RSSPiracy Hurting Software Industry Growth
By Ed Oswald | Published December 8, 2005, 12:00 PM
Over one-third of the world's software is pirated, and groups considered legitimate business in some countries are contributing to the problem, a study released Thursday by research firm IDC said. The issue of piracy may also be preventing the industry from growing overall.
The study was a joint effort between the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and IDC.
The global piracy rate stands at 35 percent, down just 1 percent from the previous year. A trend towards organized forms of piracy is occurring, researchers found, and it appears some of these groups are actually considered legitimate businesses in some third-world countries.
Still, there has been great success in some regions in the battle against piracy. For example, over the past 13 years in Europe, the piracy rate has fallen from 80 to 35 percent. However, this number is still twenty times the shoplifting rate of retail stores, IDC said.
If the worldwide rate of piracy could be reduced by 10 percent over the next four years, the study claims 2.4 million new jobs would be created, along with $400 billion of economic growth and $67 billion in additional tax revenues.
Furthermore, the IT sector could grow as much as 45 percent by 2009 rather than the 33 percent that is currently forecasted.
"With this report, we are able to further quantify the positive benefits that countries across the world can experience as a result of stronger intellectual property protection and greater education and awareness," said John Gantz, Chief Research Officer of IDC.
The study found that the United States enjoyed the lowest piracy rate, at 21 percent. Still, a 10 percent drop in the piracy rate over four years could result in a $125 billion boost to the nations economy.
The worst offenders are China and Russia, where piracy rates were at 90 and 87 percent respectively. The government has pledged to ensure all software in government institutions is legal by the end of the year, and across state-owned companies by the end of next year.
Microsoft on Thursday expressed its support for the BSA's work, and agreed with the study's findings.
"At Microsoft we believe that our customers want to be sure they are purchasing and using genuine software. We remain committed to advancing education among consumers to identify and obtain genuine software," Microsoft senior vice president Orlando Ayala said in a statement.
"Microsoft is also continuing to invest heavily in engineering world-class anti-counterfeiting technologies to protect our intellectual property, and to supporting government and law enforcement on enforcement actions against counterfeiters."
Just been reading the posts on this story. There are some very angry people out there, and some with a badly set moral compass.
Buying software is a choice - sometimes a hard choice. There is some really nice software that I would like to buy but which I cannot afford - so I don't buy it and I don't steal it. I simply don't have it. It is the same reason why I don't have a fancy car in my garage.
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|Why bother stealing things like NORTON anti-virus. Better alternatives are free. The basic Zonealarm firewall is free too. Both ADOBE and competitors distribute PDF readers at no cost.
I own both the oringinal Windows XP retail box software and VLK SP-2 on a custom made CD rom. The latter is easier to install and use as needed without a lot of BS...
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|All you educated hypocites need to start looking at the facts instead of preaching your thoughts and yes, I call you hypocrites, especially the ones who are preaching "Stealing is illegal" You can not tell me that you in your short life have not ever stole something or lied. Point made. Now, all I have done here is offer some reason's as to why pirating is happening and you all accuse me of doing it, LOL. I have paid for my software and have had software given to me as well as given software of mine away. I see nothing illegal about that at all. Hell, half of you that seem to "know it all" can't even spell and I am not talking about a simple typo either. Get an education and study up on some facts before you go preaching. I have not encouraged any pirated software here, only offered reason's as to why people do it. I think it is time for you idiots to let go of momma's tit before you bite her nipple off. Get a job and find out for yourself and see how hard it is to make it in the real world instead of crying. Mommy and Daddy are not gonna be there forever to buy you what you want all the time.
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|"You can not tell me that you in your short life have not ever stole something or lied. Point made"
What point? I stole a candy bar when I was a kid, so that suddenly makes it ok for me to steal music now? I didn't realize in your farm that it's ok to steal your crop because "everybody is doing it!".
"I have paid for my software and have had software given to me as well as given software of mine away"
It's ok to GIVE your software away, stop using it and give it to someone else, that's legal. Go to the store, make a copy of the software and take it home without paying, not legal. Very easy to understand for anybody outside of a farm that at least has a HS education.
"Get an education and study up on some facts before you go preaching"
What facts are you talking about? Oh...you're talking about the FACT that stealing is illegal? The fact that pirating is stealing...which there is a law against, and which also makes it illegal. That fact?
