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msmobiles.com_robot · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 16777215

We have been reporting about Handango's nasty industrial practices but here it comes again: somebody has ripped off a program that is bundled with some Pocket PCs, placed it in a ZIP file, and is selling it on Hand...

Read more at http://www.msmobiles.com/news.php/4491.html

Pony99CA · Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Hollister, CA

I think this claim is a bit harsh. How could Handango check the legitimacy of every piece of software on their site?

Now if somebody has notified them about the theft (especially UEI) and they didn't do anything, that's another issue. As the Pocket PC Thoughts thread you linked indicated that this Nevo rip-off was no longer available on Handango, it seems like they have done the right thing.

Also, as the PPC Thoughts thread said, the program also seemed to be available at Pocket Gear, so why didn't you rip Pocket Gear, too?

Steve
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Silicon Valley Pocket PC
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EJR · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 2629

Pony99CA · Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Hollister, CA

EJR · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 2629

leeatkinson · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 11

Yes, like nearly all market places, stolen products are being sold on Handango. I've never used Handango, but AFAIK, it's a online market place that probably had 1000's of pieces of software for sale - probably 100's per day are being added. They can't monitor and check all. Just like all other market places - whether online or not.

Buyer beware.

ashleywalker · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 3

Hello,

Thanks to all who have offered clarification on our behalf.

Handango's aim is to operate a vibrant, high-integrity marketplace for developers to sell their applications directly to millions of customers each month. It is unfortunate that individuals occasionally act in an unethical manner and abuse our system by trying to pass others' products off as their own.

Handango maintains strict copyright standards and aims to immediately remove any and all products we detect as fraudulent. In this case, we already have. These products have been removed, and we have deactivated the developer’s account.

In case you were unaware, we like you to know that within our developer extranet, we provide information on how to contact us to report copyright infringements. Upon being contacted, we investigate and address the issue expeditiously. If anyone has information on this or other copyright breaches you suspect, please contact us at copyright@handango.com.

Moving forward, I encourage msmobile to work with Handango rather than against us. We would like msmobiles to replace their false accusations against Handango with a spirit of collaboration so we can all better serve the entire mobile software ecosystem.

Thanks,
Ashley Walker

ChrisSpera · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Posts: 1

alex8765 · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 3

leeatkinson · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 11

It's a free market. People can charge what they like.

If you don't like it, compete with them.

If you don't want to, shut-up yourself.

HB · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 11

I think some of you are missing the point, including the Handango guy. No one is blaming Handango for the stuff being posted. We are blaming you for not reacting for several days after being warned!

When the first warning was issued to you via email, the software was 'sold' maybe 20 times. When you finally shut it down, after being publicly humiliated on sites like this, that number at least had quadrupled!

I certainly hope you have contacted the developer of that software and apologized, as well as paid back each and every customer.

leeatkinson · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 11

So, using your numbers, Handango sold 80 products. I can't remember how much it was sold for - let's say $30. Apparently Handango 'rob' the developer of 50% (it's a free market, if developers agree to it, it's not robbery), so that means they made $1200. Do you think they would be putting up with all this bad publicity just for that amount?

The warning email came from someone who is not connected with Handango, the developer, or the other party who claimed to be developer. Why should they have to respond?

And this sort of thing is occuring a lot of the time. Handango - like all market places can't keep tracks on everything. Buyer Beware.

I think that most of us who have made a reply just don't like the vendetta against Handango. Why they is one, I'm not sure - the 50% commission? - perhaps, but it's a free market as I said.

I do think that HB as a point - it's a good idea to have a 'guarantee' for any market place to offer - if someone buys software that turns out to be copyright-theft, they get a full refund.

Lee

kupe · Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 513

HB · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 11

'all this bad publicity' and 'Why should they have to respond?'? I think you just explained it yourself? If your house is on fire and someone warn you, would you stop to consider if it is someone you know, before acting?

There is only one single reason for Handango to exist, and that is that some people actually wanna pay for software. If you don't, there's nothing easier than getting pirated soft. So when they sell pirated software and don't react when warned, they actually take away their own sole purpose in life.

When you enter a store, you shouldn't have to be carefull that you don't buy stolen goods at full price. You don't have that problem IRL, so why should it be like that on the net?

I have spent a fortune buying soft on Handango, so I certainly can't be considered anti-Handango. But this thing shows that they need to get their @ss in gear and interact with the outside world, instead of just quietly collecting the payments done at their site.

Toe · Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Oceancrest

I think the 50% commission is very easy to explain really
Handango are offering something that no one else really does.
A very high exposeur rate for first time developers.
Obviously by the amount of software on their site, the developers themselves see this as a fair trade.

Contrary to popular belief there is a much wider market for PocketPC and Smartphone than the people who visit here, Modaco and Howardforums.
It seems that in all my observations of these places and the like that the people who post believe that they are the be all and end all of the Smartphone and PocketPC market.
(Warning am ranting here)
I do see it all the time people complaining how such and such a company doesn't offer a full support range because they botched a rom flash, or dropped it in their cup of coffee and to never buy from them again. Which is bogus, why should these companies bare the cost for us screwing around with a device in ways it's never intended to be done in the first place. Plus I also think it is lack of intelligence on the part of some of these people. (I've had three different smartphones and 4 diff, pocket pcs. I flash all the time without incident and my MPx220 isn't treated in the best of manners either). There are a group of people out there who are genuinely concerned with maintaining their warranty.
We do hear all the time about the bad parts of each product and company but the people who like it alot never say anything. They don't feel the need to say anything.
As to how this little rant relates to Handango its simple.
Alot of people see Handango as a trusted source and feel alot more comfortable buying software from them than Developer X who has never been heard of before dealing from a page written in notepad and using Paypal.
Handango needs to make money in order to exist people. Its not like the 50% markup goes directly to the CEO's pockets, I'm pretty sure all the webhosting and the such isn't free, as well as designers to maintain the system and legal representation for cases like this.

Plus with all things commercial, if you don't like the way a particular company does business, don't use it. If you as a developer don't agree with 50% markup, then don't use handango. If you as a shopper don't like paying an extra 50% for security, then go directly through the developer.

While it is unfortunate the Nevo was sold illegally, as someone pointed out, the publicity they stand to recieve from a mere $1200 income on the product doesn't cover it. Undoubtedly there would be much legal action behind the scenes in order to settle this, and last time i checked lawyers don't exactly charge $1200 a case...

Don't always assume its 100% profit because that is really a bad and uninformed attitude to have
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