There was never a question about whether or not TopMoxie was changing URLs (to my knowledge, it's not really redirecting any links, it just modifies the HTTP requests) to let LimeWire make money when LimeWire users are shopping online. I don't know if you are aware of the way Amazon for example rewards sites sending people to their website. Basically, if a person buys something at Amazon, Amazon will pay the website who redirected the person to Amazon. If nobody redirected that user to Amazon, Amazon will just keep the money.
The only issue was that TopMoxie did not value the case were another website already claimed that reward for itself so TopMoxie would really steal that reward.
That issue was brought to TopMoxie's attention and it was resolved. LimeWire has no direct control over the TopMoxie sources, they only have an agreement with TopMoxie about what the TopMoxie software may or may not do and how LimeWire will be paid - at least that's the way it usually works.
So in fact LimeWire never could modify any code at all to change the situation.
What do you expect?? We are living in a world where you can either make money or starve. LimeWire is a company after all and there could be certain legal implications involved depending on what statements an employee of a company makes. And even if there weren't, - it still is bad publicity.
It's not about believing or not believing. Two parties have a legal agreement, if one party fails to fulfill it, it can and will be held liable for it.
TopMoxie is per definition not a virus - at least not where I'm living which is outside of cloud cuckoo land. If I license a piece of software and resell it, I cannot always test it to the full. I can only trust that the creator of that software is telling the truth about what his software is doing, even IF the source code WAS available for me to check. If the creator of the software lied about his product, he would have to fear that I may sue him.
People should really start reading the license agreements before downloading and installing software from the internet. If the license agreements states that another software package will be installed this implies that it will not necessarily be removed in cumolo (since it is not part of the same software package).
LimeWire basic displays a page before installing that it will install LimeShop and tells you to view this page if you have any questions:
http://www.limewire.com/english/content/moxiefaq.shtml
In addition, you have to agree to the TopMoxie License Agreements. The LimeWire international installer does not display this information because it does not install TopMoxie and never did.
Truth is relative. What the truth is in the real world, may not be the truth in some distant cloud cuckoo land for example where some words like 'virus' or 'spyware' just have a different meaning.
- And just to clarify: it is not, was not and will never be my intention to imply you were living in such a "cloud cuckoo land".
fixed bad english