Opinions on Software piracy

[Chronic321]

Recently I have been thinking about software piracy (It actually came to me while reading about MS plans for the XP Service Pack --> Preventing pirates from upgrading their copies), and I have to ask myself, how bad is piracy for the industry. I started pirating around age 10, during my first trip to Pakistan. I remember going into the shop and telling my mom and my cousins "Wow, in America one game is $40, here I can get one CD with 200 games for $5." That was 7 years ago, today obviously most professional pirated software which is distributed in Pakistan is one Game per CD, but still my cousins send me CD's with tons of professional applications (3ds Max, Maya, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Visual Studio .NET, and hundreds more). But anyways, I have recently tried to change, first trying to justify my form of piracy by saying "I bought it, paid for it fair and square," this fell through as I know the developers are not getting paid but the pirates are. Last week I actually went out to buy two of today's most acclaimed games, GTA 3 a nd Warcraft 3. I felt that the developers were so innovative (At least in the case of GTA 3) that me using their product for my enjoyment without paying is just plain wrong. Thus, I have a new personal piracy policy, no pirating games. However, what about applications that I use and need, how can I learn to use industry standard applications without getting them from Pakistan? I know piracy is wrong, no matter wwhat is being pirated but sometimes I feel (as stupid as it may sound), like it is the only way I can learn. Trust me, I don't make any money off the applications, I am developing a computer hardware /technology site not for money but just to be part of the industry. Anyways, any opinions on this controversial topics, Thanks

 

[merlocka]

I once pirated Microsoft Paragraph v6.0, you should check it out.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: merlocka
I once pirated Microsoft Paragraph v6.0, you should check it out.

I did. Too bad they never relased an eassy-compatability patch

 

[Goosemaster]

Actually, I'm buying stuff too now that I am older and have money.

I bought Linux, some WIndows progs. I got my OS and office XP from the Univ

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: merlocka
I once pirated Microsoft Paragraph v6.0, you should check it out.

Damn you.

Gatorade, all over my keyboard now.

 

*ding* *ding*
Round one.

 

[Goosemaster]

Although I am not proud of it, there are some expenisve apps that I do get only to train with them. Usually after I am done htey go into the garbage. Server-classs stuff mainly.

I also try out software to see if it is worth the money. I tried MOHAA a LOT and so I bought it, unlike RTCW, which was only soso.


I didn't buy GTA3 because I didn't like it...graphics are screwy. I didn't even play it after I tried it out.

I try ----> If I like I buy


I use to train_----> I encouage businesses I work for to use that software if I now know that it is good

 

[Noriaki]

I pirate a lot of stuff. But if I like it I buy it.

Windows 2000 Pro - Legit
Microsoft Works Suite 2001 (comes with Word and Excel-lite) - Legit, since I can't afford office.
I even registered WinRAR, WinDVD, and AudioGrabber.

Lots of games I have legit copies of. I play a game Juarez style, but if I like the game I buy it. Plain and simple. Same goes for Apps. I might try something out Juarez style, but if I use it often, I pay for it. Even registering shareware.

I try stuff for a while, and if I like it I buy it. If I don't I delete it.

I don't have a legal copy of Warcraft 3 yet because I have $14 in my chequing account. I found it pretty enjoyable and when I have money I will buy it. I don't actually have it installed right now, but I've played the single player campaigns start to finish and played it for several games at LAN parties. Blizzard deserves to be paid for their work, and they will be as soon as I have the cash.

 

[LiekOMG]

A lot of software is way too expensive these days *cough*MS*cough*, but there are some companies out there that make really good software and their product just ends up getting pirated and they end up going out of business because of no income. I especially feel sorry for companies who spend 3-4 years of their lives to make a killer game, just to have everyone pirate it. I don't go around downloading games anymore (and I never really used to). However, i do occasionally borrow some of my friends games that he's done playing. As long as its only being used on one PC at a time, i don't see a problem with that.

Sometimes you gotta put yourself in the other person's shoes. If you spent 4 years of your life putting your soul into a game just to have people start pirating it before it was even released in stores (like WC3), how would you feel?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Think about it, MS honestly gives a sh1t less if you pirate. It's just more people running MS software and more Companies writing software to run with MS Software and more people buying MS Software. They get the business eventually.

 

[TNTrulez]

Originally posted by: Chronic321
Recently I have been thinking about software piracy (It actually came to me while reading about MS plans for the XP Service Pack --> Preventing pirates from upgrading their copies), and I have to ask myself, how bad is piracy for the industry. I started pirating around age 10, during my first trip to Pakistan. I remember going into the shop and telling my mom and my cousins "Wow, in America one game is $40, here I can get one CD with 200 games for $5." That was 7 years ago, today obviously most professional pirated software which is distributed in Pakistan is one Game per CD, but still my cousins send me CD's with tons of professional applications (3ds Max, Maya, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Visual Studio .NET, and hundreds more). But anyways, I have recently tried to change, first trying to justify my form of piracy by saying "I bought it, paid for it fair and square," this fell through as I know the developers are not getting paid but the pirates are. Last week I actually went out to buy two of today's most acclaimed games, GTA 3 a nd Warcraft 3. I felt that the developers were so innovative (At least in the case of GTA 3) that me using their product for my enjoyment without paying is just plain wrong. Thus, I have a new personal piracy policy, no pirating games. However, what about applications that I use and need, how can I learn to use industry standard applications without getting them from Pakistan? I know piracy is wrong, no matter wwhat is being pirated but sometimes I feel (as stupid as it may sound), like it is the only way I can learn. Trust me, I don't make any money off the applications, I am developing a computer hardware /technology site not for money but just to be part of the industry. Anyways, any opinions on this controversial topics, anybody else want to admit they are a pirate? Thanks

A lot of the time people pirate because they didn't have the money to buy the apps that they need. The developer wouldn't get money anyways because the person wouldn't buy the app in the first place if they didn't pirate it. But I do think that if you have the money to buy all those stuff you should do it and not pirate.

