Sensitive material: the xda-developers point of view.

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Flar

Administrator Emeritus
Apr 19, 2006
2,034
10
Arnhem
Hi Everybody,

We noticed that there is some confusion when it comes to posting sensitive material on xda-developers.com and mostly about what can and can't be posted.
We would like to clarify our point of view through this post.

Since the start of xda-developers this has always been a site that once in while has some sensitive material online, through the years this site has grown so big it's no longer possible to check every file on our servers or every post on the board, we also feel it wouldn't benefit the community if we did.

However with increased popularity comes an increased amount of legal complaints when sensitive material is found on our servers. Which is the reason why we have been more careful lately. Recently some sensitive material has shown up on the servers and we received legal complaints from companies who have the copyrights for this material, although we all feel this is very interesting and valuable material we cannot risk the future of xda-developers by ignoring the legal requests we receive, therefore this material has been taken offline.

We understand that maintaining the balance between legal and illegal is sometimes confusing and/or difficult but that is unfortunately how it works.

When it comes to posting sensitive material there are a couple suggestions we can make:

- if possible do not post the files on the xda-developers servers.
- use your common sense (if you feel something might not be legal it probably isn't).
- always keep in mind when posting software of any kind, that we will take it offline if there is a legal complaint from the copyright owner.

Warez is in no way accepted and will be removed upon discovery.

I hope this post will serve as a clear and valuable guideline.

Greetz,

Flar
Site admin.

P.s. When you have any questions you can always contact me or one of the moderators.
 
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shogunmark

Retired Senior Moderator
May 10, 2006
3,444
198
anyone can contact me also if they have any questions about any files you want to post.. i apparently have no life and spend way to much time on the boards, so you should get a timely response!
 

bryanz

Member
Feb 18, 2006
30
0
Madrid
I totally agree :)

It is very important to keep safe a site with so many knowledge and so many resources online. xda-dev and all of its users have done a lot for the community, and I think that if it wasn't for this site, windows mobile devices wouldn't have been so successful.
 

mariner_heart

Senior Member
Oct 12, 2007
180
0
New Delhi
actually whenever a person types words such as "crack" or "keygen", they should be automatically eliminated or turn into something like "i am a loser".
we've been getting way too much of thieves here recently
 

Noonski

Inactive Recognized Developer / Moderator Emeritus
Apr 18, 2005
5,326
150
Amsterdam
noonski.nl
I'm still curious about the Dutty Kaiser WM6.1 Rom Link that got removed.

Was that just a link to A rapidshare/megaupload?

Or was that on XDA servers.

Have there been anymore legal complaints about wm6.1 Roms from Kaiser 5.2.19.199 Build now heavily available on many other devices?
 

duato

Senior Member
Dec 7, 2007
147
0
Sarawak
need your opinion

hi,
i'm doing this 'directory' for dummies for prophet users.
i made it just because want to make it as easier as it can be to be understand by the beginners.
--> prophet directory for dummies
if you or any other moderators found it is not relevant, do inform PM me.
hoping that this thread can be sticky.
regards..
 

Farsquidge

Senior Member
Feb 5, 2006
1,056
12
Abu Dhabi
It's a very tenuous and risky fine line this whole Forum draws when you really look at it.

Every cooked ROM can be looked at as a hack! using proprietory software as its basis.
Every HardSPL can be looked at as a crack! unlocking a device that is specifically locked by a manufacturer.

A keygen is developed as a standalone piece of SW that generates a code that the user decides how he alone will use.

It's all very nice to say HTC "allow" this to happen for developement while not looking anyone directly in the eyes.

Realistically, this site should only contain SW actually and completely written line-by-line by the individual...

We are all guilty in one way or another as everyone here is an accomplice after the fact! :eek:
 

jeannot61

Senior Member
Aug 21, 2006
92
0
Sion
only HTC... ??

An observation ...
This site should be open to other device that HTC.
I had 4 devices HTC, and whenever quality has declined. I believe that the next device will no longer be an HTC.
The manufacturer is rude with its customers (problem of video drivers on Kaiser and Cruise, etc.). HTC does not respond to e-mails. I was a fan of this brand. My next machine will probably be the Samsung SGH-i900 Omnia, which I hope the quality higher than the lasts touchphones HTC ...
It would be really pleasant-XDA Developers focuses on the characteristics of this Samsung Omnia ... and that we produce some new ROM test for this new phone.
But this site is perhaps subsidized by HTC?

