Rappan Athuk free

JoeBlank · Jul 28, 2004

I too have downloaded several freebies without problem, including RA. I've also purchased one Necromancer module from DTRPG, with no problems.

maddman75 · Jul 28, 2004

Personally, I had all kinds of problems. First, you HAVE to use Acrobat reader 6. Which I downloaded and installed. I don't like this version - its bloated and the interface feels more clumsy. And considering I have a full version of acrobat 5 I really don't need it. But I trundled on in intereted of exploring DTRPG.

Gave them some fake information, as I don't consider Adobe or Microsoft (the people handling this stuff) as being above selling your info for profit. Finally got all signed up and registered and I downloaded the file. The first time the link up and died, and I had to go back in from the beginning. Second time I got the download, but after I got the file down I had to sign in again to prove I was allowed to look at a file on my own computer. It started to open, then shot another error message at me saying that I'd need to download it again. I uninstalled Acrobat 6 and deleted the file.

I wonder, would it be morally wrong to download a DRM-free PDF from an unligitimate source, if the PDF is available for free? I don't want to swipe anything, I'd just like to see the PDF as a real PDF, not one encumbered by spyware.

Umbran · Jul 28, 2004

maddman75 said:
I wonder, would it be morally wrong to download a DRM-free PDF from an unligitimate source, if the PDF is available for free? I don't want to swipe anything, I'd just like to see the PDF as a real PDF, not one encumbered by spyware.

Technically, it being free doesn't mean that you can get the content any way you please. Saying that right now you don't have to pay for it does not put the product into the public domain, or otherwise abrogate any of their rights. They are making it available free, in a particular form, from a particular vendor. Anything else is a violation of their rights.

Kesh · Jul 28, 2004

Also, it's only free for a limited time (one week).

maddman75 · Jul 28, 2004

Umbran said:
Technically, it being free doesn't mean that you can get the content any way you please. Saying that right now you don't have to pay for it does not put the product into the public domain, or otherwise abrogate any of their rights. They are making it available free, in a particular form, from a particular vendor. Anything else is a violation of their rights.

However, I don't recognize that they have ANY rights as to what I do with it after I buy it - including getting it for no money. Apart of course from me redistributing it en masse, that's what the copyright laws are all about. It would be perfectly legal for me to break the DRM to get a useable copy. Therefore I don't see a moral difference between me doing that and getting a copy from someone else who did that.

To get around the free issue, what if I paid them for it? I send them the price of the book, then get a useable pirate copy? That's the problem with DRM - it makes the illegal copies more attractive and useful than the legal ones.