"Mommy and Daddy are not gonna be there forever to buy you what you want all the time."
So what you're saying is...mommy and daddy won't be around forever, so you better start stealing?
None of your insults to the entire betanews audience changes the fact that pirating=stealing=illegal. Now I'm sure one day you'll decide to get off your farm, ride your bicycle to a school and start reading a book or two...and one day, you'll go out and try to change the law so that stealing becomes ok because "everybody does it and money is too hard to come by to use up on software!".
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|Isn't IGNORANCE wonderful¿
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|I don't know...why don't you tell us....you would know better then anybody.
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|Piracy is stupid, there is enough free software out there that there is absolutely no excuse to steal software.
Hell, Windows comes with 99% of the computers out there. Just add GIMP, Sodipodi, Pan, GAIM, Filezilla, OpenOffice, Nvu, Gnumeric, Thunderbird, Firefox, and x number of other quality free packages to it and you have a perfectly functional desktop at no cost other than the price of your computer.
If you didn't get Windows with your computer then use Linux or FreeBSD. All of the above applications will still work flawlessly. (except filezilla?)
Anyone that would argue that it's not good enough should suck it up and spend the money on commercial replacements then. :-P
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|Damn straight.
Thank you.
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|so many people only buy the software brand instead of buying the real software. why ? because they did not want to consider using the laternative, if that is not come from big brand maker.
it is areal problems
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|I came from 'that place'. I can't rationalize it...I was 14-17, I knew it was stealing but I didn't have the money and I wanted the programs. I'm hoping this is the case for most people. Now I buy everything I need for my PC that costs money, because I have the money. Sure, I have friends that still steal stuff but I try to get them to buy - and you know what, it works....why? Because when a program is a value, then I don't think people will mind shelling some cash to buy it. I'd never buy XP Pro for 300, but it's 100 now and well worth it so why would I download it illegally? Anything I don't want to buy because it costs too much, I do without. And I think this is what people need to realize. If you need a car but don't have the money to buy one, you don't steal it right? So what makes software any different? I hope I don't get flamed, hell if I do...who the hell cares, that's just how I see things nowadays. I equated stealing software back in the day to finding 20 bux on the streetside, but that's not how it is, and maybe I did that to make myself feel better - but now, there's no excuse, I know better...and so should the majority out there. Stealing, is stealing, is stealing. If the people in China can't afford a piece of software, they just have to do without it (it sounds cold, but it's true). People in Ethiopia don't have the money to buy food, so they starve. There's a difference there, but there's also the relation. That's just how life is. Perhaps the noble thing to do then, is make the majority of software dual versioned, with 1 being ad supported and the other being paid for, and thus adless.
The thing that many of the thieves out there don't realize is the more you pirate something, the higher the risk that software company will go kaput, then you'll have to do without. And I know a good bunch of you have seen what happens when that happens - they get bought out, taken over, sucked up...you name it, the bottom line is, the people who were working on a really good project can no longer afford to work on it. So the company either dies or gets taken over and another team of people take the program over. Piracy also scares many good programmers away from projects. It may seem like no biggie, since there are hundreds of thousands of others, but imagine if that 1 person with that 1 great idea decides 'not to' because he/she knows that they won't get paid for their time or work?
Sure, this isn't exactly the case for MS things....but I'm talking all the smaller 10-30 programs that most of us who own computers can afford. Some times it's the little things that matter.
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|Of course it hurts.
Copy, and no buy.
Loss money, duh!
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|Where I live it isn't downloads and isn't people who rationalize theft.
You can buy any software title on any street for under $2.00.
Any CD or DVD for that matter.
I buy useful software. I like to have tools I use developed and have support for them.
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|my favorite free program is azureus. it gives you windows, office, norton, adobe, civIV etc..
Then to top it all off you shouldnt buy a new computer, instead you should buy the parts and piece together your own machine, then load the freebies from azureus.
after building a 3,000 dollar computer, it seems rediculous to purchase 3,000 dollars worth of software!!
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|I think it's true that these numbers are highly dubious. Perhaps the best thing that will happen to open source software is if the commercial makers make pirating nearly impossible. Let's face it, it's not rocket science to make software very difficult to copy. We all know software makers that do this. Many more people would be using linux or open office if they had to shell out the hundreds and hundreds this software retails for. I'm sure it's a deliberate strategy of many software makers to permit a certain amount of pirating, because many pirates also purchase software, and they tell friends about software.
