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From: bob@plus5.UUCP (Robert E. Simpson)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Software Piracy
Message-ID: <141@plus5.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Apr-84 11:02:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: plus5.141
Posted: Fri Apr 27 11:02:08 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 1-May-84 08:14:11 EDT
References: <12295@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: Plus Five Computer Services, St. Louis
Lines: 41

[ News from Rivendell and the Shire, and points west]

People seem to be looking for 'reasons' folks pirate software.

	Well...

		I worked in a two game stores (Fantasy, Science-fiction,
	Historical, Role-playing, Board games, Miniatures, etc.) here in
	St. Louis for about 4 years.  Both had a computer for use by
	employees/employees.  They both sold time on the machine for
	customer use (mostly game playing).

		In no time at all, we were getting HORDES of people
	wanting to either trade games with us, or use the shop as a
	central (their term) 'pirate cove'.  Almost all of them were
	late grade school/early high school, and had their own
	computers, were using the computer at home, or were using the
	computer at school.  These kids were supposedly supervised and
	had, at the very least, tacit approval of whoever was monitoring
	their activities.

		Almost all of the adults who stole software used the
	copies until they either decided they liked the product, and
	subsequently bought it, or or decided they didn't like the
	product, and erased the media.

		Although this last use is still theft, I for one find it
	acceptable in a software market that I have found to be hostile
	to consumers.

		I have had more than one bad experience with
	unfriendly/braindamaged retailers, and truly horrendous
	documentation/manuals.  There are very few companies whose
	software I would buy based on publicity blurbs and a quick demo
	in some non-descript computer shop.  This is all you are likely
	to get in the way of reviewing software.  (Anybody out there
	with a contrary experience?)

		I have yet to find a dealer who wants you sitting around
	the showroom 'playing' with the software.  No dealer wants to let
	you take a sample home to test drive.  They all seem to think,
	and possibly rightly so, that you only want to copy their software.

		I realise this is rather rambling, >>sigh<<, but you asked.
---
                                        ~bj

   Plus Five Computer Services                           ...!ihnp4!plus5!bob
   765 Westwood Dr.
   St. Louis, MO 63105                                          314-725-9492

                        [ Copyright 1984 Bob Simpson ]

   _________________________________________________________________________
   |               All opinions expressed in this article should be        |
   |       considered the opinion of the author and not necessarily the    |
   |       views of Plus Five Computer Services or its employees.          |
   _________________________________________________________________________