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From: mmr@utmbvax.UUCP (Mike Rubenstein)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Your software piracy
Message-ID: <231@utmbvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Apr-84 12:28:24 EST
Article-I.D.: utmbvax.231
Posted: Wed Apr 18 12:28:24 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Apr-84 04:27:01 EST
References: <12063@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: U TX Medical Branch @ Galveston
Lines: 25

> While a certain amount of software piracy may be "inevitable,"
> I don't think there's a hell of a lot to "understand" about people's
> motives in this area.  We're not dealing with mentally disordered
> sex offenders, after all.

Right.  There's always some dishonesty (I no more think we'll be able to
eliminate software theft than I think we'll be able to eliminate auto
theft.)

The, unfortunate, difference is that those who steal software not only feel
no guilt, they feel no shame.  It's accepted by many too many people -- in
fact a sizable minority, if not a majority, assume it.  Recently I got a bit
upset with a dealer who failed to inform me of a very good deal I could get
on a program I've been wanting for some time but which I never really thought
was worth the usual price.  Seems he knew that I have the program at work and
just assumed I, therefore, also have it on my personal machine.

Claims that software is over priced are often justified.  So are a lot of
other things (that's why I'm still driving a 78 Chevy).  If enough people
feel this way and don't buy because of it, the price will come down.  If just
one or two develop a competing product and sell it at a reasonable price,
they'll drive the prices down.
-- 

	Mike Rubenstein, OACB, UT Medical Branch, Galveston TX 77550