What happens if you buy pirated software...

[usayit]

On pirated front, i dont agree with it, but i also dont agree with the high prices,

Software piracy does drive software prices up.

 

[Corry]

1) TPF does not condone piracy. If you're gonna do it, don't be dumb enough to talk about it here.

2) TPF will not tolerate 'outing' another person by posting thier personal information, regardless of what they've done.

If either of the above are continued, corrective action will be ensued.

In other words, knock it off.

 

[Rhys]

People who steal software can't be too bright in the first place.

Ever hear if Trojan horses? Viruses? other nasties that can be packaged along with that wonderful 'free' software?

People will eventually get what they deserve.

I notice that the vast majority of pirates fall into two categories...

1. Young people who don't realise the damage they are doing. Their argument goes something like: I'd never buy this anyway so I'll use an illicit copy (in so doing they void that argument) or they say "it's just me - what harm can there be". Try telling that to somebody who's lost their job or career because of piracy.

2. People who think they're too clever; people like my old boss who thought that by using software pinched from an overseas supplier that piracy laws don't affect them. He lost a damned good computer technician over that! Also, I understand now that he can only attract the kind of employee that you wouldn't want to employ. This is the same guy that before I worked for him, wanted to charge me $90 for an 128mb stick of PC 133 RAM for a Dell 4300S. I later bought 128mb on ebay for 1 cent. I didn't pay his price!

There are other minor categories such as people that say "I'll buy it after I've tried" it but who never stop "trying" it or people who say "I can't afford it so I'll use a pirated copy". The latter kind of person will never ever be able to afford it because they're just too cheap to save up for it.

It would be nice to believe that people get what they deserve in the end. The sad fact is that many people just get away with it and keep getting away with it. Sometimes they get nailed years later. Often they just get away with it forever. It is the duty of the rest of us as a society to look after each other and each other's best interests. If you see an old lady being mugged, do you ignore it and pass by or do you try somehow to help either by intervening physically or by summoning assistance to intervene. It is the same with piracy - you have to (if you wish to live in a civilised society) report it. Every unreported act of piracy degrades society until bit by bit no laws are obeyed. This is what zero tolerance is about - you want the streets to be safe at night you have to have zero tolerance. You want cheap software then you have to have zero tolerance.

 

[AlexParlett]

Unfortunately, what you just said about the old lady being mugged, the sad fact is yes, people will. The majority of human beings are hardly altruistic at all. There are several OTT examples, i could state if you want. Its the sad state of humanity, thats its "I" not "Us", at least in general terms.

The majority of people will be altruistic to their friends and family, as long as they percieve that it will not endanger them to a high degree. Yet will not be altruistic to a stranger they meet simply because they have no empathy with that person.

Check around the net for altruism-empthay psychological theories, there are a load of case studies on it...

Anyway, back on topic, same will go on about pirated software, most people will ignore it, because they dont see as it helping them, or will put them in "danger", i use the term danger because honestly i dont quite know what situations could arise, it would depend on the circumstances.

 

[usayit]

Our society doesn't reward selfless altruistic actions.... in fact.. it deters it to the point that people just don't want to be involved.

Much like the slap on the wrist for "outing" someone...

 

[am_photoer]

Maybe if there was such a thing as a 'selfless' act... rationally, 'outing' one person who is at the bottom of the chain does not do anything but cause harm to that person. That doesn't sound very 'moral'. So, in the scope of it all and not your personal 'war' an action that does only harm... good job.

 

[Arch]

:roll: keep it civil.

 

[usayit]

Maybe if there was such a thing as a 'selfless' act... rationally, 'outing' one person who is at the bottom of the chain does not do anything but cause harm to that person. That doesn't sound very 'moral'. So, in the scope of it all and not your personal 'war' an action that does only harm... good job.

And the petty thief that shoplifts (who is at the bottom of the chain) also doesn't deserve to be arrested...

And the police officer who arrests this petty thief is immoral (I'll leave your original term out) because he is just causing harm to that one person...

Sounds like good logic there.... you represent your generation well.


I grew up before computers were popular and theft was just that theft.. no if ands or buts. For some unknown reason, people now seem to think that software piracy doesn't fall into that category due to the fact that it is intangible and so easy to copy. Companies trying to protect their interests are the "evil" empire.... when it is they that provide the products to begin with....


Give it up man... you are talking to a well connected person in the software industry that has seen the direct result of software piracy. You can spin this anyway you feel... it just doesn't make it right.

 

[peterbj7]

I've used pirated software several times to see whether I liked it enough to buy it. In every case, if I decided to keep it I bought it (new). Pirated software doesn't stay on my computer. Nor does functional shareware that I decide not to keep.

Many companies in Britain have a simple "instant dismissal" policy if illicit software is found on any machine used at work by an employee, regardless of whether the machine belongs to the companyor the individual. That's instant dismissal and a call to the police.

