King

I was just wondering everyone’s views on piracy. I have mixed opinions on it. I am just getting out into industry as a professional programmer, so my views on piracy have changed a bit over the last year. I know I wouldn’t want people stealing software that me or the company I work at makes. On the other hand the price of some software is outrageous sometimes; like the price of MS Office, it’s like 500 bucks. When people use a pirated copy of Windows or Office it doesn’t bother me that much because MS charges way too much for them (good thing I get them both free thought my work). Lately I have been going to open source software such as OpenOffice, which is quite comparable to MS Office for most tasks. I still find myself downloading pirated software though, but if I like it I will usually go out and buy it.
On the topic of music, I still download it a fair bit, and if I really like a band I do go out and buy their albums. If I see a movie that I like, I will buy it if the price is reasonable, if not ill burn it.

So what are your views on piracy guys?

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Sane

I wonder if this was inspired by my comment in your last thread?

I'm not big on it. I don't go out of my way to pirate like some will. I know people who are just addicted to downloading pirated games and movies... only because they can and want to.

The only things I've ever pirated are Fruity Loops and Finale... both music programs, because they were damn expensive! I'm not saying that isn't wrong, but on the other hand, I'm not pirating things left, right, and center. Never downloaded a movie or cracked a copy of Half Life. I'd rather buy them.

So my take on it... I'll only do it if it's so far out of my price range that I'd never even consider paying for it. That way no one is (technically) losing any potential profits.

a thing

How does being a programmer affect your views on robbing ships...?

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Arevos

My view is that piracy ain't what it used to be.

Piracy used to be about drinkin', sailin', lootin' and murderin'; Now it's just copyright infringement, which is only a civil offence in most countries. In my opinion, piracy has had better days.

Of course, everyone should be familiar with the irrefutable evidence that the decline in piracy correlates exactly with global warming, as according to the highly reputed Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Clearly, pirates should stop messing around with cracks and P2P networks, and get out on the high seas again, before the polar icecaps melt and civilisation collapses.

Seriously though, copyright infringement is an offense. If you want to protest increasingly draconian copyright laws, then engaging in such activity is counter productive. Instead, don't buy content from companies with draconian licensing and DRM, and do buy content from companies with more liberal licenses. If enough people do this, and write to their elected representatives, then we might see some change happening.

On the other hand, if all you wish to do is get products for free, then go right ahead. But don't fool yourself in thinking that its going to be an effective form of protest, or that your actions have noble motivations.

Baphomet

I know many people who pirate music,programs,movies,ect.. I typically don't mainly because it takes too long to download that stuff. I don't pirate MS stuff because it's much too big and isn't effient software. Open source stuff is much better and provides everything I need. I honestly don't care if others pirate. I just find it easier to buy the stuff rather than going through all the trouble of downloading. I never buy software, but instead try to find alike freeware versions of whatever software I need. Like for example, I have Dev-C++ instead of MS visual C++.

DaWei

It's that dam' spell checker that bloats it...

As to the subject, piracy is theft. Do it, or not, whatever flips your skirt up, but don't try to disguise it by painting it the color of 'relative price'.

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uman

It's not theft, it's copyright infringement. Although it's quite illegal, and may or may not be morally wrong (depending on your personal morals) calling it "theft" doesn't help anything.

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Baphomet

But all thier stuff is unnatural huge. Why is that?

DaWei

Really? Wear earplugs when you stand around the water cooler.

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Baphomet

What???