Ad Free MT

[Johnny]

Just a polite reminder to all Meteotemplate users, part of the agreement in all of us using the template is that we don't display any commercial advertising on our sites.

Unfortunately this has to be the case as many of the components used to make all the blocks and plugins function are used freely - provided that you are not using them on a profit making website.

You don't even see ads on the meteotemplate.com website, the one place they could be shown, but there aren't any. So fellas please think twice before placing ads on your site - it's breaking the rules and after all might even jeopardise the template for the rest of us. Feel free to add your thoughts about this below, I'm sure some of you have opinions on this.

[Jeffm5690]

It’s unfortunate that some cannot play by the rules. I see some sites that do this and all it does is put all of us at risk.

Thanks.

[Luc]

I was wondering if it technical is possible to place the ip addres(ses) of websites which are breaking the rules on a black list and not allow them lo load anything from the meteotemplate web site.
I know they will find other ways to get the software, but it will be a clear sign to them.

I just tried to send a message to a website which broke the rules, but both Guestbook and Contact plugings were not working.

[Jachym]

Banning IPs is not a solution (VPN etc etc.)

You can post links to these pages here publicly.

There is not much one can do. For example, over the last few days Im getting registrations from people I have never heard of before, most likely someone is sharing the download file. I have seen numerous times peole trying to sell parts or the entire template, sometimes with other products they develop etc.

With regards to ads, I asked some people to remove them but the result is always them pretending they never got that email.

The sad truth is that it is a bit different here on the forum, but the emails Im getting last couple of months, as MT grows, are of a slightly different attitude/tone. Not much one can do and if I took it personally you would have no MT long time ago.

[Jan]

Here is one:

http://wxcalgary.com/meteotemplate/indexDesktop.php

3 Ads/banners on homepage

And the donate button absurd if already has ads

[Jeffm5690]

Frustrating. Just saw another with ads and they have their own copyright noted in the footer beside the Meteotemplate copyright. Errr.

[justinhow]

Perhaps Jachym can make sure that thay are not linked from meteotemplate.com users page or in the users download file while they have adverts on their site. Also support should not be available to them.

Also refuse providing download keys?

[Jachym]

OK, since you started this debate again...

Im always 100% honest and I will honestly say I did make some changes recently and some users might be very surprised in near future (some already were).

[georg]

Hi Jachym
Found an add
-

Ashampoo_Snap_2017.09.26_17h33m00s_001_-001.jpg (210.53 KiB) Viewed 38896 times

-
I think that's why iframes are not allowed, at least not for us mortal people.

[Reinhard]

... and some users might be very surprised in near future (some already were).

So what shall a "normal" user think about this sentence? Is there something like a Trojan Horse implemented in V16?

[Jachym]

No, I can assure you there is no trojan horse implemented and to be quite honest, I dont even understand how you came to that conclusion. I can also assure you that 99% people will not have a problem, in fact no-one will, depending how you look at it.

[Reinhard]

... and to be quite honest, I dont even understand how you came to that conclusion...

This sentence is what me makes very pensive:

... and some users might be very surprised in near future (some already were).

[Jachym]

As long as people dont violate license agreements they will be perfectly fine.

[Jeffm5690]

[WyoDog]

I support public shaming.

As any of us discover a MT site with paid ads, we could post them here. Jachym (or other Admin) could periodically collect those URL's from the forum and prominently display them on the main MT page, perhaps in a pop up. Perhaps a similar warning to what we see at the beginning of DVD's. Of course, it couldn't be an FBI warning, but something to the effect that it is wrong to violate the license agreement by placing paid ad's within the template. Maybe just a graphic showing the home page with ad's in it with a circle and line thru it.

Perhaps in the list of MT users, flag those sites that have breached the agreement. Just brain storming here.

Jachym should have the email address (and perhaps name) of everyone who has requested a d/l token. Post that in a banner of sorts at the top of the MT home page saying these individuals have violated the terms of the MT license agreement.

