scupper

With the recent discussion herein regarding illegal manuals appearing on EBAY, interested to know if this one falls into the same catagory. If this is an illegal copy, where are legal PET disks available from?

URL deleted by moderator, points to copyrighted material, against Rennlist policy

Chuck
93 C2

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by scupper:
<strong>where are legal PET disks available from?

Chuck
93 C2</strong><hr></blockquote>

Chuck, I don't think "legal" PET disks are available from anywhere. I've been told the only legal ones are the ones on your dealers PC's.

Bill Gregory

Chuck,

The Porsche PET CD is a dealer-only item. The copyright protection scheme was broken in 1990/1991 and sold, until that individual received a letter from the software company that developed PET for Porsche, that he was subject to legal proceedings. It was rumored that Porsche was going to make a better version of the electronics parts catalog available free to the masses, covering models through 1973, but I don't know if that actually happened or not. So, in answer to your question, the "legal" copies belong to the dealers. Anything else is a copy of a copy of a copyrighted original.

scupper

Thanks, Bill and Ruairidh.

From my perspective, Porsche AG seems to do everything it can to stifle or supress grassroots DIYers. Its agressive action to prevent anyone, anyone from even using the Porsche crest and its Porsche typeface is further proof of its desire to squash or trample over any secondary market in Porsche products. Clearly, Porsche wants its customers to be technically ignorant and completely at mercy of its dealers and their often times, inept service departments.

Chuck, feeling like a curmudgeon today.
93 C2

JBH

[quote] Porsche AG seems to do everything it can to stifle or supress grassroots DIYers. Its agressive action to prevent anyone, anyone from even using the Porsche crest and its Porsche typeface is further proof of its desire to squash or trample over any secondary market in Porsche products <hr></blockquote>

Porsche does the same as any other company that has a trademark or logo - they protect it zealously. It is the most distinguishing feature of their products. The logo makes it clear to the consumer that the product meets Porsche requirements and specifications. Although they certainly want a piece of the parts and service market, the restricted use of the logo is not an effort to force you to use their services.

Imagine if people could use their logo freely and without restrictions. You, as a owner, would have no idea what was authentic Porsche or Porsche-approved. You can absolutely believe that there would be many individuals that would attempt to exploit the name and logo for their own gain. I think Excellence is an excellent magaizne, but when it first appeared it was titled Porsche Magazine. Now, you have to ask yourself if it is fair for someone to call their magazine Porsche when they invested nothing in getting the name and logo into the public market. They did not invest the millions in the R&D, design, racing and production which made the name so valuable.

As it turns out, the aftermarket business for Porsche parts is excellent - much better than BMW. I can shop by internet for almost any part I need, in most cases finding it at someplace other than a dealer. The same is not true for other vehicle manufacturers.

Porsche has always encouraged privateers in racing and has made available parts and technology to help them succeed. Do Audi and Ferrari do this?

Sorry for the long diatribe, but I think it is important to bring out the other side of this issue.

Ruairidh

JBH

You make good points - I guess I'm not really clear (and it is probably just me being thick) why Porsche don't make PET more easily available as a device to get folks to spend more using official parts?

The way it is now discourages folks from using OPC's.

In particular I dislike intensely having to (a) wait in line at the OPC parts counter (b) wait while the guy on the other side of the counter translates my incoherent description into a vague realisation of what it might be I'm after and then (c) wait some more as he cack-hands his way through PET to find the part number - which then has a 50% chance ('cos our 964's are no longer the newest thing on the block) of being in stock.

Oh and one last rant-ette, I still don't understand why the Shop Manuals for the 964 consist of, what 7, volumes and cost, at a discounted minimum circa $300.

Put bluntly, I'd argue in both cases Porsche create the "bootleg" market. <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

JBH

Ruairidh:

All good questions and I suspect it is the dealers who are most vocal on the distribution of parts and repair information.

Personally, I side with you on this issue. The operating model used by most companies (just look at the recording industry)is to restrict the distribution and dissemination of proprietary information and data in hopes of controlling the marketing networks. With the proliferation of the internet, I think this model is no longer viable. If I were CEO of Porsche (or any manufacturer) I would try the approach of putting more information and data into the hands of my customers, recognizing that enforcement of copyright laws to limit distribution is an absolutely futile exercise and waste of money.

The best way to stop aftermarket suppliers is to offer a superior product at competitive prices. Exclusivity should be established on quality, not arbitrarily on price. Putting useful information in the hands of consumers breeds loyalty and ultimately sales. There is a new business model out there; some are just slow to accept it.

Of course, no one is banging on my door to become CEO of their company, so for now, that's just my opinion.