Software piracy-Where it came from, why it still exists, etc.

[vetteguy]

I was just sitting here thinking about piracy (for some reason) and was wondering what the historical roots of it were. Obviously, it has existed long before the "internet" as we know it today was around. Did it come about because of cost (people wanting stuff that they couldn't afford), the "hacker" phenomenon (I'm l337 and can get what I'm not supposed to have), the "manifest destiny" thinking (Computers and software should be for everyone so I don't feel bad about stealing), or what? Do you think that software companies and their policies have helped reduce it or just given people all the more reason to pursue pirated software. If it's cost, should they rethink their pricing strategies? For instance, a "full" copy of XP professional is $300. Unless it comes on a PC you just bought, most people don't want to put that much money out for something like an OS. What if it cost $150? Or even $50? Would people be more inclined to purchase copies rather than "borrow" them? Or wouldn't it matter? And do anti-copying schemes do more to promote piracy? How many people rush out to find a crack for a new game that just came out? Or download a program like Alcohol so they can copy encrypted CDs?

Like I said, my mind was just wandering. What do you think? What makes you steal software (if you do at all)? Cost? The "thrill"? Something else? And if you do, would you feel the same if you went into a store and stole a stereo? Or would you never dream of stealing something "real"?

 

[notfred]

That's like asking where shoplifting came from and why it exists. Cause people like to get things without having to work for them, that's why.

 

[Jhill]

IMHO microsoft want windows to be fairly easy to pirate so it stays mainstream and people don't switch to linux. I think they would rather someone pirate windows xp rather than swith to linux and start learning linux. Microsoft doesn't make or lose a dime either way and their product is getting used and keeping linux down.

I'm not condoning piracy at all though.

 

[silverpig]

I think that a big part of the reason why it started was just because it could be done. Then there's the "let's see if we can break this new security" coming in as well. That's probably why crackers do what they do. As for people who download pirated stuff, well there are a number of reasons, the biggest one probably being not wanting to pay.

Personally, I do it on occasion if there isn't a demo of a game out because 3 times now I've gone out and spent $60 on a game to find out that it sucks or runs like ass on my computer.

 

[calpha]

Piracy existed way before the internet came into use. Back when Macs were the thing.....before winders 95, and before AOL.....there were all kinds of BBSes where you could swap software.

That being said....piracy will always exist. The reason people download it is to save $, while the reason that crackers do it is for the challenge. Even if M$ft comes out with Paladdin in full force....it's just an open challenge to the cracker community to find away around it. And a matter of time before that propagates onto Warez/IRC Boards.

What can they do about it? Well pricing for one, and licensing for two. I build all my own PCs....and if I could run Linux on all of them, I would. But my biggest pet peeve right now is licensing. I do own a large majority of the software that I use, but I'm technically still a pirate, since I have two copies of XP (plus one OEM).....and I have 6 computers. I will forever refuse to pay for 5 copies of photoshop, or 5 copies of Visual Studio to run on diff't pcs.

But, over the next 10 years....I don't think that piracy will threaten software companies near as much as Open Source will.

But on the same hand....even if Adobe charged $20 a product, and M$ft charged $20 a product..there's still be piracy. And there will continue to be unless one of them comes up with a way to get a 5 year upgrade license for under $100.