Is it legal?

I recently purchased a Z2 from a Spanish seller on eBay.

There was no software included. This was clearly advertised on the page but I never thought to translate it to English.

The box I got says traktor software included but none inside.

Apparently the software is used for a traktor course at some spanish dj school.

I know I should have translated it but is this kind of thing legal?

I mean surely NI wouldn't condone this, or maybe I'm wrong.

 

There are no laws being broken..especially since it was clearly advertised.

It is against NI's user aggreement but that has no impact on you since you don't own the software.

 

So what do I do now?

Would I be better off returning it and buying a new one or should I keep it and get the software?

Would I be able to get any updates in the future for the Z2 if it's not registered?

 

You can buy Scratch Pro here:
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/traktor/digital-vinyl/traktor-scratch-a10/software-timecode-kit/
which will work just the same as the packaged software that comes with a new Z2.

 

Cheers, I was looking at that earlier.

One concern I have though - Will I ever have to update the Z2 itself and if it isn't a registered product can I do as such?

Thanks for the help btw.

 

There are firmware updates for the Z2 freely available to anyone on the website; the only updates that require registration are for software like Traktor.

 

Thanks again

Just wanted to make sure

 

Well it seems I have to activate the Z2 after all. I've just bought the timecode setup but it will not work without the Z2 activated. Thanks a bunch. You just cost me 100 euro.

 

What message do you get telling you the Z2 must be activated?

The kit is designed to work with 3rd party certified mixers that are impossible to activate so I'm not sure why it won't work for you. Did you buy the kit directly from NI?

 

Hardware such as the Z2 should be registered as this allows you to download software such as drivers, audio control panels and the actual TSP software itself.

Physical discs are no longer (to my knowledge) sent out with hardware. You get card with a link to register the hardware which then allows you to download Traktor and register the software serial that should have come with the hardware.

Audio hardware and Software are now linked when bought as a package.

If you bought an Z2 that had no serial number with it so that you can register it then you should seek redress from the seller as this is a breach of the EULA.

Although, I have never seen a warning that you need to activate hardware but then I don't have a Z2.

I have an unregistered Audio 6 that works just fine with my existing TSP which was originally bought and upgraded from TS1 with the Audio8.

I suggest you contact Registration Support and the seller.

Karlos

 

I have contacted the seller. He claims he is doing nothing wrong because he runs a dj school and is selling the z2 without registration for this reason.

I have since got the z2 working with the timecode kit but when an update comes, it will get messy again. Apologies to makar1 btw. The whole thing had me frustrated last night and I decided to take it out on you.

I've also contacted NI and the issue is being dealt by them at the moment.

I thought there was something illegal with all this from the start and it seems I'm right.

 

Outright b*llshit. When anyone sells any NI product they MUST surrender the serial number so that the buyer can register it.

What's more is that if he is and educator he may have en educational version which cannot, under any circumstance be sold or transfered.

He is in clear breach if the EULA and NI may remove his right to educational discount or remove the registration for ALL his schools products for breaching the EULA.

Might I suggest that you show him this post and I will be more than happy to help him understand why he is breaching his EULA. If reported he will no longer be able to run his DJ school with NI equipment.

It really makes my blood boil when people sell NI products without the serial number. It causes no end of hassle for guys like you that buy them.:angry:

Karlos

 

Does this mean that the Software and Timecode Kit really does need something to be registered for it to install? I know my S4 upgrade kit needed Traktor Pro already installed but I thought they changed it for the new kit?

I'd like to know before I recommend anyone else buy it for their 2nd hand hardware e.g. the old Audio4/8 which are often sold without software.

 

I don't think so as the timecode kit does not come with a hardware serial number.

Take for instance the TSP TA6 Package. That comes with 2 serial numbers, one for TSP and one for the Audio 6. To get TSP the official way you first register the Audio 6 and this gives you access to the updated drivers, audio control panel and TSP software. Both software and hardware are registered to your account so they are inseparable.

This was not the old way, in fact registering hardware is a relatively new thing (since NI are making so much hardware it was inevitable).

As the old A8/A4 did not need to be registered when bought so I think it's safe to recommend the timecode upgrade to people.
I will have to check about the TA6 and TA10 which were available on their own at one point.

The Z2 would definitely have had a serial number and have to be registered.

Murky waters I must confess and more so in the fact that I took a year away from Moderating the forum so I'm kind playing catch up with a few rules and regs.

Karlos

 

From what I understand if a HW comes with software that software is tied to the HW and cannot be sold seperately. So the eBay seller did indeed break the NI licensing agreement IMO.

@Karlos, I hope you went to a nice place or went on a vacation or at least enjoyed yourself. Nice to see you're back.

 

The point is that if the kit can be installed for an Audio 4 user who hasn't registered their hardware, what's to stop you from plugging a Z2 into the same computer and using that as your interface instead?

 

Using it is not the problem. When you sell the bundle as individual items is the problem. I know... what can NI do? I'm not sure how or what they can do. But as far as I know a bundle should be sold as a bundle not as individual items.

I know that my audio 8 DJ soundcard was bought with TSP 1.27 (and then upgraded to TSP2) when I asked here in this forum I was told that I can't sell it individually and had to sell it as a bundle.

 

Read this:

 

There have been no upgrade versions of software mentioned in this thread so that paragraph is not relevant.

The new Software and Timecode Kit should not require any pre-existing software, unlike the old kit which required TP2.

 

It is relevant because it is saying basically it is a bundle and the software can't be sold separately from the Z2. TSP2 is not sold as a standalone software, only TP2 can be bought from the NI website. If you can see where NI sells the TSP2 (not the upgrade kit) on it's own then I'd like to see it.