Counterfeit Durametric Cables
 

I had no idea there was such a thing and now, here I am, the "proud" owner of one.

I saw an ad on Kijiji for a durametric cable for $100, which seemed like a pretty good deal, especially after I emailed the seller and was told it was the pro version.
I sent the money and a few days later it shows up. I was trying to figure out if it was a 1st or 2nd gen cable but there were no stickers on it. I sent pics of it to Duramtric to see if they could help id the cable, and they promptly told me it was a fake, and that it would likely only work with very old versions of the software.

It came with a cd with version 3.0.15, and it does work with that version, so I guess it wasn't a total rip-off, but it sure wasn't what I expected. At least now I know there are no stored error codes and that my engine has never been over-revved.

Live and learn, eh?

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Was it a total fake or just an older model legit but model misrepresented? Is 3.0.15 hobbled or just an earlier version of current software? Is there much of significance it cant' do?

Regards, PK

According to the guy at Durametric, it's a fake, manufactured outside the US. The software is legit, but an early version from Jan 2007. It's not a huge problem for someone like me with an older car, but someone with a newer car would be pretty much hooped. I can read and reset error codes, reset the check engine and airbag light - most of the main stuff that I would need the tool for.

Here's the version history from Durametric if you wanted a more detailed answer.

http://www.durametric.com/versionhistory.aspx

It was kind of embarrasing going to Durametric tech support for help and being told that they couldn't help me because it was a counterfeit cable, but I apologized for the trouble and they agreed not to send their jack-booted thugs to kick in my door at 3 am. :o

So are you going to destroy it or support criminals?

That's a really good question, and I have wrestled with it. I guess where I've ended up is that the criminals already have my cash and so I've already supported them and there's nothing I can do about it. If I destroy the cable, the only loser is me. What I will not do is turn around and sell it to someone else. I'll use it until I am able to buy a new Durametric kit, and then I'll hang it on my Wall of Shame with some of my other misadventures.

Any chance of returning it for a refund?

You bought the item in good faith, to destroy it because you were lied to seems like a convoluted justice to exact on yourself; after all you're the innocent party.

i agree......heck i bought a gucci watch once ...it was spelled guuci

So if I buy a stolen car, I can keep it?

This also violates Durametrics right to use agreement on their software.

Returning it really isn't an option either, even if I could. The guy would just sell it to someone else anyway. I suppose I could file a Paypal claim, but it would probably be more trouble than it's worth. Like I said, I'm just gonna let it slide.

Is the house you live in on former Indian land? Why aren't you looking into giving it back? It's just as arbitrary an argument...

+1 :)

Thinking strictly from the legal standpoint
 

every time you use the bootleg cable with the software that is not purchased from Durametric, you are committing a crime and depriving Durametric of its rightful income to pay for its developers and to fund their work to make improvements to the software as well as to achieve profits they are entitled to by reason of their investment in creating the software.

Any other reasoning is a rationalization to justify your selfish profiting from your actions.

I'm sorry to use such harsh language but I made my living developing software and had to meet a payroll and people who stole my intellectual property cost my people jobs and or raises.

I don't know what Kijiji is where Mark got his cable but I don't think he maliciously intended to circumvent Durametric's profits when he bought it. He probably thought he was getting a real cable. I suppose he should have bought it from Durametric directly to avoid this but atleast he's posting his findings warning the rest of us. He could have kept quiet about it.

I hear ya, Mike, and it's definitely an argument that has merit, more so if it was version 5 or 6 of the software that the device was capable of running. The highest version of software this device will run is version 3. Durametric didn't seem too concerned about it when I spoke with them and, in reality, they probably care about this as much as Microsoft cares about an unlicenced copy of Windows 3.11 for Workgroups. And it will become a moot point once I purchase the real kit.

There sure are some self-righteous people in this forum. I made this post as a friendly gesture to help prevent this from happening to others, not so some podium-thumpers could lecture me on ethics.

