Maybe Free is Too Cheap
I was recently contacted by someone asking if the page flip effect currently being sold on this site for 200€ (about $275) was using the old code I gave away for free. Much to my surprise, it was. The 200€ price increase doesn’t even add any new features.
I can appreciate a guy trying to make a buck and all, but that price seems especially steep when you consider the fact that you’ll only be getting a SWF file (not the FLA) because as the site states:
“We don’t sell our source files, so you can’t make any modifications yourself…”
So what do you think about that?
Comments(17)
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Well, first of all I had to get a refund because the file didn’t work with either Flash 8 or CS3, plus the code was in spanish! DOH.
code sample:
botones.btnMain.enabled = false;
_root.seguir = 1;
for (a=1; a<=10; a++) {
botones.botones["btn"+a].enabled = false;
cuadro[_root.nombreIma]["cuadro"+a].desActivarIntervalo(numeroBoton);
}
}
@Dave Jansen, I’d love to see the code you payed for as I’m 99.99% certain that the PageFlip file shown on the site above is derived from my code.
Nah, I bought that flash page flip and the script isn’t even the same, looks the same though.
This guy is selling your code on a other blog!
http://dreamlinestudio.com/blog/flash-page-flip/11/
He only changed the images.
I think a lot of people think everything on the Internet should be free. I agree that the open environment fosters and expands creativity in general, but the world economy doesn’t run on free. Who doesn’t enjoy getting free digital prints, or free premium content from sports sites, and on and on. Maybe try some sort of copyright on your code the next time. That way, if you find someone’s taking advantage of you, you can tell them you had it copyrighted and get something out of them. Even if you just protect yourself with some sort of copyright on your site, it might deter some people. Also, try including a friendly note that says something like, “This is intended for fun and creativity, not profit, so please don’t sell my work that you’re getting for free!” Just some thoughts.
Hi guys
this kind of thing is a fact of life – I did a nice site for a large (ie. rich) UK company – our terms & conditions state that only the pubished site (ie SWFs) are copyrighted to their company, The source remains our copyright. The company decised to “refresh” the site using a cheaper agency and lo! all the SWFs had been decompiled and reassembled EXACTLY as the originals. Life’s too short for litigation, GUNS are the only solution. David.
I just noticed that the owner of the site I initially linked to has removed the page in question so I have updated the link to point to The Internet Archive Wayback Machine’s copy of the page.
Steve, HTML is a mark up language, and therefore, any formatting of the HTML can easily be replicated without looking at the source, therefore how can anyone copyright their HTML? the same goes for CSS. you can’t ‘blame’ HTML, it just isn’t a pheasible argument.
I find this a case of an odd double standard.
I am a designer who writes actionscript. I worked with someone who is also a designer, but could barely put a function together. When he left he took several completed projects with him that had my code in it. I routinely see work of his with my code behind it.
Now, if I did the same thing, used icons from a past project of theirs, and worked them into my own interface – said person would freak! Claiming that I had ripped them off.
WTF – why do people think that it’s OK to take other people’s code? Is html to blame – since you can always see the source and just “borrow” it?
@Oana: Thanks for bringing this to light.
@Kent: I agree for the most part, I don’t think I’d have a problem with it if he would have added a feature or shared the FLA.
@John: “Page Flip Master” is being added to my job title this instant! I’d need to resurrect Johnny Cochran to win that lawsuit.
@Christian: Would you like to see the “Egress” for 25 cents?
@Sascha: MANY better versions have come along than just that one, but mine is one of the few free ones. I guess any expense is too great when it comes to his clients.
What a ripoff! For 200$ the client must be very naive if they buy that! Here’s a better one for way less … http://page-flip.com/demos.htm
Aside from the fact that the person is a first rate jerk for blatently trying to make money off of your efforts (that you then turn around and offer for free), what is the point (accept to try and entice dupes) of offering for “free” the swf?
P.T. Barnum (the circus guy at the start of the last century) said something like: “There is a sucker born every minute.” (And I believe it was Barnum’s personal mission in life to take advantage of all those suckers.)
i think it’s a bit of a cheek not even recognizing the page flip master. the least they should do is point people who want further explanation of the code, towards yourself, or failing that, recognise you on the site as the person responsible for making the page flip possible.
Sue god damnit SUE THEM ALL TO HELL!
I would have to give a quick (sorrowful) chuckle to the entrepreneur’s efforts for making a quick buck off of others generosity. Always a nice way to make ‘friends’.
I traditionally think a 20% change of the (open) code before it could be considered your contribution, but never yours entirely. The person should at least say that you are the creator and offer links to you or a suitable percent of sales.
Then again, the issue comes down to dumb consumers. If the consumer does so little of research into their purchase as to not realize it’s free elsewhere, then I would be compelled to feel more pity for them, over the loss of personal profits.
Hello,
I’ve just started as a web designer & developer (php, mysql, javascript & flash) and I respect and admire a lot people like you who are just interested in helping others.
If you choose to give your code for free, no one should sale it (not without paying you a decent percent of the project’s value, anyway…).
I think everyone should get credit for their work.
I encourage you to contact the owner of that shameless site and try to discuss the matter. It’s only fair.
Keep up the good work! 🙂