Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!psuvax1!psuvm!f0o
From: F0O@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Why do people pirate software?
Message-ID: <90239.093316F0O@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 27 Aug 90 13:33:16 GMT
References: <19089016:24:58KRW1@lehigh.bitnet> <2643@anomaly.sbs.com>
 <10271.26d52a29@vax1.cc.lehigh.edu>
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 36

>In article <2643@anomaly.sbs.com>, mpd@anomaly.sbs.com (Michael P. Deignan)
>writes:
>> KRW1@Lehigh writes:
>>
>>>Why do people pirate software?  Ignorance or thievery.  Don't delude
>>>yourself by thinking it's anything else.

     I know one person who will take anything someone gives him, whether
he needs it or not.  I remember one time he took a version of autocad, and
couldn't get it running(he didn't have the instructions of course), and
wanted me to get it running for him.  I didn't.
     A couple of times, he brought in stolen copies of compilers, and thought
he was doing me a big favor.  When I ask him if he has the documentation,
and he says no, I promptly give the disks back to him.  I can see he doesn't
like that, but oh well.
      When I tell this person that he is in effect, stealing software, he
totally denies that.  I always like to give this example:

      "If you are in a computer store, and no one was around, and you took
said product out of the store without paying for it, is that stealing?"
      "Yes."
      "Then what is the difference between you taking the product out of the
store, or getting it from a friend.  The software developer is still out
money.  Either way its stealing."
      "..."

      One of the great advantages of buying a product is the updates and
price breaks you can get on new software.  Borland has been wanting me to
buy Quattro Pro from them for $99 for the last 6 months.

      Moral of the story, there are definite advantages to buying software
from a good company.  But if you are going to take software, with no
intention of paying for it, then at least admit to yourself what it actually
is.

                                                  [Tim]