WineHQ should discourage the use of cracks

[Steve Brown]

On Tue, 4 Mar 2008, Dan Kegel wrote:

> "Gold: Application works flawlessly with some DLL overrides or other
> settings, crack etc. "
>
> I propose that we change the appdb ratings definitions
> so that an app that only works with a crack gets no higher
> than bronze.

I have mixed emotions on this -- I can understand the reluctance of folks, 
that are only running an app for the purpose of testing, to shelling out 
several kilobucks for a license... but I also am morally opposed to piracy 
(it's why I got into the Linux realm in the first place).  That said, 
there are a couple proprietary programs that the users I support use that 
have such poor support from the vendor that the users go ahead and buy the 
licenses, but install a crack code -- just because it's easier than 
dealing with the vendors... sigh.

I would vote for trying to find out what the cracks mentioned in the 
database are _really_ about.  Are they to allow offline playing of a game 
that constantly "calls home," license fee avoidance, running on a non-supported
platform, other stuff?  I wouldn't want a tester to "have" to lie about 
whether or not they were running a fully licensed version just to let us 
know about real issues.

Steve Brown
sbrown7 at umbc.edu