Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site Shasta.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxr!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!glacier!Shasta!sankar
From: sankar@Shasta.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india
Subject: Re: Marketing s/w on micro in India
Message-ID: <1601@Shasta.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 21-Dec-85 20:27:13 EST
Article-I.D.: Shasta.1601
Posted: Sat Dec 21 20:27:13 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 23-Dec-85 04:46:25 EST
References: <1357@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Organization: Stanford University
Lines: 64

> Software doesn't have a very good reputation in India, presently.

I disagree.


> Reasons : Most of the high-priced (in US) s/w is available 
> 	  for throw away prices or for free in India.

You may be true to a certain extent, but give some examples.


> 	  People involved in marketing PC-compatibles give off
> the s/w free (to sell their hardware). They don't loose much
> because they (of course) by only one copy (if at all) and
> just copy it and so on. 
> 	  There have been stories of competing companies 
> pooling in software bought from abroad.

Refer to the part on sueing below.


> Because most people get the s/w free there is a general
> tendency in the market to expect s/w free. That goes
> to the extent of indegeniously developed product.

NO WAY.  See my message below!!


> People still can't appreciate why they should pay a phenomenol
> amount for a 'floppy'. It doen't justify their reasoning. 
> (like the doctor's fee for just feeling the pulse).

Please elaborate with examples.


> Result: 
> 	There is a whole breed of young chaps who are 
> experts in installing any software (with or without) documentation
> on any machine/OS. Experts in breaking s/w locks.
> And there is a 'sort of a pride' in this expertise too.

Yes, but you will find this sort of pride in any type of criminal in any
part of the world.

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

I am not aware of software piracy to this extent.

I am aware of companies being sued for piracy and the result being that
the company suffered a lot simply because of the slow manner in which the
Indian courts settle cases.

I am also aware that my father who has recently being buying software has
had to pay exorbitant prices for it just because it is a seller's market in
India now.  (He was buying software for hardware purchased from the same
Indian company).

It is quite possible that what Arun Lakhotia says is true, but the scene is
not as bad as he depicts it.

I will be happy if you can elaborate on what exactly you mean by software
piracy in India.

Sriram.