Software Pirating. . .your take

[Sir Fredrick]

did anyone even read my post?

 

[KokomoGST]

So how many of us are "thieves" then?
I own the games I love... but it's usually after the initial release. Plus, methinks blocking multiplayer access for games is a good way to "hinder" pirating. Because usually if you like the Single Play enough, you'll go out and buy yourself a real CD for the key to go online... case in point...
I bought the Diablo 2: Collector's Edition because I KNEW I would go online and play it. But for M$ to charge freaking $100 for a new non-upgrade release of XP... that's rape... M$ is not alone in charge exorbitant amounts of $$ for their software.

 

[Atlantean]

I download a game if it is not one that I think is worth buying, but one that I still want to play. For example Max Payne was a pretty lame game, good graphics though, so I downloaded it. But games that come out from companies that I like such as blizzard I will buy because they know what they are doing.

 

<< I work in the software industry, so perhaps my opinion might actually have some weight here. >>



What do you do? Most programmers are quick to say they program. You a salesmen?

And I agree with most of your post, and suggest that people read it and heed the advise it contains.




<< Your justifications are irrelevant. Would you steal a car from the loca Ford dealership and then buy one if you liked it? >>




<< Would you steal a couch from Ethan Allen if you thought the salesperson was going to make money from the sale? Would you steal a stereo from Circuit City if everyone else was doing it? >>





<< If you use pirated software, you are a thief and it is as simple as that. Rationalize all you want (I know I do), but the fact remains. You are a thief. >>



If you use poorly thought out, thoughtless analogies, the fact remains, you are a moron.

Can you erase a copy of a stolen car? If the book was left outside when the store was closed @ 3am and no one was around, would the temptation be greater? Would you do everything by the rules just because everyone else is doing it?

The arguments put up are so weak. When you signed that form to get your license you promised not to break any traffic laws. If you speed, you are breaking that agreement, hence you are breaking the law.

 

[GasX]

<< But for M$ to charge freaking $100 for a new non-upgrade release of XP... that's rape... M$ is not alone in charge exorbitant amounts of $$ for their software. >>

Really? do you have an absolute need for Windows XP? I didn't think so. Go buy a copy of Windows 98. If you do have a burning need, then you'll find the $100. Considering your computer won't work without it, that's pretty cheap. If you still think it's expensive use Linux and shut your trap.

 

[mithrandir2001]

<< Would you steal a car from the loca Ford dealership and then buy one if you liked it? Would you steal a book from Barnes and Noble if you felt it cost more than you wanted to pay. Would you steal a couch from Ethan Allen if you thought the salesperson was going to make money from the sale? Would you steal a stereo from Circuit City if everyone else was doing it? >>


At least in the case of the Ford example, if you stole a car but then took it back because you didn't like it, the dealer still loses because the car now has wear and tear. If somebody downloads pirated software for "evaluation" but finds it insufficient and subsequently deletes it from their hard drive, the value of that software is not reduced because it was a costless digital copy and doesn't need to exist. You can't say that with a car, a book, a couch or a stereo. Physcial products see wear with use, software does not. I think this is how peeps "justify" their actions with it comes to pirating software.

I'm not arguing over the copyrights of intellectual property, but am trying to analyze why a person would pirate software, but wouldn't steal a physical product from a store. Our minds perceive a difference between the two.

 

[GasX]

<< If you use poorly thought out, thoughtless analogies, the fact remains, you are a moron. >>

It takes one to know one. Please explain proper use of the expression "the fact remains"



<< Can you erase a copy of a stolen car? If the book was left outside when the store was closed @ 3am and no one was around, would the temptation be greater? Would you do everything by the rules just because everyone else is doing it?

The arguments put up are so weak. When you signed that form to get your license you promised not to break any traffic laws. If you speed, you are breaking that agreement, hence you are breaking the law. >>

The arguments I put up are not weak at all. I am purposefully making broad analogies to make a point. It is theft. I have software on my PC I haven't paid for, but I am not so hypocritical to think that I didn't steal it. I also drive above the speed limit. Once again, I am not so hypocritical as to think I am not breaking the law.

The fact that it is easy to do and there are no likely consequences are the primary reasons for rampant pirating. Nevertheless, those that do it are guilty of theft. A simple point simply illustrated. Go get your gander up elsewhere.

 

[RoninRXN]

<< A lot of what Ronin says is true for me as well. I use Photoshop about once a month to do simple things like lighten up a picture or convert it from a TIF to a JPEG or draw mustaches on pictures of people I hate, etc. I'm not gonna spend $600 on a piece of software that I barely use. So yes, you can consider me a software pirate...

...I'm also a jaywalker, I occasionally travel 5mph more than the speed limit, and get this, I rip the tags off my pillow. >>



Exactly. I wouldn't have bought it anyways so I don't think it's hurting anyone. It's not like I use it to make money but only to convert files, resize and to draw a mustache on someone's picture and post it on a prominent website for the world to point and laugh.

Oh, I've done underaged drinking, driving at ridiculous speeds and I have tied an alligator to a fire hydrant in New Orleans (actually illegal...)

I'm a baaaaaad man...
I'm not ashamed of...
A baaaaaaad man...

 

[CraigRT]

<< Go buy a copy of Windows 98 >>



Why don't YOU do that, then... who the hell wants to use Windows98 anymore.. it's a piece of trash...

 

[jhu]

there is no longer a need for me to pirate anything because the the alternatives are far superior to any of the commercial choices:
os: linux, bsd, etc,
image editing: gimp
office: openoffice (even in beta form it kicks some serious ass)
etc.

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<< Go buy a copy of Windows 98 >>



Why don't YOU do that, then... who the hell wants to use Windows98 anymore.. it's a piece of trash... >>



Hahahahhahha! I'll take my "no registration needed!" version of XP Pro, thanks.

