Do you often pirate things on a computer?

[nordlead]

NJ5 said:

nordlead said:

NJ5 said:

nordlead said:
I used to a long time ago when I was young and stupid and it was the popular thing to do and Napster was all the rage

Now I work in computer software and luckily no one will pirate my software, but I can completely understand not appreciating not being paid for your work. Also, the whole "I wouldn't have bought it anyways" doesn't make it acceptable in any way shape or form. Just accept that you're being an asshole and pirate away. Then at least you are being honest.

It may not make it acceptable to some people, but the point still stands that when you're pirating something you would never be able to buy, you're not having a negative economic impact on the company selling the software. That's irrefutable.

 

yes, but if you pirate it, you don't have the right to enjoy the other persons hard labor. If said person wanted you to have it for free, then they would say so, but that isn't the case. They want to be paid for their work for you to benefit and if you pirate you do them wrong. That is irrefutable. Now, if you want to pirate, don't try to hide behind these excuses to make yourself fell better.

When we're talking about things like teenagers downloading 3D studio MAX (a multi $k program) to play around, I find it really hard to say it's wrong. Especially when that might put them on a career path which makes them buy later versions of it later on.

Yes, well, as I stated. If the makers of 3D studio MAX wanted kids to get free copies, they would give it away. Obviously they don't, therefore it is wrong. You can try and twist it whatever way you want, but the makers of said software don't want you to have it. Every publisher of content knows what the copyright laws say, and if they didn't want you to abide by them, they would rewrite their liscense otherwise. This is why things like open source software and varying types of liscensing writes exist. I use lots of software that is free for individual personal use, but you must pay a liscense for corporate use. I use GIMP because it is free (and I also can't afford to spend the money on Photoshop).

Microsoft gives away copies of Windows, Visual Studio, Visio, and more to students which is exactly what you are advocating, only in a legal and morally acceptable way. Maybe pirating software could potentially bring small ammounts of profit back to the company, but if the company isn't willing to take a risk giving the software away to potential future users, then it is wrong.