Your Opinions of Pirating Software

Lord MJ · Post by **Lord MJ** » 2003-02-10 01:03am

Although it is mighty tempting to use pirated copies of commercial software, I tend to avoid it, even though my Computer Science colleagues do it all the time.

I oppose it for moral & religious reasons.

Plus I plan to sell software one day, and I wont want people pirating copies of my software.

I don't however have much opposition to violating licenses that say you may only in stall the software on only 1 computer. If I own 5 computers in my house, I have to buy 5 copies on windows? Uhh no.

Lets hear your opinions, is downloading software off of Kazaa stealing? Is it immoral?

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-02-10 01:43am

To me it isn't as much right as it is simply necessary.

Piracy is the reason there is a computer market here AT ALL, because computer and software companies couldn't be bothered to bring their stuff all the way here, and now they can't be bothered to charge less than 200% the base price even if a computer analyst/programmer makes 25% the amount a guy who basically flips burgers earns in the US.

So there.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-02-10 01:45am

Some piracy is good. Microsoft for example; pirating their stuff is a way of saying, "Screw you!!" to their monopolistic practices in a way.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2003-02-10 01:56am

Lord MJ wrote:Although it is mighty tempting to use pirated copies of commercial software, I tend to avoid it, even though my Computer Science colleagues do it all the time.

I oppose it for moral & religious reasons.

Plus I plan to sell software one day, and I wont want people pirating copies of my software.

I don't however have much opposition to violating licenses that say you may only in stall the software on only 1 computer. If I own 5 computers in my house, I have to buy 5 copies on windows? Uhh no.

Lets hear your opinions, is downloading software off of Kazaa stealing? Is it immoral?

I generally refuse to download software off Kazaa. For that matter, I tend to refuse to use Kazaa period. I prefer to acquire much of my software legally. Though I'm not too hot about the idea of paying multiple times just to put copies of software on all my computers. This is one of the reasons why I refuse to upgrade to XP.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-02-10 02:23am

I never pirate games at all. Pretty much all games have demo's now and if I like the demo I buy the game. I want the game company to get credit for their product.

I have legal copies of Windows but "technically" they belong the a company that has gone out of business. Im not sure how this works, because most of the software that I took would have gone into the garbage. I will admit it is definately a grey area.

Ive downloaded a few applications on Kazaa to see how they work or accomplish a single task. But anything I use on a regular basis I will buy for myself. ( Diskeeper, Partition Magic, Ghost and couple other minor ones. )

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2003-02-10 02:30am

I don't do it, I think its just wrong. But as Lord MJ said, I'm not gonna go out and buy a second copy of the software to install it on the computer sitting right next to this one

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-02-10 02:37am

It is wrong. However, at times people, including myself, just don't really care.

Especially when the company imposes a copy protection scheme which fucks up and doesn't allow me to use their legally bought copy forcing me to find a cracked version.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-02-10 04:53am

It is just way too tempting to resist.

Post by **Edi** » 2003-02-10 06:53am

I tend to make a point of buying the software I use and need, but there are some exceptions. I've few qualms about people pirating MS software for the reasons Shinova posted, though if possible, I myself will use alternatives (e.g. Open Office nstead of MS Office). Sometimes it's just necessary, however. If I need e.g. Matlab for some math course project, and it isn't available from my school, I'm not shelling out several thousand euros for it.

Then there's what a friend of mine said, that in order to learn to use many sorts of software you simply need to play around with them and learn how to screw up and how not to, in case you happen to need it at your work or something like that. So he used a pirate copy to familiarise himself with such programs and then later deleted them and bought the software legally.

I won't pirate games, if I like something enough that I want to play it, I'll buy it. Abandonware doesn't count, of course.

Edi

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-02-10 07:54am

If the software is sold at a reasonable price pirating is wrong but if the price is above $200 then i think they are asking for it.

Post by **Edi** » 2003-02-10 08:05am

That depends, actually. Some software that costs a lot does so deservedly, developing certain types of stuff is expensive and difficult, and if it works as it should (which automatically disqualifies a lot of MS software), it's not asking for it. Why don't you check what e.g. a current version of Matlab costs at retail? It's a hell of a lot more than $200, and to many people it's worth the price and even necessary to do their work.

Just taking the approach that any software that costs more than $200 is too much and thus deserves to be pirated marks people doing so as imbeciles and morons.

Edi

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » 2003-02-10 08:50am

My opinion pirating software is wrong, software companies deserve compensation for their product (even microsoft, wait what am i saying???). However I still occasionally pirate some software, but only things which I need, and could never afford, or things which I would never buy anyway, but my friends force me to try. I try to avoid it as much as possible, but sometimes I give in. And I agree I am not going to pay for software twice to use it on my two computers.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-02-10 08:57am

At one point I was a rabid software pirate, mostly games. But now that I'm not a starving student, and I can afford to buy the software I need, I don't pirate stuff anymore...