Also, not everyone is in a position to afford steep software prices, especially in places like China and Russia. How many month's salary would that software be for these folks? It seems unfair.
The other main issue is that most software is junk and hardly worth paying for. There's poor service, bugs up the wazoo, but often there is little choice on the market, because of the unfair dominance of a few big players. Pirating is sometimes viewed as a form of protest against grossly rich software makers. Do you really believe that you need to help old Bill out with his bank balance? Did you even have a choice the last time you bought a major brand computer whether or not Bill got his cut? Is that fair? Anyhow, let's not get on the topic of corporate fairness. Who pays to bail these companies out when they go bust? You and me.
I personally think that piracy is a kind of stealing that is quite dissimilar to other kinds. Firstly, if you copy something, you don't use anything up. Which makes it a lot different than stealing something from a store, like a banana, or whatever. Also, you're not necessarily taking money from the owner of the licence, since it's unlikely you would ever have bought it (at least at that time), indeed, you're likely to have given further power to something like Linux instead.
So, let's talk about fairness too. We get Microsoft on their big horse, but how many of us have had no choice but to give this company money? My heart doesn't bleed for Microsoft, or Symantec, or Adobe, or...
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|Very well put. It seems real funny that as the time fly's, computer prices are dropping and software prices keep going up with poor software. For the home user to spend $250.00+ for MS office, something that they will never get thier money's worth is not worth it. For the Music industry, all these artist's are raking in our money, blowing it on booze and drugs and doing stupid things all the time, is that what we intended our money to go¿ Until they make it reasonable priced, the illegal downloads and copies will keep on going. I think alot of companies and artist's need to take a deep look at what Garth Brooks has done and is doing, he is not concerned with the profits, all his concerns is that people are happy. Now wouldn't that be a hard concept to swallow¿
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|Because your a thief! And then you try to justify it.
But if it were your product I bet you would give a damn!
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|Lets see...
" For the home user to spend $250.00+ for MS office, something that they will never get thier money's worth is not worth it"
If you're not going to get $250 worth out of office then don't buy it...just like if you're not going to get $15k worth out of a car buy a cheaper car. How often do you use outlook? Word? Excel? I bet you use alot of outlook and Word...wether that's wroth $250 to you or not is up to you...but if it's not worth it to you then you have no right to use the software. Buy something else that's cheaper and more worth it to you.
"or the Music industry, all these artist's are raking in our money, blowing it on booze and drugs and doing stupid things all the time, is that what we intended our money to go¿"
It doesn't matter where the money would go...you're still stealing. I'd love to hear what you have to say when your boss withholds your paycheck because he thinks you might get drunk on the weekend.
"I think alot of companies and artist's need to take a deep look at what Garth Brooks has done and is doing, he is not concerned with the profits, all his concerns is that people are happy."
Why don't you make the people you work for happy and work for free?? That concept too hard to swallow for you?
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|"Also, not everyone is in a position to afford steep software prices, especially in places like China and Russia. How many month's salary would that software be for these folks? It seems unfair"
Why not give them free cars, water, food, housing...why should they have to pay for that stuff since they're so poor?? Seems so unfair. Matter of fact...I need to get a free porsche...I don't make 200k it's unfair that I have to spend $80k on a porsche.
"The other main issue is that most software is junk and hardly worth paying for. There's poor service, bugs up the wazoo, but often there is little choice on the market, because of the unfair dominance of a few big players"
OHH OK! This software sucks lets steal it!! Kia's cars are crappy, lets take them!!
"Pirating is sometimes viewed as a form of protest against grossly rich software makers. Do you really believe that you need to help old Bill out with his bank balance?"
The guy that stole a porsche tried to use the same argument...he was protesting agianst porsche and thought that the President of the company was too rich. Oh yea...he's in jail now.
"Did you even have a choice the last time you bought a major brand computer whether or not Bill got his cut?"
Sure...you can buy a PC with no OS and install Linux, you can build your own with no OS and install Linux.
"Who pays to bail these companies out when they go bust? You and me"
When'd this happen? I didn't pay anybody when enron went bust.
"I personally think that piracy is a kind of stealing that is quite dissimilar to other kinds. Firstly, if you copy something, you don't use anything up."