Excuse me for my bad English (I only speak french)
 

fzzyrn

Senior Member
Aug 19, 2007
1,060
2
Houston
well if i may interject myself,

the site should be open to all devices carried that are or will be carried by XDA. Thats the name, and thats how it ought to be. Anachronistic, but elegantly interesting
 

Noonski

Inactive Recognized Developer / Moderator Emeritus
Apr 18, 2005
5,326
150
Amsterdam
noonski.nl
An observation ...
This site should be open to other device that HTC.
I had 4 devices HTC, and whenever quality has declined. I believe that the next device will no longer be an HTC.
The manufacturer is rude with its customers (problem of video drivers on Kaiser and Cruise, etc.). HTC does not respond to e-mails. I was a fan of this brand. My next machine will probably be the Samsung SGH-i900 Omnia, which I hope the quality higher than the lasts touchphones HTC ...
It would be really pleasant-XDA Developers focuses on the characteristics of this Samsung Omnia ... and that we produce some new ROM test for this new phone.
But this site is perhaps subsidized by HTC?

Excuse me for my bad English (I only speak french)

If HTC Phones where perfect, well there would prolly be less of XDA :cool:

But at least Samsung understands what the word Samera Means.

And there is some Unlocking and Cooking going on for a few Non HTC hardware Based phones out there. (Unless i'm wrong and they are HTC hardware base anyway)

But sort of back to the subject.... How about some people selling ROM's made by anyone but themselves on Amazon and whatnot?
That is beyond unsensitive.

If people are doing this. They prolly do this because they can make money of of it.
 
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dinscurge

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2008
61
0
arent all roms illegal? i mean the phone statment "sorry t be so blatent forgot the actual statment name" but dealing with cellphones the statment, protects people allowing them to return the phones to there original state but not to modify the programing? just wondering probably isnt, hope it was relevant
 

boorishid

Member
May 31, 2008
36
0
This thread has aually raised a few questions in my mind.
what is the legality of cooking roms. Obviously cooking an ubuntu mobile rom or an android rom is perfectly legal since that software is under GPL. But my tilt has windows mobile 6 on it with no current upgrade path to winmo 6.1, other than custom cooked roms.

Since at&t has not licsensed winmo6.1 for the tilt yet (or at least hasnt offered it to the public yet) are we basically pirating software it seams likes its the same thing as having a copy of winXP and upgrading with your friends vista disk and a crack.

As far as using SPL cell phone co's have to unlock your phone on request so i dont think theres any issue with that.

I am really looking forward to the new nvidia phones coming out, im hoping they have a big user base like HTC. I must say love my kaiser but its a bit slugish an unfunctional compared to the dell axim i30 i have from 03.
 

FRAGEYE

Member
Feb 6, 2009
30
0
Yes i can imagine as the site has grown it can be harder to keep on top of everything flying around the servers.
Plus with files like you say companies can warn you it it breaches copyright.
I will add again here i am thankful to the mods and members on xda, a very top world website.
 
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FRAGEYE

Member
Feb 6, 2009
30
0
If HTC Phones where perfect, well there would prolly be less of XDA :cool:.

I am sorry just thought i would point out the spelling mistake, I'll let you edit it.
I have quite good spelling and see some horrible spelling on some websites, not your little spelling mistake but some really bad stuff. I sometimes do the odd mistake more so when i am very tired. :)
 

wg5566

Senior Member
Feb 5, 2009
395
2
SEA
In all of the international conventions/treaties as well as demestic laws from various countries regarding the protection of copy rights and intellectual property rights, EXCEPTIONS are always outlined. And always For Educational & Research Puppose is one of the top exceptions.

As far as I understand, Xda-Devs site is mainly a platform for developers to exchange research information. But seems we are lack of DISCLAIMERS to make it clear on nessecary cases.

Certainly 'common sence' is important for every poster to decide what to do.
 

Addicted2xda

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2008
2,270
140
Kolkata, India
What I have found out during my stay here is, well basically everything is allowed except cracks / warez.
Anyway M$ knows about this site and has not complained, that means ....