I realize this will not stop someone who has the intent to do this very thing. But for the person who may not of even contemplated doing so, it may sway them away from the dark side.

Personally, I would lock that sucker down (MT). Long story short, I've found that using such a heavy hand doesn't work (in a large enterprise situation), so I don't think it will work here either.

I've found that peer pressure is often an effective tool.

I don't support Easter eggs or Trojan's. If we research the evolution of software over the last 50+ years, this logic has been tried a number of times with no long term success. In general, there just aren't many ways to stop illegal software use/piracy/reverse engineering.

I have rambled on too long. it would be interesting to hear other opinions/solutions.

[Jachym]

Hi,
to be quite honest, the main reason I want strictly no ads is not because of me, but because of the licenses MT uses. Im of course not a huge fan of it, but if someone feels the need to do so, so be it. As long as they are not trying to sell the template (which did happen in the past several times), I would tolerate it.
However the template uses scripts which are not always free for commercial use (Highcharts etc.) and also open-data, for which in some cases there are different rules when used commercially.
Very often people argue - but its only to cover hosting and domain costs - but... first of all how do you prove that it only covers this, and second, even if.... I too have to pay all this, but I simply cannot put the ads there. If someone wants to have a website, it is likely ti will not be for free.
It is a hobby and just like most hobbies, there are costs associated.
In the mean time, I know dozens of people who found a free host, tertiary-level domain and use MT, thus never spent a penny, so if someone wants to, it probably is possible to do it even completely free.

[Jachym]

There is definitely no trojan or backdoor access for me or anyone else. Still, if you feel the need to use ads, I highly recommend staying with v15 and not updating anything in the future.

[Jan]

I look at some websites, this look like a frequent problem

http://meteoales.fr

Also icons not working for me.

[Johnny]

I look at some websites, this look like a frequent problem

http://meteoales.fr

Again fellas I reiterate - no ads please, you could jeopardise Meteotemplate for the rest of us.

John

[Jachym]

Right, ok....

Here is the thing - you are unlikely to get in troubles for doing this. In the meantime, you are violating not just MT T&C, but most importantly the whole idea of open-data and other non-commercial software.

What I often hear is people saying "I need to cover my costs" - we all do, does this make it ok to disregard some terms? Probably not, but unless you have a moral issue like for example me at meteotemplate.com with placing ads where they are not supposed to be, so be it.

I will not be taking any action against this, even though I technically could. GoogleAds have been disabled in v16 as some of you probably noticed. However if someone really wants to, they will find a way of bypassing this so it is a waste of time from my end. You have been clearly warned so in case someone really does say something, it is not my responsibility.

This particular point in the Terms is more related to the fact MT also uses some external scripts, I myself of course am not happy about people using ads on my work, but if they feel the need to, it is their decision and responsibility.

What has to be followed are some of the other points:
- copyright must stay as it is, including the entire middle section of the footer
- absolutely no commercial use (i.e. directly selling any part of MT or the scripts)
- no redistribution - if someone wants to download MT they have to ask me

[nitrx]

I did a look up to http://meteotemplate.net this is a landingpage for http://www.swisswetter.ch/meteotemplate/ they sell hardware and refferr to meteotemplate.com with Jachym mentioned I think it's really strange they show advertisements in the upperleftcorner of http://www.swisswetter.ch/meteotemplate ... late-demos demos from meteotemplateusers I don't know if Jachym knows this or if he's involved?

commercial meteotemplate

commercial.jpg (39.57 KiB) Viewed 38673 times

[Jachym]

Hi,
I was not aware of the fact Markus registered the domain, but I am aware of him using MT and Im OK with it.

[nitrx]

That he makes advertisements in the uppercorner??? LOL

[Jachym]

Yes, and he is not the only one, no point really. Its their responsibility. I will not use ads on my page because I have a moral issue with it.

[nitrx]

Well I'm getting tired of the hypocricy you want donations and hate it when people make money from your template without commision .