Author Topic: Software Piracy vs. Practicality (Read 4801 times)

rodtod · « **on:** June 16, 2003, 10:48:55 AM »

What is the point of piracy? I've often wondered how it can possibly benefit anyone. By pirating software, the developer gets ripped off and the pirate responsible either uses the software or sells it. The pirate is then benefiting from screwing the original producer. Where do people get the idea to do this sort of thing? Is it laziness? Is it greed? Is it because they're pissed at the producer for overpricing?

Imo, software piracy is not a solution to expensive prices, for piracy reduces a company's profits, thus resulting in the company raising prices to compensate! So really, where's the sense in pirating software? What's the reason?

Uglydot · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2003, 12:33:59 PM »

It gets you free software. This is theft, there is no coating it. People want free stuff, people get free stuff.

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2003, 01:52:17 PM »

i was always against piracy. until i realised that i had burned 6 programs, and 3 cds of music. so i guess it's ok.
i don't really care that much anymore.

i will never, however, pirate a nintendo game.

but then, like 3rd party developers to nintendo, it's a paradox:
people pirate cause prices are so damn high. and prices are so damn high cause people pirate.
the exceptions are things like MS Office and stuff like that, cause they are exorbitantly high.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2003, 02:14:33 PM »

My reason is because I'm cheap. 'Nuff said. For you see, I simply don't have the money that developers think their products are worth. Microsoft Windows ME launched for $499 AUD. Hmmmm, I had the choice of spending 50 cents on a blank CD and getting it, or blowing $499. My copy of Microsoft's last work of art, Win 98 had decided it didn't want to work anymore.

That's not to say I feel bad, I do, slightly. Although I'd feel much worse if I actually spent $499 on what was basically a bloody beta test (I swear, ME's first release was the buggiest application I've ever had the pleasure of using)

I however, will never go as far as getting a pirated copy of a game (Excluding ROMS. Tell me Nintendo, where could I buy a copy of Secret of Mana 2 with the added English translation? Thanks) or a DVD. Hell, even my VCD's are official. For one, my PC is much to crap to run anything, and two, I enjoy official stuff on PS2/Whatever. Game developers offer me hours of fun, and I pay for that fun. Easy.

And music... Well.....
If I really like a band, I'll buy their album. But as time marches on and on, I'm finding it harder to like mainstream music. My tastes lay in obscure unheard of bands splashed all over kazaa and 8/16-Bit video game music. When was the last time you saw a soundtrack to the likes of Stunt Race FX in the shops? Yep. Never.

Do you really think if people stop getting free software, developers will lower the cost?
We see advertising all over movies, does that make the movie cheaper to see/buy? NO.
We see advertising splashed in game manuals, IN games... Does that make it cheaper? NO.

Their saving does not pass along to the consumer.

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2003, 02:32:48 PM »

I've actually got the official Windows 98 SE CD.
My friend, however, burnt it off me cause he wants to complete his 'burnt Windows' CD collection. He's got Windows 3.0 right up to Windows XP all burnt and in his CD wallet.
The things people get up to...

I do agree with ya Monkey. Some of us simply can't afford to keep up with the times as often as technology keeps getting better (which is like everyday). I'm not gonna get XP, since I like the simplicity of 98. Plus I'm used to it.
And I liked Evanescence sooo much, I bought their album. As I did with all the movie scores I have. I have two burnt CDs of game music, one Cd for the Spirited Away OST, and another CD full of pornos, and you can't exactly buy them here in Australia as you can in the States.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2003, 02:33:45 PM »

"software piracy is not a solution to expensive prices, for piracy reduces a company's profits, thus resulting in the company raising prices to compensate! So really, where's the sense in pirating software? What's the reason?"

Well I've never heard of someone pirating solely as a protest against high prices. Most people I know will use "it's too expensive" as an excuse but in reality if the prices were lowered they would still continue pirating.

In general I'm against piracy (especially since I'm a software developer myself) but I still pirate in certain situations. I think everyone will if they can. It's just that some people only do it when they feel they have to (ie: the product is too expensive or obscure to buy) and some people pirate EVERYTHING. I guess it's like comparing someone who steals food to avoid starvation and someone who steals food because they just don't feel like paying for it. Piracy is really only a problem with the dickheads who pirate everything but some of the those people would probably steal your car if you left it in front of their house with the keys inside. Some people don't steal because they think it's wrong and some don't steal because they don't want to get caught and punished.

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2003, 02:50:37 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Termin8Anakin
I've actually got the official Windows 98 SE CD.
My friend, however, burnt it off me cause he wants to complete his 'burnt Windows' CD collection. He's got Windows 3.0 right up to Windows XP all burnt and in his CD wallet.
The things people get up to...

Holy crap, I know someone who did that exact same thing

He has a rather extensive collection of all the different releases of each Windows. He even keeps them in a special CD case! Odd, to the MAX!

Oh yes, I failed to mention before that I also download GBA ROMS. So I guess my statement about not getting new games pirated is now dead. But I must add, the big reason I download them is to rip the soundtracks. Honestly. I know that itself is also a no-no, but... Hey, I'm human.

I fully intend on buying a GBP in two weeks with Sonic Advance 2 and Wario Ware, even though I have free access to them on my hard drive.

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2003, 03:05:15 PM »

hahaha

Uglydot · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2003, 03:30:29 PM »

Heh, l have access to most all of the OSes, only got a burned XP because my install was damaged and I was NOT paying for a second liscense when I should have recieved a disc with the HP my parents bought. The PC I built for myself runs slack 9.0, however, so obviously, I didn't pirate that OS. I do have access to all of the Windows OSes(including longhorn) but I never had much use for them, so my friend just keeps them tucked away till my parents mess something up badly.

