When 2.0 was first released we could still use it for free it just had (Trial) in the copyright. I want to start another forum, am I still allowed to use this as I can't afford to pay

You technically can, as long as you are in posession of the original download. It is against the Terms of Service of IPS to distribute any older versions of the software. So you can't technically download it from anyone anymore.

I would advise against it simply because of the vulnerability of being hacked and the instability without any updates, but again from a completely legal standpoint you can still use it, it just wouldn't be supported.

Im not to sure on this.

You may want to email the staff to double check with them as they are more likely to know than we are...

A license isn't

If you downloaded the software from us, the license allows you to still use it.

You cannot (legally) download the software NOW from somewhere and use it, however.

Nevertheless, as others have pointed out, you will almost certainly get hacked, and we provide absolutely no support for older versions.

If you downloaded the software from us, the license allows you to still use it.

You cannot (legally) download the software NOW from somewhere and use it, however.

Nevertheless, as others have pointed out, you will almost certainly get hacked, and we provide absolutely no support for older versions.

I feel the security updates should be free and not produced as new versions. If a guy has paid for any version he should get best support
n protection and if there were bugs or security breaches in the code ( for which he did not pay), the updates should be made available free of cost.

I feel the security updates should be free and not produced as [i]new versions[/i]. If a guy has paid for any version he should get best support

n protection and if there were bugs or security breaches in the code ( for which he did not pay), the updates should be made available free of cost.

To a point, they are. We cannot go on indefinitely porting security updates to old versions though. 2.0 came out three years ago, I don't think many people would disagree that's unreasonable to release updates for that now.

Do you have any idea what kind of resources that would require? Say an exploit was found in IPB 2.2.1, but was patched in 2.2.2. That exploit was also in all versions of IPB prior to 2.2.1, all the way back to 1.0. IPS would have to release patches for each and every one of those versions, that's several dozen individual patches. It's not feasible.

If you want to be sure you have the latest, most stable, exploit-free version, then you should keep your license up to date and stay current on what software you run. Is Microsoft still releasing patches for Windows 95?

It is just a matter of what is right and worng. Not whats feasible or not or if resources r there or not.
You cannot condone something just because microsoft is alsodoing it. Why not follow what fedora n ubuntu guys do.
A freeware is a freeware.

I feel the security updates should be free and not produced as [i]new versions[/i]. [b]If a guy has paid for any version[/b] he should get best support

n protection and if there were bugs or security breaches in the code ( for which he did not pay), the updates should be made available free of cost.

^ Key point in bold. The OP didn't buy any version, he's got a free trial copy of IPB 2 from 3 years ago.

A freeware is a freeware.

IPB never was 'freeware'. You were always expected to purchase a license if you were going to use the software permanently.

Till 2.0 first release it was. It was free for download n use. Then it became paid n 2.0 (trial) was withdrawn from ipb download site n word (trial) removed n hence it became a paid software. I have been using ipb forum for > 6yrs now, started with i think 1.0.

Your confusion lies in what is meant by the term 'unlimited trial'. What that means is that back in the pre-2.0 days, IPB could be freely downloaded so you could try out the software; you were giving it a 'trial' run. If you felt it met your needs, then your 'trial' was over, and you were expected to purchase a license so you could use it permanently. This is not the same thing as calling it free; if it actually was freeware then that's what they would have called it.

I have been using ipb forum for > 9yrs now, started with i think 1.0.

Amazing considering we've only been in business for 6 years :lol:

We usually provide security patches for free along with the announcement for currently supported versions even for people without an active license.

Amazing considering we've only been in business for 6 years :lol:

"I've used it 9 years now! Yeah, that's the ticket!"

Amazing considering we've only been in business for 6 years :lol:

We usually provide security patches for free along with the announcement for currently supported versions even for people without an active license.

Hi charles, i stand corrected. 6 yrs I meant. :)
Still I am a very loyal fan of IPB n love it. see this link or archive.org , I feel nostalgic

http://web.archive.org/web/20031224142504/...orum.com/forum/