Pirated Software - when is it okay?

[verbotenco]

It is always okay. If not for pirated software, millions of poor people in the world wouldn't be able to create, produce, work, etc., etc. because they can't afford genuine Microsoft, genuine Cakewalk, genuine Cubase. A talented but broke guitarist for example, wouldn't be able to get his music out to the world without using pirated ProTools or Sonar. He can't possibly afford a genuine copy or rent a recording studio because he is too ****ing poor.

It is not just about black and white you know. There tons of other factors. You can't throw a poor mother for stealing food for her starving children because stealing is wrong.

[verbotenco]

Never.

Software is a product, and should be paid for regardless of how easy it is to steal.

Character is how you act when nobody is watching.

You should live in heaven man, this world is too damn imperfect for you

[verbotenco]

So you would pay $1000 for a plug-in before using it?

LMFAO!!!

[Left_Hand_Strat]

It's crazy to think of stealing as 'absolutely wrong', Verbotenco provides an extreme but classic example. There are a billion situations in which stealing something is ok.

Hell, a lot of you guys justify murder in various ways... defence of property, self defence, they deserved it, etc... but suddenly there are no exceptions for something like theft?

I agree with you actually.

also with software, its like a try and buy situation, If I download illegally a lot of the time I'll check it out and everything, all being well I will BUY the software.

[verbotenco]

I haven't downloaded any illegal MP3's since the Napster days. I seriously wouldn't even know where to look other than Google searching.

And all the warez/cracked stuff never really interested me. I've never really used a ton of commercial software. Although I'm sure I duplicated XP or Office keys back in the day.

filestube.com

[Kam]

Stealing bread because it's the only choice standing between you and death is hardly the same as stealing a piece of software which the vast majority of people in this thread could probably afford to buy. That's a terrible analogy.

If you have a computer, the internet, a guitar, an amp, a mic, a house and time to spend recording music then I've been a lot poorer than you.

[ratherdashing]

Let's be clear on one thing here:

Nobody ever, EVER, needs software.

Nobody has ever died, gotten sick or injured, or otherwise come to serious harm because they couldn't pay for software. There is no piece of for-profit software that is essential to human survival, or even human comfort.

Stealing food to prevent starvation is not even anywhere near the same ballpark as pirating software. The mere insinuation that these two acts are related is insulting.

People who steal things they don't need aren't heroes or rebels ... they're dicks. Any justification of stealing a luxury item, such as computer software, is plainly selfish.

"But I need this software for ..." No, you don't. See above.

"But it costs too much!" That may be true, but so do a lot of things. Do you steal a BMW simply because you can't afford to buy one? Of course not ... you simply do without it and get on with your life.

[uOpt]

Another one of my favorite items where "right holders" just suck and don't deserve any better.

Book publishers will just always claim copyright on all of the photos in their books, even if those pictures came from public sources in the first place. The prime example is history books that often have nothing but pictures from government war archives but then go after people publishing the same pictures elsewhere. The clerks and lawyer in there don't even know this and they don't keep track of it.

They don't deserve our pity if they get slammed with copyright problems on their own.

[Jessie's ghost]

Derp, derp, der derp da lerp derp.

[Reload in 5]

It is always okay. If not for pirated software, millions of poor people in the world wouldn't be able to create, produce, work, etc., etc. because they can't afford genuine Microsoft, genuine Cakewalk, genuine Cubase. A talented but broke guitarist for example, wouldn't be able to get his music out to the world without using pirated ProTools or Sonar. He can't possibly afford a genuine copy or rent a recording studio because he is too ****ing poor.

bull. if you can afford instruments, a PC, microphones, an interface etc. you can afford $100 for Winders and $60 for reaper. or audacity for free. or whatever software came free with your interface.

[80's_Metal]

I would pirate download "pirating" software... stick it to the man thats sticking it to the man!

[Quencho092]

I think that free stuff helps facilitate a cultural quality control. I have no problem finding awesome local artists. They are talented enough to make enough cash teaching students, playing gigs, lecturing at the local university/colleges. They do not care whether they don't sell a single cd because they focus on the other areas of musician income and are ACTUALLY TALENTED ENOUGH TO DESERVE TO LIVE OFF MUSIC.