PIAC · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2003, 03:56:27 PM »

i pirate MS stuff out of protest, but then i dont admit to that ;P
burnt music cds, no way, i have none other than compilations ive made for my self, burnt games i have a few (only GTA3 vice city to see what the game was like, and ehm.. dunno) all the games in my IGN collection list i own legit, despite not having a DVD burner i wouldn't burn them either.

i burnt a copy of one game though, it smelt funny ;P (oh the pun!)

Blackfire · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2003, 07:57:41 PM »

I have burned countless cd's for many reasons. 1. I could careless how much money record lables/artists receive. All they do is sing and get MILLIONS of dollars just for singing a song. I mean theres people that bust their balls day in and day out, work from 7am to 11pm, put their lives on the line for a measly little salary, and these artists have millions, live in a nice house and drive nice cars, and complain they lose maybe $50,000 on some cd's. Big damn deal.

As for software...I have dled some programs off my favorite P2P client. Ahead Nero, Bryce5, Photoshop to name a few. Not all of us have the money to spend $300 on a program when a newer program will be released few months/years later. I tried burning XP, didnt work for me but maybe I'll try again. Windows 2000 cant handle anything.

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2003, 09:00:43 PM »

Haha.
I think you've listened to "Lifestyles of the rich and famous" by Good Charlotte too many times.

Nephilim · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2003, 08:14:49 AM »

One of the most used programs in the world Mirc is 15day trial then it asks you to register
Acid Pro 4 is 450 dollars brand new, acid pro 4 is 100megs zipped on kazaa
I could go on all day.

If someone wants it, they will get it
Im mostly against piracy, but I admit that I DO have mirc on my comp and have for 3years and other programs
Like mp3, Software piracy often leads to someone buying the offical software
It has its ups and downs

Ian Sane · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2003, 08:34:48 AM »

"I could careless how much money record lables/artists receive. All they do is sing and get MILLIONS of dollars just for singing a song. I mean theres people that bust their balls day in and day out, work from 7am to 11pm, put their lives on the line for a measly little salary, and these artists have millions, live in a nice house and drive nice cars, and complain they lose maybe $50,000 on some cd's. Big damn deal."

"That ain't working. Money for nothing and the chicks for free."

What difference does it make whether someone is rich or not? Just because they have millions doesn't mean that they shouldn't be compensated for their work. They don't get paid millions just to "sing songs". They have to go into the studio and record an album by such-and-such a date and they have to tour for most of the year and make all sorts of public appearences. All of this has deadlines and record execs breathing down their neck the whole time to make sure they sell so many albums. It's not like they just sing songs in a studio for a few hours and then get millions for nothing. Stealing is stealing regardless of who you're stealing from.

Uglydot · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2003, 10:02:26 AM »

Quote
. Windows 2000 cant handle anything.

If by can't you mean can, then you are entirly correct. I have run anything need to do various image editing and gaming on a win2k machine. If you have the service packs, you are good. If not, then...

manunited4eva22 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2003, 03:51:29 PM »

......and theres also the thing about it not running any old software, but thats not a problem right?

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2003, 03:59:35 PM »

I have a rather weird ethics system regarding software piracy.

I make every effort to buy the games for the consoles I buy, and for my PC. If I absolutely positively, cannot find them for near a reasonable price, I might check them out on IRC.

I don't EVER pirate GBA, N64, or GCN games for any reason.

I try not to feed Microsoft's monopoly, and have considered buying an Xbox on a number of occasions, simply so that I could reinforce that.... The problem is that the Xbox has nothing I want.

PS: I thought I was the only one who collected MS operating systems?

I am missing NT and my copy of 98 died on me, but I have the rest.

PIAC · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2003, 01:47:23 AM »

i have a legit 6 floppy disc set of windows 3.11 a legit version of Me (came with the pc) and an upgrade version of 95... somewhere..

i support the artists by buying cds cause the ones i like most of them arn't anywhere near being millionairs, and they work damn hard, i own no burnt cds and im rather proud of that.

Mario · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2003, 01:59:03 AM »

I pirate Microsoft stuff because i hate them and want them to die, and i buy Nintendo stuff because i love them.

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2003, 02:34:03 AM »

as do we all.

PIAC · « **Reply #20 on:** June 18, 2003, 02:51:12 AM »

not everyone on these forums termin8, not everyone

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:00:26 AM »

man, i just write that cause i couldn't be bothered writing anything else.
We all hate Microsoft, so it's a fair enough reason i guess.

aoi tsuki · « **Reply #22 on:** June 18, 2003, 03:48:26 AM »

The funny thing about people who use pirated software is that they're contributing to the popularity of the program. For instance, say you download MS Office, then create an write a document that you later email to someone. In order to view that document, they'll need Word, or at the very least something that views that version of Word docs. This creates a dependency on Microsoft's products for something which is likely nothing but text. And just by using the program and repeating program/manufacturer-specific phrases li0ke "wizard"or "office assistant", you're continuing to promote the software.

i too was collecting MS OSs, though unknowingly. i had 3.0/3.1/Windows for Workgroups legally, but ended up ditching them a few months ago because i was moving. i've still got 95/98/XP Pro OEM legally now. Oddly enough, i *just* ran across a (not legal) copy of Windows 1.0, in a HA (old compression util) archive. When i get a computer that can run it, i'll try it out again.

manunited4eva22 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 18, 2003, 04:49:26 AM »

I personally don't really care who pirates stuff. I personally own a lot of old pirated stuff, and probablly a bunch of new stuff, but does anyone really care?

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #24 on:** June 18, 2003, 04:36:53 PM »

One guy in the US Government seems to.
See that thread where they want to destroy your computer.

News:

Author Topic: Software Piracy vs. Practicality (Read 4801 times)