You need to make a distinction between principles and reality. His
principles are quite sound, "While I think that using crack s/w is a
no-no...", but he has illustrated a point with which I agree.
In reality, pirated software doesn't cost the industry XX millions of
dollars, because that figure assumes that all people who have pirated
copies would pay for the software if they were unable to obtain a pirated
version. This is mostly not the case. Many people will not pay $600 for
photoshop, but will use it if it happens to be there.
This realization about the skewed economics that software companies have
been pushing is a completely separate issue than whether it's right or
wrong. I think we can all agree that pirating software is wrong, but as
for it's true impact on the bottom line, it's not as significant as we are
led to think.
---
Brian Mathis
Direct Edge
On Tue, 30 Nov 1999, Charles Rezsonya wrote:
> >> Not to mention that this isn't just copyright infringement - cracking
> >> software to remove the need for paid registration is theft. It always
> >> amazes me how many people wouldn't dream of stealing from a
> >> shop/bank/whatever but are quite happy to pirate software... even for
> some
> >> absurdly low registration fee.
> >
> >While I think that using crack s/w is a no-no, your analogy is flawed.
> >When you rob a bank/whatever, you are actually depriving someone of
> >something. When a person uses crack s/w, they are probably not taking
> >something away from anyone because they would NOT have registered
> >anyway. With me, it's principle.
>
> well sorry to say, your principles are pretty messed up. picture this,
> you go to the bank and withdraw money that you put there. in order to get
> something you hafta put something in its place. if you copy something or
> illegally register something what are you doing? your taking something that
> in a normal and LEGAL instance you would put something in its place.
>
> so to summerize this, doesn't matter if you don't register to not get it
> and say "my principle", you won't get something if you don't give
> something.
>
> fix your damn principles!!
> (anyone agree???)