It's stealing, and it's against the law. The store technically doesn't lose an item, but it did lose potential money. You're using the software without a license, and that's illegal no matter what way you try to cut it, you can't possibly justify it, it's illegal, black and white...very easy to understand. If pirating was impossible, you probably would of bought the software if you really wanted...otherwise you would of dealt with not having the software.
Bottom line...piracy is illegal, there's no way around that FACT. Even if you never intended to purchase the software, you're using it and you're not paying people that have worked VERY hard to create it. I'm not a developer, but I work with developers and I know how hard they work. You'r withholding money from them and it's not fair. What if your boss withheld a paycheck from you one week and said "oh...we never intended to pay you for that week"...how happy will you be?
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|It is so nice to see all the ignorance come out. BTW I work for no one. Unless you consider the crops and meat that I produce then you could say I work for the consumer but, I don't try to steal from the consumer to make my pocket books look good, I sell my product @ fair market value and that is EASY to swallow.
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|Ignorance of who? You're breaking the law plain and simple by stealing music, and you're ignorant for not seeing that.
How about this, I'll come to your farm and take all your crop and meat, and then tell you I'm not stealing I wasn't going to buy it anyway...you'd like that wouldn't you?
How about some guy opens up shop right next to you and starts giving out the same exact thing you're trying to sell for free...who's going to come to you? Everything is free right next door and it's the same quality...no money for you, but we're not stealing any actual product from you...potential customers lost? Lets see you survive then.
And...i don't really care what you do...my examples apply to most americans...just because you're a farmer doesn't mean it's invalid.
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|Like I said, IGNORANCE. If someone opened up a stand next to me or shop and started giving away grain and beef, more power to them. They won't be there very long to even worry about. And who said I was stealing anything you ignorant moron, did I say that¿ Besides you so called educated idiots are not grasping the concept here, it is a product that is drastically OVER-PRICED!! If it was reasonably priced and had better support and less expirations, then there would be no or limited pirated software, you do the math. If my nieghbor bought some software for such a price that was only good for so much time, I would gladly pay him half of what he paid and use a copy of his, at least we both would be getting our money's worth. Read that again, there is a key word there, can you find it¿
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|"hey won't be there very long to even worry about"
It was a hypothetical scenerio...education would of tought you what that means.
"And who said I was stealing anything you ignorant moron, did I say that¿"
Not talking to you specifically but in general...again education would of showed you how that works you upside down questionmark maniac.
"it is a product that is drastically OVER-PRICED!!"
So don't buy it, nobody is forcing you to. If you take it without paying, you're stealing, no matter how much it's selling for.
"at least we both would be getting our money's worth. Read that again, there is a key word there, can you find it¿"
If it's not worth the money to you, don't use it. If, however, you decide it's not worth $100 but it's worth $50, so suddenly that buys you the right to steal it...then you're wrong (again, education will teach you that, get off your farm and go to school), and you're breaking the law....
Breaking the LAW...does that make any sense to you? You don't like the law...try changing it, until you do, if you break it...you pay the consequence. Is it that hard to grasp in your farmland?
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|I can understand why some people download pirate programs it's because the cost of software adds up fast and many companies don't have proper fully functional trialware for people to try out unlike many other things when you go to the store you can't examine it other than looking at pictures on the box.
Before i get flamed by the anti pirates for this view i do not have any pirated software open source and freeware have given me everything i need since i don't need anything fancy but should i feel the need to spend $50 bucks and up you better beleive it i would like to kinda test it out first.
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|It's funny. What people don't understand is this: If I were using Pirated Software and someone called me on it and said "either remove that software or pay for it." I would remove it and not use it. If I actually had to pay for the software I would not pay and I would not use it.
All their data is so freaking wrong it's funny. There are millions of people out there who would not use it if they didn't get it for free via Piracy. They would simply be using something else. So the software companies would not be getting any more money because the people that are using pirated versions would simply use something free if they were ever forced to pay for the software they have.
People don't get that.
I bet piracy actually makes software companies more money. Reason being is that people get a taste for something and like it so much they buy it. Like I have done with software like Diskeeper, and Partition Magic. If I never would have gotten a "free" version I would never have downloaded the "trial" and I would never have bought it.
People whine whine whine but the piracy numbers are retardedly off base.