The day of the super hyped crappy band isn't over at all, but I'm ok with bands going broke. My father has made every penny of his lifetime income singing and playing bass with his brother with virtually NO record sales, just HARD GIGGING and swallowing the tough times, finding new ways to make money, and just WORKING HARDER and practicing to the point that they were better than most of the local groups and earned the gigs....

I give NO CREDIT to whining bands who cry about not being able to ride the gravy train like those in the past. If you can't make money playing music one way or another, whether or not pirating messes up your CD sales, you're not cut out to be a musician as a primary source of income. get over it. Besides that, I think pirating is wrong, but it only marginally hurts an industry that has been a huge ripoff for too long. Media, music, movies, they're all overpriced and deserve to lose some $$ just for being ******s and gouging consumers.

[verbotenco]

Let's be clear on one thing here:

Nobody ever, EVER, needs software.

Nobody has ever died, gotten sick or injured, or otherwise come to serious harm because they couldn't pay for software. There is no piece of for-profit software that is essential to human survival, or even human comfort.

Stealing food to prevent starvation is not even anywhere near the same ballpark as pirating software. The mere insinuation that these two acts are related is insulting.

People who steal things they don't need aren't heroes or rebels ... they're dicks. Any justification of stealing a luxury item, such as computer software, is plainly selfish.

"But I need this software for ..." No, you don't. See above.

"But it costs too much!" That may be true, but so do a lot of things. Do you steal a BMW simply because you can't afford to buy one? Of course not ... you simply do without it and get on with your life.

If I present you with 2 exact copies of Windows that do the same exact thing, but one is genuine costing 100 bucks and the other is pirated costing 2.5 dollars, I am not sure you will stand firmly by your belief. People defend their ideals in a perfect situation but in the real-life situation, many simply wimp out.

I buy pirated software and I am not ashamed to admit that.

[Gearjoneser]

If I ever have to bury a body with any of you, I won't trust you.......and I'll probably kill you too. Buncha goddam internet nerd goodie goodies. hahaha

[gilaltom3]

Not trying to get into the argument, but I used to pirate software and music. I'm not really sure what to make of it. I don't do it anymore, but is "pirating" really stealing? If I go to the store and steal a tshirt, that tshirt isn't there any more. If I pirate a type of software the original is still there. I'm not saying it's right or anything, but I think the whole "pirating vs. stealing" thing is worth pondering on.... Discuss.

[verbotenco]

Here's a good example: Would you sink 200 bucks on a say...a genuine ProTools, than purchasing a pirated copy for 3 dollars and allocate the rest 197 dollars on other recording gear you need, mic, pre amps, cables, etc? Get real. You can be all altruistic here but I bet you won't be in real situation.

Besides, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and the likes are too rich anyway, so isn't it time for average people like us to enjoy the piece of the pie and get away with murder? If I have 100 dollars to spend on software, I would opt for a pirated copy instead and donate the rest to needy people, than making another Bill Gates 100 dollar richer.

[stratobastard]

If I ever have to bury a body with any of you, I won't trust you.......and I'll probably kill you too. Buncha goddam internet nerd goodie goodies. hahaha

If you're working with Steve u won't have to bury it!

[stratobastard]

Ya know what, when it cost $100 for something that cost maybe $15 to make, I have no problem pirateing whatever!

[gilaltom3]

Here's a good example: Would you sink 200 bucks on a say...a genuine ProTools, than purchasing a pirated copy for 3 dollars and allocate the rest 197 dollars on other recording gear you need, mic, pre amps, cables, etc? Get real. You can be all altruistic here but I bet you won't be in real situation.

Besides, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and the likes are too rich anyway, so isn't it time for average people like us to enjoy the piece of the pie and get away with murder? If I have 100 dollars to spend on software, I would opt for a pirated copy instead and donate the rest to needy people, than making another Bill Gates 100 dollar richer.

First off altruism doesn't exist. Second, taking money from someone who worked hard on something is never right. You can't say someone is too rich. That's absurd.

[ratherdashing]

If I present you with 2 exact copies of Windows that do the same exact thing, but one is genuine costing 100 bucks and the other is pirated costing 2.5 dollars, I am not sure you will stand firmly by your belief. People defend their ideals in a perfect situation but in the real-life situation, many simply wimp out.

I buy pirated software and I am not ashamed to admit that.

Don't make assumptions about me.

For one thing, I wouldn't buy Windows ... at all.