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Why do people consider pirating software different than stealing?

S

Sideswipe001

Golden Member
Anyone out there into psychology, have any ideas as to why people, when copying software, are much less apt to consider it stealing than going to the store and shoplifting a copy?

We all know this is the case, but...why? Why doesn't someone's consience kick in on them the same way?
 
because many people that pirate software wouldn't have actually purchased the software...they only grab it because it's free. and since it's a digital copy the company hasn't actually lost a material product that could have been purchased by another person.
 
Many reasons...

First off, it doesn't involve the possibility of getting caught and going to jail in their mind. Secondly, it doesn't involve a physical act of stealing, which is somewhat of a factor. Third, there's the rationalization that they would be seeing or owning it eventually anyway.

Those are the ones I can think of.
 
Originally posted by: toekramp
because many people that pirate software wouldn't have actually purchased the software...they only grab it because it's free. and since it's a digital copy the company hasn't actually lost a material product that could have been purchased by another person.
Click to expand...

Well put.

(Not that I'm a pirate) 😛
 
why, because to try it out. i know plenty of people who if you delete some programs, they won't even notice because it's just been sitting on their harddrive for the past 2-3 years.
 
I think toekramp hit it on the money. If I'm using it because I managed to get it, and wouldn't use it otherwise, what harm does that do? Hell, it might even do GOOD if they get into the workplace and recommend it to employers.

Of course, you can argue that even just playing around with it, you gain experience you could use in the real world....

The other popular one is "I'm a college student, I can't afford it" mentallity 🙂
 
Originally posted by: toekramp
because many people that pirate software wouldn't have actually purchased the software...they only grab it because it's free. and since it's a digital copy the company hasn't actually lost a material product that could have been purchased by another person.
Click to expand...


Yep, I'd have to agree with that. I get very annoyed when the RIAA says downloading music is stealing. It isn't stealing, it's copyright infringement. Many people when they download wouldn't have been buying it anyway, so the company isn't losing money on that. However, if someone actually steals the physical medium, production prices are lost. At any rate, I don't advocate stealing or copyright infringement: go without or fork out the cash.
 
Originally posted by: toekramp
because many people that pirate software wouldn't have actually purchased the software...they only grab it because it's free. and since it's a digital copy the company hasn't actually lost a material product that could have been purchased by another person.
Click to expand...

I think these are indeed the main factors in why people don't think it's stealing. I am not saying it's right or wrong but I am sure you hit the main points.
 
digital only version = virtually free to duplicate and distribute
digital version on analog media = actual cd and packaging, physical materials taken without anything in exchange

if you were a baker and could make as many loaves of bread as you wanted with negligible costs in time or money, would you mind giving them away free? thats the predicament with digital piracy. the actual data has NO VALUE bc it costs nothing to dupilcate. on the other hand, the bakers unique recipe has value due to its originality and uniqueness. how do you put a price on that?


 
Originally posted by: toekramp
because many people that pirate software wouldn't have actually purchased the software...they only grab it because it's free. and since it's a digital copy the company hasn't actually lost a material product that could have been purchased by another person.
Click to expand...

Very well put. Basically what i think
 
I like the argument, "because we aren't stealing, we wouldn't have bought it anyway."

I think that is only half true. Many times you aren't buying it because you CAN get it free.
 
It is free to replicate - but someone did spend hours creating it. I have only known one person who was a "stickler" about piracy, and that was because he was a programmer. He felt bad taking other people's software for free, because he didn't want his software to be taken for free.

I see the merits both ways; I am just amazed at how little it tweaks the consience of a person to replicate in that way.
 
It's not just the digital medium alone. It's also what you do with it. I doubt many people would consider it ok to steal the stuff then sell it for a profit (ugh... reminds me how stupid I am, see my other thread which should be renamed torpid is a stupid piracy supporter).
 
Piracy is different from stealing because stealing deprives the original owner of something, while piracy merely copies and does not deprive anyone of anything. Hypothetically it could deprive a company of the money that they WOULD have made were the person to have bought the thing that they pirated had it not been otherwise available, but in most instances that I've seen this is not the case. (For example, a person downloading photoshop in order to participate in a SA or Fark contest would probably not have spent the $600 on the product to do just that, but they did pirate the software because it was easy.) Walking into a Walmart and making off with a CD puts walmart out the cost of the CD, where downloading it does not. It doesn't justify piracy, but it distinguishes it from theft IMHO.
 
I think it's because there is no physical product. Just something tangible the company has produced. I had this same argument with many customers who snuck into movies when I worked at a theatre. They are stealing the service we provide, the physical space (which could go to a *paying* customer), and the use of the facility. When a customer told me I was full of it I told them what did they buy exactly when they purchased their ticket and it usually got them to leave.
 
steal Audio pronunciation of "stealing" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (stl)
v. stole, (stl) sto·len, (stln) steal·ing, steals
v. tr.

1. To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
2. To get or effect surreptitiously or artfully: steal a kiss; stole the ball from an opponent.
3. To move, carry, or place surreptitiously.
4. To draw attention unexpectedly in (an entertainment), especially by being the outstanding performer: The magician's assistant stole the show with her comic antics.
5. Baseball. To advance safely to (another base) during the delivery of a pitch, without the aid of a base hit, walk, passed ball, or wild pitch.


v. intr.

1. To commit theft.
2. To move, happen, or elapse stealthily or unobtrusively.
3. Baseball. To steal a base.


n.

1. The act of stealing.
2. Slang. A bargain.
3. Baseball. A stolen base.


Idiom:
steal (someone's) thunder
 
Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Piracy is different from stealing because stealing deprives the original owner of something, while piracy merely copies and does not deprive anyone of anything. Hypothetically it could deprive a company of the money that they WOULD have made were the person to have bought the thing that they pirated had it not been otherwise available, but in most instances that I've seen this is not the case. (For example, a person downloading photoshop in order to participate in a SA or Fark contest would probably not have spent the $600 on the product to do just that, but they did pirate the software because it was easy.) Walking into a Walmart and making off with a CD puts walmart out the cost of the CD, where downloading it does not. It doesn't justify piracy, but it distinguishes it from theft IMHO.
Click to expand...

Right on the dot!
Stealing is definited as the original owner took a loss and does not have the original item anymore.
Thus, pirating isn't considered stealing, but breach of intellectual property.
 
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