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|So your point is what if you were never going to use it to begin with, why not use something else. Why pirate it? hmmm.
Anyway you look at it, it's stealing!
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|"I bet piracy actually makes software companies more money. Reason being is that people get a taste for something and like it so much they buy it. Like I have done with software like Diskeeper, and Partition Magic. If I never would have gotten a "free" version I would never have downloaded the "trial" and I would never have bought it."
That's probably the only point I'll SOMEWHAT agree with....take diskkeeper as an example...if I never used it personally at home...I probably wouldn't have recommended to my company...and my company wouldn't have purchase 3000 licenses.
On the other hand...it's my job to understand what's out there, and diskkeeper will give you a free trial...so nevermind I take that back.
It's still stealing, and it's still illegal.
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|PIRACY IS STEALING!
STEALING IS ILLEGAL!
ENOUGH SAID!
THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR STEALING OR PIRATING SOFTWARE! NONE!!!!!
Update:
One thing you people have to remember. Companies like Microsoft have to Pay people that had to pay for school, and spend 4 years or more of their life in school to get these jobs. If you were a programmer and just spend 4 years in college and got a job with M$, would you work for free?? Hell no! I know I don't work for free, I work to get paid, and the companies that are paying their employees have to make money to pay their employees, if the company doesn't make any money, the employee's don't get paid and people loose jobs. Also remember, M$ for example has teams of programmers and software writers working around the clock to make sure that they deliver the best quality product to you, yes it's not "perfect" and you will have problems, but they are working hard to fix the problems. When you buy Windows XP Professional for $149 (example) you're not just buying an Operating system. Your also buying 24hr technical support, Lifetime updates and bug fixes for the software, etc. Remember, companies like this are here to make a profit so they can provide jobs for people like me and you. No Profit, No money, means no jobs.
Example: http://www.betanews.com/...indows_Fixes/1134073338
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|stop whining
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|"Your also buying 24hr technical support, "
From Microsoft? Wow...where the hell do you live?
I've never gotten free support from MS. Never.
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|lol when you buy the "Boxed" version, you get like 30 days free lol
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|Grow up :)
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|30 days? Wow.
That sucks.
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|Yeah, it does. But M$ is the only company that offers such little time. (that I know of) Companies like trend micro offer it for the life of your subscription (when you buy Anti-virus, you're not paying for the software, your paying a subscription to use the software and the ability to recive updates) I know Corel offers 24hr tech support on all of their products, So does Adobe and Macromedia.
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|One thing you do not realize is like I said, it is over priced. with what they are charging, all thier employees and thier educations plus thier childrens educations are paid for and then some. so quit your complaining and go buy yourself a new blanky with all that money you save buying all that software to support someone else's pocket book.
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|From what I can gather from your rants, 1., you are a hypocrite and 2., you was left on momma's nipple way too long.
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|Also to make your point more wrong, "When you buy Windows XP Professional for $149 (example) you're not just buying an Operating system. Your also buying 24hr technical support, Lifetime updates and bug fixes for the software, etc" You are sadly mistaken there, I bought 3.1, 95 a and b, 98 and 2000 now XP look back and see how much money that I wasted in the first place, most of those editions are needless as well with XP soon. If whatyou are saying is true then when I bought 3.1, shouldn't I get all the newer versions updated for free and not have to pay¿ Most of the new software out now days will not run on the older versions therefor you are forced to upgrade at what ever they charge you. Does any part of this sound like a pyramid¿ HMMM, and how much is ol Bill worth¿ Do the math and do some research before you try to defend something you have no idea what you are talking about.
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|Give it up dude, your just wrong!
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|24 hr technical support?
NOOOOO
You get Installation support, + 2 instances of technical support. If your copy of Windows came with your PC then your vendor has to support it themselves.
http://www.microsoft.com...xp/support/default.mspx
"2 support request(s) submitted online or by a phone call are included at no charge. Unlimited installation support is available by phone at no charge.
(866) 234-6020
All additional support requests are $35.00 US per request or use an existing contract
Advanced Issues $245.00 US"
Do some fact checking next time. :-)
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|See my comment above.
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|How the hell am I a hypocrite? where did you come up with these eqasions???? lol
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|^^^^Addition^^^^^^
OMG YOU PEOPLE ARE THICK HEADED!!!!
STOP CORRECTING MY MISTAKES AND REALISE THE POINT!!
