Topic awaiting preservation: OEM software? or scam? (Page 1 of 1)

So I get this spam email leading me to this link:

http://xwlhrkqod.ddikknbgcn.info/?BkDGDm5DBacuT5Blpqqchwyt

(what is with that address?)

These guy offer "oem" software like photoshop etc for cheap. I don't understand the ins and outs of OEM software so if someone can give me the scoop on it...

This seems like just a big scam to me. Any thoughts?

Well, according to that site, OEM is

quote:

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All the software is OEM - Meaning that you do not get the box and the manual with it. You receive the software CD carrying a unique registration code.

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the definition of OEM :

Short for original equipment manufacturer, which is a misleading term for a company that has a special relationship with computer producers. OEMs buy computers in bulk and customize them for a particular application. They then sell the customized computer under their own name. The term is really a misnomer because OEMs are not the original manufacturers -- they are the customizers.

The name of the URL says to me that it is a scam - or not legal, anyway.

To me OEM has always meant that a software/hardware is sold with no box/manual. But I've checked on dictionnary.com and got the acronym given by WebShaman.

Actually I receive 2-3 similar spams a week and never bothered to visit their site. Their ad practices and the funky URL tends to confirm the dubius origin and legality of this site.

Here is a good article on this.

http://www.crime-research.org/news/04.06.2004/321/

You do READ your spam????

Wow i did not no people still did so....

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Support Justice for Pat Richard

I'm only remotely tempted when it says something like "photoshop" or "web design" . Other than that: Trashorama!

If they we a legit company, then why have they got such a obscure domain name ? I mean come on, they must not want people to remember their name, but then again, why run a Spam campaign ?

Bizarre !

As I understand it:

The OEM acronym is exactly as Webshaman states. OEM software (despite the misnomer) is intended to be supplied to the end-user as part of a pre-installed package. It is generally supplied without packaging or manuals. You would usually receive only the storage medium containing the software, and an OEM license.

A software company may use OEM licensing as a way of 'pulling-in the punters' without relying on their next trip to a software shop. Providing extra software within a package for a minimal additional cost (for instance, MS Office supplied with your new Dell, or IE supplied with an ISP package) is a trade-off of sorts - the additional revenue generated by mass OEM distribution and the savings made by ommission of expensive printed material is offset against the loss of licensing fees.

OEM licenses are restrictive and disposable by design, and this is reflected in the lower cost. OEM software may only be installed and operated upon the machine with which it is supplied.
Effectively, this is the catch. Throw away the equipment with which the software is supplied and you relinquish your license to the software - you are legally obliged to tear up your license.


There are providers for OEM software, but they market themselves to computer manufacturers/distributors/retailers - not to private users.
I'm pretty sure that the site you stumbled upon is a scam.

==I don't believe it! Somebody stole my sig!!==

I'll weigh in on this, since we're a Microsoft Certified Partner, and I was previously an OEM builder. With Microsoft, you CANNOT sell for retail ANY OEM SOFTWARE. It's a violation of the licensing agreement, a violation of the reseller agreement, etc. The software is clearly labeled NOT FOR RESALE. With Microsoft, you can get OEM software only two ways - as part of a hardware purchase (you buy a new computer, and it comes with the OEM version of Windows, Office, etc.), or as a system builder (you're Michael Dell, and you're going to be installing it onto machine you offer for sale). Microsoft takes these issues very seriously. When I was a system builder, I went to a computer show and saw some vendors selling MS OEM software. I reported it to MS. Next time the show came around, none of those vendors were selling OEM software anymore. And a couple weren't even there.

...so, in conclusion - get it while it's hot!

==I don't believe it! Somebody stole my sig!!==

For pirated software, and that's what that site is selling, their prices are abusive.

?BkDGDm5DBacuT5Blpqqchwyt
That part of the URL is more than likely to track your visit back to your email address to see whos reading their spam. If thats the case you've got a crap load of emails to look forward to as your address will be marked as active.

All the same the site seems reasonable, I dont think adobe etc.. would be too happy to see this sort of thing, but I'd be tempted to go for it, if I got a manual I wouldnt read it(much) and the box would go in the bin.

"For pirated software..." Its a little better than pirated software (providing they are legitimate OEM CDs as they claim). At least adobe and microsoft get something for it. But as they are using spam to advertise I wouldnt be surprised at all to find that you need to install patches etc.. or that all their copies use the same cd keys.

OMG!

quote:

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?BkDGDm5DBacuT5Blpqqchwyt

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I hadn't really paid attention to that, but I do believe you are spot-on, Hugh!

Jive, as that rather unique looking URL has now been clicked more than a few times (all from differing IP addresses) I should think that you are more than likely going to be their new best friend. lol

With an evil cackle, WH clicks repeatedly upon the link...