Thanks for posting your experiences...
 

It is kind of sad how you are being flamed. You did not intentionally set out to purchase something that was illegal or violated patents, copyrights, etc. but in the end you suffered on both ends...by having been duped into purchasing a copycat product and by being flamed by others for purchasing a copycat product. It would be an issue I think if you had intentions to resale it or you were running a repair shop with counterfeit durametric software.

Right on, Mark T. Ignore those people.

Norm

A few comments

The Indians took it from someone.

Indians believe no one owns the land.

I am of native American descent.

Mark, I think you just got misled and became a victim. Thanks for taking the time to warn us. It's just too easy to cheat and copy something today.
Mike, you would have a meltdown if you saw how much pirated software and DVDs are being sold to soldiers at many forward bases overseas.

Forums can be very helpful sometimes.

But sometimes its just not worth posting... everyone's a tough guy and an expert behind a keyboard. I don't post much or share my point of view for this reason exactly. I have done many of the mods/projects discussed here and I don't share my experiences very often. I have my own workshop/dyno and I know how to use it.

I work in motorsports. Over the past 10 years, when I have received an email/complaint/criticism from an internet tough guy and have to represent/defend the company I work for, I make a point to ask them for their phone number, or give them mine. I try to get them on the phone and speak directly whenever possible. Everytime they turn into a complete pussycat... even more so in person.

My point is, it's best not to say anything over the internet that you wouldnt say to another person directly, maybe at the next PCA event, AX, etc. On a personal note, I'm a slight @$$h01€. So if I'm an ass here, I would probably be an ass if I met you too. :D

Paul, If someone was trying to cheat Durametric with malice I'd be of the same mindset you present. Since that was not the case and since Durametric themselves did not request the unit be destroyed, maybe you could lighten up a bit.

AND If you're as altruistic as you wish to present yourself why not busy your energy on doing something positive for someone today instead of trying to judge a guy looking out for his forum friends? If you think it through clearly, he was looking out for Durametric too, telling us it's an old version and a bootleg is going to stop the rest of us from making the same mistake, which was his point all along. Worry about the dirt in your own yard, I'm sure you have some human edges that could use a trim, get back to your own work...

I judged no one, just asked questions.

ohhhh!
 

first one i pull up and all i can say is "wow"!!!now I feel bad about taking off the label on my mattress!!! :eek:

Thanks alot! I am glad you toke the time to share your badluck with us


And I guess you NEVER EVER downloaded an mp3 without the proper right?.. and that you pay every single piece of software on your computer?

I also make my living developing software.. but taking such attitude won't get sympaty of anyone buying more software..

and by the way, Durametric give away there software for free.. they sell the cable.. they say you can try their software with other cable, but that It will most likely not work.. Someone reverse-engineered the Durametric Cable and had it to work.. so where is the problem??
Also don't forget that Durametric itself reverse-engineered Porsche PST2 and PIWIS..
All those Durametric Cable get alot of $ away from Porsche Dealers..

So do you realise that you are actually defending a compagny who copied someone else product and make money on someone else behalf?.. and you do so talking us about peoples stoling intelectual property ?..

The OBD2 protocol
 

is an open protocol meaning that anyone can use it. It is specifically designed by the lawmakers to allow third parties to maintain cars and not restrict repairs to authorized dealers.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/opendiag/ would give an insight to the many people using that interface.

Now somehow using an open protocol for what it is designed for as Durametric does seem ok to me. See Actron et al.

Porsche has lawyers and somehow I think that if Durametric was violating some right that Porsche wished to assert via a cease and desist, Durametric would have heard by now.

Now if Durametric specifically permits by license ( as opposed to merely feeling there is no point in incurring the legal costs of enforcing the license) the use of their s/w with third party cables, then I owe the OP an apology. And if his intent was to point out the advantages of buying the real Durametric cable and s/w then again, I apologize. There is no s/w license info on the Durametric web site that I know of. (Yes, I read the darn things before ordering. I wrote them in a prior life.)