"M$ for example"
I was just using them as an example!! For christ sake.
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|Could it possibly be "EQATION'S" Kinda makes my point, sounds more like you are a punk kid that has had everything handed to you and have not worked to purchase anything you own, maybe mommy needs to wean you.
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|umm...
it's: equations
and there's no apostrophe
mmmmkay
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|"I bought 3.1, 95 a and b, 98 and 2000 now XP look back and see how much money that I wasted in the first place, most of those editions are needless as well with XP soon."
If it's needless then why do you continue to buy it? Use something else, or don't upgrade, nobody is forcing you.
You're purchasing free updates and patches, not free future versions. You get all the windows XP updates free...you're not going to get Vista free tho'. When apple releases a new version of MacOS, guess what, you have to go out and buy it. It's common sense (well maybe not in your farm). Developers need to get paid for their hard work.
" Most of the new software out now days will not run on the older versions therefor you are forced to upgrade at what ever they charge you"
Like I said, nobody is FORCING you to do anything. Alot of people on here swear they will never use windows, you can use MAC or linux if you don't want to spend money on a new version of windows...or continue using the old version.
"HMMM, and how much is ol Bill worth"
That's irrelevant. Just becaus someone is rich and successfull doesn't give you the right to steal his work.
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|Does "ol Bill" practise what he preaches? Read the following link and let me know :
http://www.tcmagazine.in...php?id=5482&catid=3
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|BSA.
'Nuff said.
If you run Linux, you're stealing from Microsoft.
If you use OO.o, you're stealing from Microsoft.
Etc...
And you got the headline wrong.
Should read:
Anti-Piracy hurting Software and Music growth.
They just can't see what's right in front of them, I guess.
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|LoL I'm not picking on you maniakmx3 i swear. but i use to be a pirate. but i had morals that i followed. if i liked the software i would buy it. but i always wanted to see what the full version of the program had to offer me. there are some software that is out now that wouldn't be as big as they are if it wasn't for pirates. Nero is a big example. i would have never used Nero if it wasn't the fact that i would need it to burn images. i would have stuck with ez CD creator something back in the day every burner would come with. today i OWN Nero ultra edition. i have bought Nero's new version for the past 3 years. that and if there is something else you need weather it be a text edit program to virus scanners 98% of the time you can find it freeware or open source.
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|Why buy a 200$ piece of software when the company is also going to charge for techsupport, for the next upgrade (wich ususally fixes something broken in the one you bought). Especially when there product may become defunct by a competitors product, or an open sorce version hits the internet.
i do not condone it, but i definatly understand it!!
BTW: did you know that
Microsoft Office Standard 2003 Upgrade
is only 250$ at tigerdirect.com!!
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|You learned to spell where?
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|I'm an odd one. P2P has only bolstered me purchasing a game after seeing what it was truly capable of. Demos on the last 5 HOT games have been trash in comparison to the final game.
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|Hey, I got a study here that says you can hang an elephant over a cliff with his tail tied to a daisy.
Find me a study that says one thing, ill find 20 others that say other wise.
Anyhow, like someone else pointed out. Most of the ppl who download this software, will probably not buy it.
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|Also, Most people who download illegal software won't buy it because they can get it for free! lol
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|Sorry maniakmx3, that is not the issue. MOST all the software these days is OVERPRICED and the manufaturer's are raking in the bucks and like posted earlier, have lousy tech support that you have to pay for also or subscribe to and once your subscription runs out, that software that you paid for no longer works. HMMM pay for software and have to pay for a subscription to use it and they wonder why people are pirating the goods.
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|Then don't get it! Like posted before, there IS open source!!
Why steal Microsoft office when you can get Open Office for free?
Why buy a Mercedes for $50,000 when you can buy a Kia Rio for $8,000?
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|LOL, This guy keeps comparing software to cars, could it be that you are a washed up used car salesman trying to sell software now and going broke in the process¿
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|Well that fact of the matter is. If you Don't want to buy it, don't own it. Either pay for it or don't get it period.
Just like, if you can't afford a ferrari, would you steal it? probably not.
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|The penalty for stealing a car is steep. also its a physical device. Its hardware. If we could find a way to clone hardware, HELL yeah we would steal it. Since they are serialized, and can be traced, and stealing one can be easily enforced, then no.