I bought CS2 but I still haven't worked out how to use it!

 

[Rhys]

Maybe if there was such a thing as a 'selfless' act... rationally, 'outing' one person who is at the bottom of the chain does not do anything but cause harm to that person. That doesn't sound very 'moral'. So, in the scope of it all and not your personal 'war' an action that does only harm... good job.

I always thought that arresting a criminal was a rather good thing as:

1. There is an element of deterrance - once arrested and convicted they might not re-offend.
2. There is an element of rehabilitation - we do try to rehabilitate criminals even though it might not work or be very effective so that they don't re-offend.
3. A criminal in jail gives society a break from them for a while.

We have to look positively on jail. It can stop people from re-offending and its very presence reminds people not to offend in the first place.

Interestingly, most criminals actually grow out of crime. Studies have shown that most criminals grow out of crime by the time they're 25 and that only a very small percentage of people over 25 commence lives of crime.

 

[am_photoer]

Sure -- in a single case this works. But once the patterns build up there must be reaction to the direct cause.

The problem is of going after the 'user's of illegal dealings and not the causes. It is this mentality that has led to greatest number of people in jail in America than any other country. The drug war is evidence that going after the users will only cause mishap -- the jails drain the economy and just keep getting fuller. The system is flawed and the target should be the cause. -but as long as joe schmo gets his punishment you'll be happy -- ignoring all the root issues and patterns

 

[jstuedle]

Today we live in a time where Software piracy, music piracy, image copyright infringement, speeding 5 or 9 over the limit, walking across the boarder, and several other illegal acts that come to mind are tolerated or outwardly accepted. They all are forms of theft, and they all take jobs away from those who need them. These issues seem to have really florished in the last 15-20 years in my opinion. As have the general decline in the morals of our society. Any way we look at it, breaking the law is just that. No more, no less. Today most of us don't want to debate or even hear about either or, or black and white when it comes to illegal acts. We don't want to be responsible for our actions when it comes to right and wrong, we keep pushing the limits. Several responses here have made excuses for the outright abandonment of the rule of law. As time goes on I only see the problems getting worse as we continue to make excuses or feel sorry for this or that person or situation. Times have changed and not for the better IMO. Someday it will come to a head, or we will find ourselves in a society that has failed itself.

I now step down from my soapbox.

 

[jstuedle]

Sure -- in a single case this works. But once the patterns build up there must be reaction to the direct cause.

The problem is of going after the 'user's of illegal dealings and not the causes. It is this mentality that has led to greatest number of people in jail in America than any other country. The drug war is evidence that going after the users will only cause mishap -- the jails drain the economy and just keep getting fuller. The system is flawed and the target should be the cause. -but as long as joe schmo gets his punishment you'll be happy -- ignoring all the root issues and patterns

And what is the root cause that makes it OK to steal from another? Simple question, I'll enjoy seeing your response.

 

[usayit]

The problem is of going after the 'user's of illegal dealings and not the causes. It is this mentality that has led to greatest number of people in jail in America than any other country. The drug war is evidence that going after the users will only cause mishap -- the jails drain the economy and just keep getting fuller. The system is flawed and the target should be the cause. -but as long as joe schmo gets his punishment you'll be happy -- ignoring all the root issues and patterns

Sure... but in the end.. its still illegal to be in possession (drugs or pirated software). Until you get that law changed, the law must be enforced regardless... What you are doing is choosing which laws should be enforced according to your own measure and morals. I don't agree and in return you call me an a__. That in of itself show just how much you don't understand. Well here's a lesson... LAW and MORALITY don't live together... period. Nor does LAW give two cents about what you think. Nor do you have any right to pass judgement (or call names) to any individual who does take action when illegal activity is observed.

I for one don't believe in the strict control of prostitution, attempts to raise the level of gun control, and believe we are going it all wrong when it comes to drugs. In the end... I am to live by the laws regardless of my personal feelings.

Your entire post is a DEFLECTION of the true issue here. Illegal software is just plain wrong... it doesn't matter if it is the main distributer of piracy.. it doesn't matter if it is the bottom feeder user. You can spin it anyway you want.. its illegal.. and wrong...

I was more than happy to discuss this topic without passing judgement on anyone. It was exactly what was happening but "that user" chose to post a snide remark mocking anyone in this thread who took software piracy seriously. That's when I took it personally..... essentially daring me.. and I took action. Simple as that... I know nothing will come of my report, but the point is I reported him.


(btw.. Your initial response, before mod changed it, is a clear indication of your maturity level.)

 

[kundalini]

I'm not sure exactly why my previous post was selected to be removed from this thread. It was not blasphemous and only gave kudos to usayit for doing the right thing. I am confused, can a MOD unconfuse me?