrave's Garage

my friend who works for a porsche dealer here in jersey at the parts counter said that software goes for about $600 and is only available for porsche dealerships. it is possible to get it, but it would probably be a copy.

Miami944 · 09-13-2001, 11:04 PM

the way i see it if it works and aint broke dont fix it

i would love to get a copy...But what do i know ...im from Miami

Diesel · Diesel's Garage

Alright Scott, since we are getting so holy, before you present your boot-legged copy to the proper aw-thorities, make sure you get rid of the copy you installed on your computer. Don't want to be a hypocrite. Plus, ask yourself this: Who's the victim here? I mean besides you of course. Why do people want these CD's? It's just to be able to give Porsche money at their parts counters quicker and easier! You got a hell of a deal, be happy about it.

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Dan, '78 Pearl white 924

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I don't have it installed. And for that matter I was lead to believe that I was purchasing an original that was from a former dealer. If making sure that software authors and there companies are compensated for there work is being too "holy" then so be it. In your line of work you repair diesel engines, how would like it if you designed a new diesel fuel that allowed trucks to get a 100 miles per gallon, but someone steals it and sells it for half of what you were going to sell it for? I would think that you would be angry.

Flat6Guy · 09-14-2001, 06:58 AM

Scott,

Maybe you would like to call Porsche and ask them why they do not sell the CD to Porsche owners? As was previously stated the only reason to have one is to spend more money with....Porsche. Seems to be me to be a typically poor customer-relations exercise from Porsche.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

If I need to do that for you then I will. But I think there answer would be that you can purchase there hard copy parts catalog from them.

PrerYDoG · 09-14-2001, 08:49 AM

Scott - if you wish to not own the CD, I'll gladly take it off of your hands for what you paid for it. You can then be clean of the CD. I too write software, and can understand some of what you are feeling. But when a product will NOT be sold to me, and I can get it, it is then not harming the author of the software.

Offer is on the table for it, if you decide on it, email me at prerydog@rica.net

ae1969 · 09-14-2001, 09:58 AM

Actually...I dug up some info on this one....

Depending on what country you are in... there is no copyright in effect for this parts CD.... The company that made this has not registered for copyright, why?? Well there are only so many dealers, that MUST buy the CD and updates (they get a free monitor thrown in for their trouble), if Porsche does decide to go after some of these people on EBAY, I will be surprised, they are only benifiting from this.

Now, If I am wrong about the U.S., Scott does have a dilemna, ignorance of purchasing copyright material... is NOT a defense. So if you somehow felt that you were getting a CD worth potentially hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars for 25-75 dollars, you would have to explain that one.....

Either way, I don't personally equate selling a Parts Catalog CD = Selling Microsoft Office..... just not the same... IMO