When the day comes we can clone or copy machines, cars will not be selling either...
Software is too easy to copy, therefore steal.
so people justify that since they can make a copy of it, why buy it, since the copy is just as good? People don't view it as stealing, because its "just" software.. If people built something with their own hands, they wouldn't be so "free" with someone else's stuff for free...
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|I don't care what anyone things on this subject! There is no justification for stealing! NONE! If you download a copy of software that has been pirated, you are stealing, plain and simple
THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION ON PIRACY! PIRATING SOFTWARE IS STEALING! AND STEALING IS ILLEGAL!!!!
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|so what?
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|roflmao.
Perfect response. That is the best one I have seen in a *long* time.
Thanks.
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|And Im gonna tell my mommy cause I saw you jaywalking, and you didn't take off your shoes when you came in, and you didn't wash your hands. Thats seriously what you sound like.
Dude, do you have any idea of the massive amount of fraud and theft big business does every day? I mean come on now!
Lets stop the temper tantrums. Go get your binky and go take a nap.... k?
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|Grow up! Maybe you still ned mommy!
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|Hey moron RTFC. I was saying that's what he sounds like. But I dont really expect YOU to get that now do I ;-)
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|Again, BSA's "studies" imply that anyone and everyone who illegaly downloads or somehow obtains a pirated copy would in turn pay full retail price, which is where they determine their dollar "loss". I'd say about 80% of people who obtain illegal copies would rather go without the software then pay full price for it. Figure that in BSA.
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|And thanks to open source, we are not required to purchase software that we need anymore.
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|Very true!
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|preach!
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|Open source software sucks...that's why its OPEN!
There are no games open source, know why? because it takes money to MAKE a game..
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|"Open source software sucks...that's why its OPEN!"
O Rly?
http://www.pspad.com/en/
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|Open source sucks... that has to be the best yet...
Well, consider this:
FireFox (which is open-source) has well over what, 2.5 million users now?
Bugzilla, again, open source, has millions of users.
Um, let's see... Oh yeah, PHP, with which thousands of web apps out there are written in is open source.
Before you sit there and say open source sucks, take a good, hard look at a lot of the web sites you visit or apps that you run. You never know! You may have *shock* OPEN SOURCE APPS ON YOUR MACHINE! *shock*
sheesh...
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|Open Source software doesn't first suck and then become open for that reason, it starts open. yes you know this. Surely you've heard of html, php, perl, the list goes on. FYI if it weren't for open source, you would not experience the web as you do today - there's a reason people use open source programming.
Games, i'm sure you are referring to those that you play are not open source. I haven't looked much into games, I don't see them as important as having tools to be productive. It doesn't take money to MAKE software, it takes effort and time.
I installed all games that came with suse 10, which included just over 80 games. Sure most are simple little skill games, yet entertaining, so hey, give me some game titles that you like to play.
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|Ok, it may suck to you, you are entitled to your opinion.
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|Actually, in many of the examples you give, they do indeed suck rocks.
I wouldn't use an interpreted anything, so anything written in Java is out.
Tried GIMP, hated it.
Same for Gaim.
Some don't absolutely suck. But why do I want "It sucks less" as my standard?
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|Great point!
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|I hope this is coming from someone that buys all their software (if it has a price tag).
GIMP is quite an impressive program for being free. There are a few annoyances, such as the mouse getting in the way of editing, or having three windows open instead of one. Sure, I like photoshop better, but "settling for less" saves me $700 plus the price of upgrades, and keeps me legal at the same time. That's what I value.
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|wooosh! Thanks for totally missing the point.
Here let me spell it out for you.
Blanket statements that ALL open source software sucks is utter bulls***, there are plenty of high quality packages out there. Some may not be your cup of tea but that doesn't make them any less great, only less great to you.
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|LOL, and you called me a gnat.
You have won troll of the day.
Congrats!
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|What's wrong with GIMP?
What's wrong with GAIM?
Examples? I use these daily and I'd love to know why you didn't like them.
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|No actually less great to alot of people! Most of it just sucks period!
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|Wow, I even spelled the point out for you and you missed it. Sad.
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|If you didn't like GIMP, try Paint.NET:
http://fileforum.betanew...l/PaintNET/1096481993/1
I didn't like GIMP either, but I'm hooked on Paint.NET now. And it's freeware =)
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