Aximsite/Mobilitysite Policy Changes and Stance About ROMS

**Chris Leckness** · 08-28-07, 06:15 PM

Unless you have been living under a rock or ignoring the issues, We have some unrest here about our no ROM discussion policy. This zero tolerance policy was put in place because of my choice not to allow piracy and warez discussion. I do not condone the use of these.

The choice to not allow ROM Discussion was to make it easier on the moderators that volunteer their time here. Keeping spam and flaming out of the forums consumes a lot of their time already.

A couple weeks ago, some of the more level headed members contacted me to openly discuss this stance. I was not armed with as much information as I needed to make any kind of choice on the matter, so we stuck with the policy. In the last 2 weeks, we have several threads and hundreds of posts discussing the issue in our private admin forum.

After all this discussion, some input from fellow webmasters, talks with two attorneys, and discussion with Microsoft, I have decided to move forward with our new stance on the subject and what will be allowed in the forums here.

After much discussion, the Aximsite/MobilitySite team has agreed on a policy for discussion of hacked ROMs (which should also encompass cooked, baked or modded ROMs):

1) Discussion of hacked ROMs is allowed.
2) Links to hacked ROMs are allowed.
3) Discussion of illegal ROMs is not allowed.
4) Links to illegal ROMs are not allowed.

For purposes of clarity:

Hacked ROMs are legitimately licensed ROMs that have been hacked to enhance performance. Examples of hacked ROMs are the AXIM WM5.0 Football ROM and the hw4700 WM5.0 ROM.
Illegal ROMs are ROMS that include versions of the windows mobile operating system and/or software that have NEVER BEEN LICENSED to the OEM to be used for the specific model pocket pc. Hacked ROMs may be deemed to be illegal ROMs if it becomes apparent that the ROM includes unlicensed third party software. Examples of illegal ROMs are the unofficial WM6.0 ROMs that have been released for the Axim 50v and the hx4700.

This policy extends to ROMs only and repeals any and all previous statements regarding the site's policy on hacked ROMs.

It should be noted that our general rule forbidding the discussion of, and links to, pirated software (or warez) is still in effect.

Thanks to everyone for their patience while we sorted this out. Email (martin(at)aximsite.com) or PM me, or leave a comment, if you have any questions. In addition, you can also contact Chris via the contact us form.

Please note our full disclaimer (Post 3 in this thread). You install software at your own risk. Aximsite & Leckmedia LLC reserves the right to remove any content if requested by third parties.

**Chris Leckness** · 08-28-07, 06:15 PM

Reservered

**Chris Leckness** · 08-28-07, 06:16 PM

Disclaimer

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mphayvanh · 08-28-07, 06:52 PM

Chris--I applaud your decision! As a long time member and poster, this will keep the site alive and makes good business sense. Hopefully, Dell will see the success of this forum and rethink their decision to discontinue the Axim line.

Thanks again for clarifying Aximsite's stance on the issue of ROMs in general.

**Martin** · 08-28-07, 07:09 PM

A big thanks should go out to all of the staff for hammering out this new policy - it really was a team effort.

Let the legal ROM discussions begin!

larrywms45 · 08-28-07, 07:49 PM

My heartiest congratulation and thanks for the thought and hard work put into this policy. This is where I learned what little Axim I know and it's where I come to for help. The Senior members, Mods and those much more familiar with all Axim things have been a great help. This is the only site I contribute to.

**Chris Leckness** · 08-28-07, 07:51 PM

a special thanks for all this goes to the staff for talking SO SO much on the subject to get all our moral compasses working right.

Martin has drafted the verbage, thanks sir.

spunker88 · 08-28-07, 08:37 PM

Well its nice to see this written out.

I see on Xda developers that they are getting some hate mail from microsoft on their collection of roms. I see why your doing this here man, and i totally agree with your decision.

I wouldnt want big 'ol microsoft staring down at me either. This would make a good sticky for somewhere.

Any threads that break this rule should be immediately deleted, and not closed. Closed threads can still be viewed, and this just stirs the conflict, and leads to new post on the same topic.
I think we can all agree about this.

I would like to appologize for being mean lately, to some mods/staff b/c of this topic. I thought it was being handled terribly, almost encouraging illegal discussion.

I would also like to thank you chris, you may have just prevented the site from going any farther downhill. Only time will tell, though, but lets hope for the best.

This could be an aximsite rebirth, and i can change my avatar back to aximsite best site ever, b/c i believed that at one time, and hopefully it will rebound back to that position.

harpgliss · 08-28-07, 09:27 PM

Hi,

Kudos to Chris and the staff on this policy.

Maybe there will be some peace here now that this policy has come about.

MetalManCPA · 08-28-07, 10:34 PM

Impressive read. Top shelf decision making. Professional.

It looks like a lot of hard work and effort and some difficult decision making amoungst thoughtful people has produced an excellent policy change.

My congrats to all those who were involved in this policy "project"

Ashton · 08-28-07, 10:55 PM

I am glad to see this change of heart, though I am still suprised at MS's stance on hacked roms. I believe somone here suggested that, as a group, we and perhaps some of the likeminded individuals at XDA or perhaps sits like brighthand, approach MS to work out some form of lisencing for WM6 so the roms will then be legal, I think this is something to consider for the future, considering progress wont be halted, we can atleast attempt to legalize it.

Don't Panic! · 08-28-07, 11:17 PM

Glad this is over.

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