 

[vi edit]

Three letters: GPL

 

[GasX]

<<

<< Go buy a copy of Windows 98 >>



Why don't YOU do that, then... who the hell wants to use Windows98 anymore.. it's a piece of trash... >>

I am not the one whining about how much MS charges for software. I paid for my copy of XP.

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<<

<< Go buy a copy of Windows 98 >>



Why don't YOU do that, then... who the hell wants to use Windows98 anymore.. it's a piece of trash... >>

I am not the one whining about how much MS charges for software. I paid for my copy of XP. >>



I never whine about free stuff.

I'm hoping that free retailers copy of XP comes in the mail...then I don't have to argue about Windows.

Geez...it's just Microsoft. It's not like Bill doesn't have enough money.

 

[CraigRT]

<< Hahahahhahha! I'll take my "no registration needed!" version of XP Pro, thanks. >>



Win2k for me.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<<

<< I work in the software industry, so perhaps my opinion might actually have some weight here. >>



What do you do? Most programmers are quick to say they program. You a salesmen?

And I agree with most of your post, and suggest that people read it and heed the advise it contains.
>>



Sorry for not being clear, I am indeed a programmer. For a small software company no less. We don't rake in the big bucks like Macromedia or Microsoft, so missing a sale probably means more to us than it would to them. But missing a sale and having someone use it when there's no chance they would have ever bought it to begin with are two completely different things.

 

[CraigRT]

<< I paid for my copy of XP. >>



That sucks. Did you get the retail? or did you buy a motherboard, case, and CPU to get the OEM copy? - haha, MS rip off...

 

<< A simple point simply illustrated. Go get your gander up elsewhere. >>



Well at least you admit your a moron. Add zealot to that list too.



<< Once again, I am not so hypocritical as to think I am not breaking the law. >>



Then stop pointing out when others are breaking it.



<< Really? do you have an absolute need for Windows XP? I didn't think so. Go buy a copy of Windows 98 >>



Technology is not governed by need. If it was that way, we would still be on a 386. And if people had that mentality, technology and science would never advance.



<< I am not the one whining about how much MS charges for software. I paid for my copy of XP. >>



Were not the ones whining about people pirating software.

 

[Cessna172]

<< BingBongWongFooey uses @home normally $40-$50 a month. why not use dial up and have that $20 or more a month for software. >>



I think you're overlooking something. Most broadband users I know, got broadband to download software off the net to begin with. It's no big secret--everything you see sitting on the shelf at CompUSA (and then some) can be downloaded right now for free off the Internet. With a 56K modem, it will take forever. With a cable modem, it takes 45min or less to download a 650MB CD image. His $20 a month could potentially allow him to download thousands of dollars in pirated software a month. So, a broadband connection, if used for pirating, pays for itself many times over. Plus, you don't need an extra phoneline, so that saves $20 right there. Broadband access is more than worth the typical $40-50 a month fee, even if not used for pirating.

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<< BingBongWongFooey uses @home normally $40-$50 a month. why not use dial up and have that $20 or more a month for software. >>



I think you're overlooking something. Most broadband users I know, got broadband to download software off the net to begin with. It's no big secret--everything you see sitting on the shelf at CompUSA (and then some) can be downloaded right now for free off the Internet. With a 56K modem, it will take forever. With a cable modem, it takes 45min or less to download a 650MB CD image. His $20 a month could potentially allow him to download thousands of dollars in pirated software a month. So, a broadband connection, if used for pirating, pays for itself many times over. Plus, you don't need an extra phoneline, so that saves $20 right there. Broadband access is more than worth the typical $40-50 a month fee, even if not used for pirating. >>



Very true. I remember the first day I got DSL. In fact, when I first had it, my parents paid for it. Hehe...one of my selling points of ADSL was "But mom! If I have DSL, I'll be able to download games and other software really fast. I can't do that on my modem and it'll save hundreds of dollars even though it costs $35 a month."

Hehehe...now I have no problems with paying for DSL since I know the benefits.

...that's $35 CDN BTW.

 

[RoninRXN]

<< Were not the ones whining about people pirating software. >>



HAHAHAHAH! EXACTLY.

 

[spanky]

is this a dirty trick or something? from what i understand...u're asking all the ppl who pirate software to come out and admit it and state a reason for their actions. by doing that, wouldn't those ppl be placing a big "mods, please kick/ban me" sign on their foreheads?

well anyway, only game i play is CS and u can't pirate that.

 

[GasX]

<< Well at least you admit your a moron. Add zealot to that list too. >>

A zealot? hmmm, exactly what cause am I fanatically comitted to?



<< Then stop pointing out when others are breaking it. >>

Why? The original poster asked the question, "If you illegally copy software, how do you justify your actions?" After reading about 50 posts by self indulgent whiners with overdeveloped senses of entitlement, I decided to point out that they are stealing despite their lame excuses. Noone likes a hypocrite.



<< Technology is not governed by need. If it was that way, we would still be on a 386. And if people had that mentality, technology and science would never advance. >>

Your gonna have to explain that one a little better. My point was that if you think $100 is too much for Windows XP, then you should explore other options. There are plenty of people who want XP and are willing to pay for it. Taking the whiners out of the equation will not stop technological or scientific advancement



<< Were not the ones whining about people pirating software. >>

I am not whining either. I just think that people who are self-righteous in their justifications for theft need to come down to reality.

 

[LAUST]

If I like the product I will buy the software to support the company.

 

[GasX]

Laust - building on what I have said above, you are probably violating the letter of the law. However, I don't think ANY software company would be bothered. That type of practice (as you said) is essentially demoing the product. In the long run it will result in you buying more software than you would otherwise.