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From: tonyrich@titanic.cs.wisc.edu (Anthony Rich)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: software piracy
Message-ID: <10592@spool.cs.wisc.edu>
Date: 14 Jun 90 22:40:45 GMT
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These are all open to further discussion and clarification, of course.
Don't get me wrong:  I am definitely NOT promoting piracy here!  I'm just
summarizing the arguments I've noted so far:  both FOR, AGAINST, and
OTHER.  Add/delete/change as you see fit.

Arguments put forth as possible justifications of piracy:
---------------------------------------------------------

1.  Piracy is OK if the software is overpriced (in particular,
    high overseas pricing was noted).

2.  Piracy is OK if the price is OK but you still can't afford the product,
    if you want or need it badly.  (This is like #1, but overpriced relative
    to one's PERSONAL budget, not necessarily overpriced in the marketplace).

3.  Piracy is OK if the software producer is a large and faceless company.

    3a:  Piracy is OK if it only affects strangers or people one doesn't like
         or people who seem less moral than oneself.

    3b:  Piracy is OK if the financial loss due to a single act of piracy
         is small relative to a large company's income.

4.  Piracy is OK if the probability of being punished for it is low.

5.  Piracy is OK because the original is not removed, just copied.

6.  Piracy is OK if it is fast and easy to do.  It's not OK if it's slow
    and cumbersome, like copying a book on a copy machine.


Arguments put forth as possible condemnations of piracy:
--------------------------------------------------------

1.  Piracy is not OK because it is theft.  It is economic theft (loss of
    sales), not physical theft (loss of a diskette, say), but it's still theft.

2.  Piracy is not OK because it increases software costs.  (Although if
    all piracy stopped, prices might not decrease; developers might use the
    additional profits for other purposes).


Arguments for legalizing piracy:
--------------------------------

1.  Software should be free.

    Pro:  Software is access to information, and there are precedents
          for the concept of free information availability (public
          libraries, directory assistance).

    Con:  Developers should be compensated directly for their efforts.
    Con:  People should pay for products they need and use.  Software
          is no different in that respect.

2.  Copying should be free; instead, people should compensate developers
    for documentation and technical support.

    Pro:  Moves software cost away from acquisition and toward effective
          use.

    Con:  Financially motivates the design of difficult-to-use software.
    Con:  Motivates the piracy of documentation and technical support.

3.  Copying should be free; instead, people should pay considerably more
    for copying media.

    Pro:  Moves the cost away from initial acquisition and penalizes
          copying.

    Con:  Too indirect; doesn't compensate developers directly or in
          proportion to the product.
    Con:  Penalizes non-piracy copying (of private data, for example).
--
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| EMAIL:  tonyrich@titanic.cs.wisc.edu  | 
| Disclaimer:  I speak only for myself. |
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