 

[Evadman]

I am also like Noriaki. I use it as a "try before you buy" kind of thing. I tried GTA3, hated it, ditched it. I tried NWN, liked it, bought it. Only item I ever paid for without first downloading was Tribes 2. If I use something for over a month, then even if I hate it, I buy it. Shareware is a little different. Again, if I use it, I register it. Most of the time. I have a few programs that I use all the time, bnut are registered with a serial I did not pay for. The company got some $$, but they were charging way way too much for what the software does. I sent them what I thought it was worth.

I am not perfect, and I would hate it if I ever beacme perfect. But I do try. IRC and usenet make it too easy.

Don't ask about MP3's please.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Chronic321
Anyways, any opinions on this controversial topics, anybody else want to admit they are a pirate? Thanks

Yes, they are a pirate.

I suspect while M$ is trying to cut down piracy in the US, the recent SP1 mods are more to combat illegal international piracy rings which are more costly. Any case, I still hate them.

/edit...careful, me thinks Chronic321 works for M$ legal team and is looking for confessions to use in court. :Q

 

[MrCodeDude]

A lot of software is getting very expensive these days and the DEMO versions limit so much stuff, you don't really get to "test-out" the program. I only play a few games and use a few programs and those I've purchased. I don't pirate just to get stuff free, I only pirate to get stuff I need and then if I end up using the program (more than a few times) and I like it, I go out and buy it.
-- mrcodedude

 

[Vic]

In the case of MS, domestic piracy actually increases their business and their market dominance. Disagree? Think about it. Let's speculate that MS made a version of Windows that actually was completely impossible to pirate. Could not be hacked under any circumstances. How many of you would have bought that copy of Windows for $150 sight unseen? Especially when Linux is always just a free download away? And if more people used Linux, there would be more apps and games written for Linux, wouldn't there? I rest my case. Naturally, their efforts against piracy are like a double-edged sword, allowing it on one hand and discouraging it on the other. The current issue with XP is a perfect example of their amazing skill in maximizing their advantage. They let you all get your "trial" versions, and now they are up. Guess you gotta buy now, right?

As for other software, please buy. Many are made by small developers and publishers that make or break based on just a few sales. And, once again, your piracy only helps the larger developers, like MS. When the smaller companies fold from lack of sales, MS and co. just come along and buy up their patents and copyrights for a song.

 

[Chronic321]

I didn't like the last comment, it is a common justification for piracy. The last comment that ended with "Please support the small developers" protrays that larger companies do not deserve the money. MS made a product, Windows XP/2k/98/etc.. Don't like them don't buy them, like them buy them. They deserve the money no matter how large their cash reserves are.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Chronic321
I didn't like the last comment, it is a common justification for piracy. The last comment that ended with "Please support the small developers" protrays that larger companies do not deserve the money. MS made a product, Windows XP/2k/98/etc.. Don't like them don't buy them, like them buy them. They deserve the money no matter how large their cash reserves are.

Oops! Did I wrong-think by telling the truth??
If it makes you feel any better, my 2 copies of Windows 2000 Pro are legit, as are my copies of Office 2000, Flight Sim 2002, and Train Sim. To my knowledge, those are the only MS products that I own and actively use at this time.

However, my overall point in my previous post was this (because you are obviously too f'ing stupid to get it): DON'T PIRATE AT ALL!.
Because if you do, you only help monopolies like MS increase the power and scope of their monopoly. Thank you, good night.

edit: as for whether they deserve the money or not is irrelevant. My point was that the market for operating systems is effectively closed because of piracy. Because piracy of Windows is so rampant, everyone has a copy, whether they can afford it or not. Because everyone has a copy, software developers only make apps for Windows, ignoring other OS'es that may otherwise have had a chance. Get a clue!

 

[silverpig]

I do it as a try before you buy thing too. I just can' t afford to drop $80 on a program to find out it's crap and can't return it. If I end up using it, I'll go and buy it.

However, I do have copies of some rather pricey 3d graphics programs that there's no way I could afford right now. I'm a 3d animation student, so it's honestly for educational use, and I will end up purchasing licences for the programs once I can afford it. Until then, there's no way discreet or softimage would ever get any money from me, as I just plain don't have it. If I like their program now, while I'm learning, and become good with it, then I'll buy from them. That's something I wouldn't have done if I couldn't use it now.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Chronic321
They deserve the money no matter how large their cash reserves are.

I agree they deserve money, but not the money, as in what they charge. Everything is overpriced to exploit their monopoly which they've been abusing for years with countless illegal and unethical business practices.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: Evadman
I am also like Noriaki. I use it as a "try before you buy" kind of thing. I tried GTA3, hated it, ditched it. I tried NWN, liked it, bought it. Only item I ever paid for without first downloading was Tribes 2. If I use something for over a month, then even if I hate it, I buy it. Shareware is a little different. Again, if I use it, I register it. Most of the time. I have a few programs that I use all the time, bnut are registered with a serial I did not pay for. The company got some $$, but they were charging way way too much for what the software does. I sent them what I thought it was worth.

I am not perfect, and I would hate it if I ever beacme perfect. But I do try. IRC and usenet make it too easy.

Don't ask about MP3's please.

But what about MP3s?

P.S. RtCW rox.
P.P.S. I don't buy software from thieves and crooks, that's why I don't pay for Microsoft software.