... with one big, expensive exception: AutoCAD, which I've been doing since version 2. Now Autodesk can complain all they want, but my use of AutoCAD as doodling software since I was a teenager means I'm a guru now, which helps encourage my employer (Autodesk's real customers) to keep AutoCAD. Thankfully, my company's Solidworks license allows me a home copy

Lets hear your opinions, is downloading software off of Kazaa stealing? Is it immoral?

I would say YES it is stealing. Is it immoral? I think that's the harder question. If you were not planning on purchasing the software, no harm is being done. In my AutoCAD case, I justify it that I'm actually helping Autodesk; they'd probably agree to my using it but can't for obvious legal reasons; and that my need to keep current with AutoCAD outweighs the non-existent harm to Autodesk.

However, when I was a rabid pirate, I must admit that I would often justify the pirating of games with this excuse, when I was in fact I was the company's desired customer, and enjoyed the game. Many of the game I *would* have purchased, so in this case I think that was immoral.

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2003-02-10 11:39am

Nope, because it is stealing and it does hurt people.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-02-10 11:41am

Alferd Packer wrote:Nope, because it is stealing and it does hurt people.

Bill Gates and his programmers are people?

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2003-02-10 11:45am

Shinova wrote:
Alferd Packer wrote:Nope, because it is stealing and it does hurt people.
Bill Gates and his programmers are people?

As much as we hate to think about it, yes. But I tend to think more about programmers for small studios trying to get their first game off the ground, except their company folds because too many people are pirating it. So, I do my part, and buy the games/programs I like.

EDIT: And don't use/play the ones I don't pay for.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2003-02-10 09:50pm

I never pirate programs, only taking songs I can't find anywhere else, or sometimes images. Even being the cheapskate that I am, I believe that people who make decent products should be compensated for their work.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2003-02-10 10:00pm

i buy my software legally.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-10 10:14pm

I buy software. However, I don't have a problem with people stealing Microsoft software, because they are price-gouging dirty-business criminals and while they successfully used influence-peddling to get themselves off with a slap on the wrist, they have no right to claim protection under the law as far as I'm concerned. They were found guilty but not seriously punished. They are criminals.

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2003-02-10 10:49pm

I have only pirated one program in my entire life, and only because it was way out ofmy price range. If my financial situation improved, however, I would not hesitate to buy a legit copy.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-02-11 01:43am

I've only purchased about 10-15 music CDs in my life, and they were all classical music (it's difficult to find specific recordings of classical pieces online). That said, according to the file search I just ran, I have 10252 mp3s, the vast majority of which were downloaded.
I have several prominent, expensive programs that I downloaded illegally.
I'd say most of my games are purchased, though a whole lot of them have been downloaded. I'd dl them all if I could get good rips of them. I have a lot of games that I have both purchased and dled (GTA3, for example).
I also have several divx movies that I've downloaded.
I also have made illegal copies of DVDs before.

I'm sure there's some sort of ethical problem in all that, and I'll stop pirating software as soon as I'm likely to get caught. Hell, I'd rob banks if I thought I could get away with it.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-02-11 01:48am

Darth Wong wrote:I buy software. However, I don't have a problem with people stealing Microsoft software, because they are price-gouging dirty-business criminals and while they successfully used influence-peddling to get themselves off with a slap on the wrist, they have no right to claim protection under the law as far as I'm concerned. They were found guilty but not seriously punished. They are criminals.

The question is, why would you want to pirate MS shit? I'd rather pay for a copy of WordPerfect than use a pirated version of Word.

Thunderfire · Post by **Thunderfire** » 2003-02-11 02:52am

I buy most of my software. I mostly download videos/movies , MP3s,
out of print books & abandonware.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-02-11 03:25am

I buy most games. I also download ALL of my music and get my Windows software by Sneakernet (passing CD-Rs back and forth from friends). I refuse to use M$ software beyond Windows because I don't need any more bugs, security holes, and spyware than the bare-bones minimum I can get away with; plus there's Open Source options for every MS product out. Abandonware, MP3s, and porn I have no problems with whatsoever. I also have a CD burner and an ISO Ripper that gets a LOT of use too.

I also like to run Kazaa Lite for hours on end just letting everyone leech my wares. They're here for the taking, and I spent hundreds of hours building the 25 Gigabyte collection of MP3s, warez, and porn. I want to make it easier for everyone else to get what they want or need.

EDIT: <RANT>God Damn Motherfucking shitfucking pissant typo! DEATH TO THE FUCKING TYPO!</RANT>

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-02-11 03:33am

I only pirate games I don't plan on buying, like Return to Castle Wofenstein. I mean sure, it's pretty fun, but...

Zombie Nazi cyborgs? What the flying fuck?

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Your Opinions of Pirating Software

Your Opinions of Pirating Software

Re: Your Opinions of Pirating Software