Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!sml108
From: SML108@PSUVM.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Making Piracy work in your Favor
Message-ID: <89174.211048SML108@PSUVM>
Date: 24 Jun 89 01:10:48 GMT
References: <4332@druhi.ATT.COM>
Organization: Penn State University - Center for Academic Computing
Lines: 80

In article <4332@druhi.ATT.COM>, terrell@druhi.ATT.COM (TerrellE) says:
>
>My two cents worth on ST piracy:
>
>Many software developers seem to be blaming all of their problems on
>piracy.  Although piracy is an enormous challenge to the software
>industry, I don't think that it should be used as a scapegoat.
>
>If I were a software developer victimized by piracy, rather than just
>complain, I would change the way I do business:  I would (1) ensure that the
>users of my software derived significant advantages from purchasing the
>product, and (2) exploit piracy to my advantage.
>
>How to make purchase of the product advantageous:
>
>1.      Provide real customer support.
>
>2.      Provide timely updates/upgrades/new products.  Make sure that your
>        distribution methods are faster than the pirates'.
>
>3.      Provide complete, comprehensive user documentation.  A paper manual
>        is more attractive than a disk file, and it cannot be distributed
>        on a BBS.
>
>4.      Provide a monthly user newsletter.
>
>5.      Keep users informed (by advertising, product reviews, press releases)
>        of the current version of the program.  Pirates with old versions
>        of the program will consider upgrading by purchasing the product.
>
>How to exploit piracy to your advantage:
>
>1.      When someone calls up your telephone support service, get the
>        caller's name and address.  Then try to get the caller's
>        registration number.  If the caller can't furnish proof of
>        purchase, either politely decline support, or better still,
>        provide the support.  Now you may have a new customer for
>        subsequent releases of the product, related products, etc.
>
>        If you're providing timely updates, the pirate is likely to
>        be requesting support on an out-of-date version of the program.
>        Sell the caller the new version!
>
>2.      In the program's documentation, give ordering information, and
>        list the advantages of purchasing the product.  If a pirate
>        is convinced, you may get an order.
>
>3.      Because of piracy, much software is copy-protected.  Don't copy-
>        protect your software and advertise the fact.  This will give you
>        a competitive advantage over similar products that are copy-protected.
>
>4.      If you find your program on a BBS, don't call the FBI.  Get the
>        sysop to remove the posting, and place an advertisement of the
>        product that every BBS user will read.  If you've been
>        providing timely updates, the pirates will be interested in
>        purchasing the updated version from you.
>
>I'd be interested in hearing additional suggestions on how to avoid piracy,
>and how to exploit it when it does happen.
>
>
>
>
>Terrell
Some of your ideas are very good, but I still favor the proesuction of
people out there who run pirate bbs's.  They are scum, and have no
respect for the amount of effort that goes into writing a program
  This situation is especially critical on the ST.  Most developers
are like me, and run small operations out of their homes, and license
their software to a major distributor.  I constantly hear arguments
about the high prices of software, but most entertainment software
can be purchased for the price of 2 CD's, which most people are willing
to shell out.  Even if you like Madonna, how many times are you going
to her ?  About half as long as it takes to solve Sundog I'll bet.
  One counterpoint though is that I also believe that NO software
for home computers should cost more than $100.  Unfortunately, I also
believe that lowering the price of programs to that point would have
little or no effect on idiots who pirate programs that cost $15.

that's my two cents, for whatever it's worth....