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From: brent@rbdc (Brent Daniel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Why do people pirate software?
Message-ID: <1990Aug3.101831.12438@rbdc>
Date: 3 Aug 90 10:18:31 GMT
References: <1441fullerr@yvax.byu.edu> <1990Aug2.152426.25372@phri.nyu.edu>
Organization: Red Barn Data Center Public access Unix
Lines: 44

roy@phri.nyu.edu (Roy Smith) writes:
>> I am interested why people pirate software.  Is it just because of the
>> cost of most software or is it for other reasons as well?

>	Oooh!  You hit one of my pet peeves.  I don't think price has
>anything to do with it.  I've seen people pirate $500 programs and I've
>seen them pirate $30 ones.  Amongst the reasons I've had people tell me, or
>that I've infered myself are:
 Actually, you forget that the majority of piraters are between the ages of 
13 and 19. These are the people who, would like to have nice software for
their computer, but don't have the money either because they can't get a 
job, or they spend their money elsewhere. In my opinion, price is the major
reason for pirating.


>	1) The know they will never get caught.  Hard to argue with that
>one on factual grounds.
 You're right here. Pirating is totally ignored, especially from companies
that sell software for under $60 dollars. 

>	2) They honestly don't think they are hurting anybody.
 Can't argue with this, there's not much to make you think you are hurting
someone. You're just downloading it, it's not like you would buy it   
otherwise, you're not taking anything from them.

>	3) They realize they are hurting somebody but since that person is
>either anonymous or very rich, they don't care.  The "why should I make
>Bill Gates any richer" syndrome.
 I don't think this is ever a factor. Except, maybe for outrageously 
over priced software, such as most business software.

>	4) They don't think copyright laws apply to them because they are a
>non-profit organization, only making a copy for their personal use, and/or
>"I've already bought a copy, I just want to install it on my other
>machine".

I think the 'on my other machine'  is actually ok. If i've payed for a copy
already, there's no reason to pay for another one. That's just logic..
-- 
 +--------------------------[ Brent Daniel ]--------------------------------+
 | We are no longer the knights who say neet. We are now the knights who say|
 | Icky Icky Icky, Zip bop bing. --The knights who say icky icky icky, zip  |
 | bop bing.                                                                |