Creative goes after programmer for spreading working drivers

[packagedeliverer]

There has been quite some commotion about Creative these days. Apparently they forbid a programmer-hobbyist from freely distributing alternative WORKING vista drivers. People who had purchased their Creative-hardware and upgraded their operating system to Windows Vista were facing buggy drivers and many soundcards from Creative were found to be useless (even though they are marked as vista-ready). A certain Daniel_K had been so kind to make a working version available. But clearly this wasn't according to the plans of Creative. They asked him to cease distribution at once (they have that right) and respecting their wishes, he did. But a lot of users are now mad at Creative for obligating them to purchase new cards, while they already have hardware that COULD be functioning fine.

Check it out:

Creative forums topic:
http://forums.creative.com/cre......id=116332
Driver forum:
http://www.driverheaven.net/au.....ost1135199
Digg:
http://digg.com/mods/Creative_.....ver_Modder
Law-aspect:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/o.....201.html#f



This must mean Creative is feeling quite safe and assumes a monopoly position. I must say I find this very disturbing.
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[ClickFanatic]

Creative, as a company, carries the responsibility to deliver working products. A driver is as much part of the product as the soundcard is.
If they can't or will not make working drivers for their cards, then I don't see why someone else may not do it.
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Captain Jell-O Buster from the Future
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[Myst]

Sounds like fun I'm really not too fussed about the actual problem per se.

It's more than likely that it's Creative's right to do this. They are probably losing money over it, and Daniel_K, from what I understand, is using their code, changing it slightly to 'fix' it, redistributing, and asking for donations. This is a bad thing to do

I'm enjoying all the responses in the thread though Lots of Creative bashing, and they're almost convincing me not to buy anything Creative anymore.

Although I don't really see myself buying a sound card in the near future

[Jacky]

According to the Creative spokeperson, Daniel_K is "distributing other companies' property", and I guess the "property" refers to the drivers.

I don't know what's happening and I won't bother to care.
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Jacky

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