Hey Mike, it's all good. This sparked off an interesting debate and I have to admit that I was surprised by the direction the thread took, and by how strongly some people feel about these issues. As far as I'm concerned, everyone is entitled to their opinion (well, except that guy that came on here and referred to the love of my life as "disposable crap" - he oughta have his nuts slammed in a drawer! :D ) and where better to express that opinion than in a discussion forum.

you bought it in good faith so no foul.....of course if the FBI comes for you ...dont be taken alive...inmates take a dim view of copywrite preverts :D

Actually, it would be the Mounties, and I always keep a box of donuts by the door just in case.

None of my questions were intended to lecture anyone or question anyone's ethics. This reminds me of the old cliché "if the shoe fits, wear it."

I just wanted to discuss an interesting subject since more and more of this is happening in just about every industry.

Indeed, given the circumstances I agree with Mark's solution, but in the end this is just another indication that our way of life will be continued to be threatened by others that can do things cheaper than we can.

.."our way of life" ? ....you do know this is an imported car forum ;)

wait... this is one of them foreign car websites? well i'll be...

So aftermarket brakes, rims, lights, radio's, maintenance parts etc etc etc are no problem?

Since it does the job on older models, where can I buy this cable?

And with that I have to say...Touché !

I wonder if Paul bought a $50,000 Monet painting whether he would then destroy it if it was discovered to be a forgery.

Seriously, for the price of the real durametric cable, and specially of a Used one..
I would highly suggest you to go with the Real Durametric cable.. they where tested in every situation.. the last thing you want is to damage your car electronic with that clone.. It may work, but It may be instable in some situation..
Save yourself a bunch of trouble and buy the peace of mind for 200$.. :)
Also You want to Encourage Durametric so they continue their research enabling new feature.. :) Because Even if OBD2 Protocole is public, I'm pretty sure the custom features from porsche have no documentation about them and is a lot of work to implement. And Durametric give a very nice Support service if you have any question about the functionnality :)

Not exactly
 

It isn't the older models it works on but a limited set of functions it works with and being restricted by the copy-cat cable will limit you to. There are other cables and free s/w with license that are available too if you look but they too are limited in functionality compared to Durametric's latest. I swear I've seen those cables mentioned for $50 or less.

There are lots of things that the Durametric new cables allow to work with later versions of their software. What later versions implement can be understood by their version history on their web site.

Durametric s/w started out as little better than a code reader and gradually got better and better as more people bought the s/w and funded their development.

I would collect the money from the company that guaranteed it to be an original.

The problem clearly lies with the manufacturer and seller of this fake cable rather than an end user who bought the item in good faith, thinking it's real.

What's more, Mark decided to warn us about the existence of such cables. Good on him.

IP laws has many flaws, and is long overdue for an overhaul. But I absolutely agree with the principle that people who spend their time developing technology and software should be justly rewarded.

Nothing is being argued here in this tread:

Yes, IP of developers like Durametric should be protected.

Yes, Mark was an unfortunate victim of counterfeit goods.

Yes, the blame chiefly lies with the counterfeiter.

Well let's assume for this exercise there was none Paul, you can't re program Kobyashi Maru Captain Kirk. I'm sure at least some Art studios have gone out of business long after some poor guy has discovered the issue, like on antiques roadshow.

Edit* Here's one for ya: Why doesn't Turin burn that phony shroud proven time and again to likely be a forgery? Know how much money Italy has made off of that sheet? A lot! Whether it's fake or not doesn't seem to matter.

Yes, and lawsuits against criminal organizations selling counterfeit art are always so successful....

You know, Paul, I don't begrudge you your opinion at all, but you came on here with this aggressive, confrontational attitude and then, when you found that your position wasn't quite as popular as you had expected, you try and backtrack with this lame " I was just asking questions" routine. Give it up, buddy - you're just embarrasing yourself.