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From: andrew@orca.UUCP (Andrew Klossner)
Newsgroups: net.followup,net.micro
Subject: Re: Software Piracy
Message-ID: <744@orca.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Mar-84 12:40:28 EST
Article-I.D.: orca.744
Posted: Fri Mar 30 12:40:28 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Apr-84 07:07:26 EST
References: <504@mprvaxa.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 56

I'd like to demonstrate how some recent comments defending software
piracy can be applied to another industry.

	"I'm getting tired of people making statements like "The
	microcomputer software industry is losing billions of dollars a
	year due to software piracy."  These statements are usually
	based on the assumption that if N pirate copies of a program
	are made, then that means a loss of N sales.  This is simply
	not true.  Much of the piracy is by hobbyists with limited
	budgets.  In many cases, the hobbyist would not buy the pirated
	program in the first place."

Ditto for automobile theft, where people assume that N car thefts imply
a loss of N car sales.  Also not true.  Much car theft is by hobbyists
with limited budgets.  In many cases, the hobbyist would not buy the
stolen car in the first place.

	"So, while I am sure that sales are lost due to piracy, I am
	equally sure that the amount is far less than some would have
	us believe."

And no doubt some car sales are lost due to theft, but I'm quite sure
that the amount is far less than some would have us believe.

	"What is my solution to the problem?  Reduce the prices to the
	level where the average user is willing to pay to get an
	original diskette, instructions, and package.  For games, I
	figure this to be about ten or fifteen bucks.  For other types
	of programs?  Well, Turbo Pascal might be a good example."

And I think the solution to the car theft problem is to reduce car
prices to the level where the average driver is willing to pay to get a
new car and owner's manual.  For Hondas, I figure this to be about four
hundred dollars.  For other types of cars?  Well, Army surplus jeeps
might be a good example.

	"Protection schemes don't work.  No matter how clever you are
	in protecting your software, there is someone equally clever
	who will figure out how to copy it."

Auto ripoff protection schemes don't work.  No matter how clever you
are in locking and anti-burglarizing your car, there is someone equally
clever who will figure out how to steal it.

---------------

My point is that it is a fallacy to claim that software piracy is
somehow okay because the evil software vendors overcharge or the poor
hobbyists can't afford to buy all the wonderful software.  These issues
are not relevant to the question of right or wrong.

Using someone's software without permission is stealing.  A person who
does this is a thief.  It's as simple as that.

  -- Andrew Klossner   (decvax!tektronix!orca!andrew)      [UUCP]
                       (orca!andrew.tektronix@rand-relay)  [ARPA]