Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!sics.se!bula!bjornk
From: bjornk@bula.se (Bjorn Knutsson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Demos and Software Piracy
Message-ID: <9542@bula.se>
Date: 23 Jul 90 13:38:38 GMT
References: <25337@snow-white.udel.EDU>
Sender: rnews@bula.se
Reply-To: Bjorn Knutsson <bjornk@bula.se>
Distribution: comp
Organization: Bjorn's Amiga, Sweden
Lines: 58

In article <25337@snow-white.udel.EDU> BARRETT@owl.ecil.iastate.edu (Marc Barrett) writes:
[Stuff about a European demo deleted]
>   Although I was impressed by the animation of this demo, I was very
>put off by the blatant remarks about software cracking/copying 'parties'
>referred to in this demo.  The writers in this demo go as far as to
>complain about the Norwegian police 'spoiling' one of their 'parties'.
>I can't say I'm very sympathetic with the people who arranged and
>attended this party.

Well, you're not the only one.

>   These European groups are not 100% responsible for their actions,
>though, as they are a product of the European system.  Software piracy
>is legal in most parts of Europe, and the widespread software piracy
>there is the ultimate fault of the European governments.  If they
>want to curb piracy, they ought to pass laws to make it illegal.  Until
>they do, they can't blame these groups for taking advantage of the
>legality of software theft.

You say that piracy is legal in "most parts of Europe". Ok, fine, name
those parts.  I can't think of any part, except perhaps parts of
Eastern Europe (I really don't know), where piracy is legal.

However, while piracy is illegal, there's still a lot of piracy going
on. But on the other hand, I belive the possession of drugs is an
offence in the USA. Does that keep CRIMINALS from possessing and
selling drugs in the USA? I belive not.

Another interesting point is: Where do many pirating Europeans go to
get their pirated copies of games? Yes, you're right: Bulletin Board
Systems in the USA. Swedish newspapers (quite recently) ran a story
about teenagers using stolen VISA card numbers for calling BBS's in
the United States. Now, these teenagers were doing this to be able to
download pirated programs for free. 

>   Software theft is somewhat analogous to gun control.  In many parts
>of the world (such as Japan), guns are illegal to own, and therefore
>the distribution of guns isn't all that much of a problem in these
>countries.  In the U.S., most guns are legal, and the misuse and abuse
>of guns is a real problem (to say the least).  But you can't blame
>people who own guns in the U.S., because they are doing what is
>perfectly legal.  For the same reason, you can't blame these European
>groups too much, because they are doing what their governments (by
>inaction) has said is perfectly right and fine.

Inaction? Didn't you mention a police bust in Norway? I know that
there have been a lot of police raids in many European countries
against pirates, where their hardware and software have been
confiscated. Sure. There's a lot of piracy going on in Europe, but on
the other hand, there are a lot of Amigas in Europe too. 

>                               -MB-

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