Read the actual scientific economic research on it... the higher ups in the software industry know it too... they just know piracy is a great levreging tool.

Look at Microsoft's policy which is "Don't pirate, but if you do pirate... pirate us."

As yourself why would microsoft WANT to be pirated? Answer, it has a number of economic benefits.

I'm done with the thread though. All i gotta say is... read a book on economy, read the actual research. Your like someone who thought the sun revolved around the earth (like the vast majority) when people had proof to the opposite at this point.

If you had any actual physical evidence of proof or of a study where you take in all the effects of piracy, you'd have a leg to stand on, btu right now your basically putting your hands in your ears and hopping on one leg without looking at any piracy studies.

For example... studies published in scientific journals.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070212-8813.html

Like this one... published in one of the most well known journals n the US. The same studies are EVERYWHERE... sometiems they even show slight (thoguht statstically indistinguishable) increases in sales.

Experts in the field (People with degrees in economics, not software companies) generally believe piracy is not harmful.

Heck... I mean look at this

http://www.newser.com/story/34062/music-biz-cant-dodge-piracy-study.html

You didn't even have to pay radiohead ANYTHING for that album.  Yet it still was pirated thousands of times over.  Why?

Very incorrect.  In the case of music, the loss of revenue means the artist gets paid less.  In a world where piracy ran rampant, businesses would not come to the market will new ideas because they would get stolen.  When businesses lose money that means people don’t get paid.  Despite the anti-business sediment in this thread, typically when businesses do good, our economy does well.  

I don’t get why people argue semantics so much.  Honestly, it is theft.  But let’s assume it’s not theft.  Does that mean piracy is great or does that mean your still breaking laws and being unethical?   

Please show me where they say this.  I guarantee they don’t.  Microsoft has made Vista impossible to pirate.  I’m sure that wasn’t cheap.  Also, what do you do?  Let’s assume the business your at has a piracy problem.  Is it really going to increase sales as you say?  Do you think your business will passively fight it pretending to care to gain political clout?  Honestly, your money or job is on the line, is it good?

Just because you found one article in a scientific journal doesn’t mean piracy is good.  Scientific journals are like anything else.  People want to get publicity, make waves.  You’ll see quite a few more negative articles than positive.  But I’ll look at the article anyway.

“Analyzing data from the final four months of 2002, the researchers estimated that P2P affected no more than 0.7% of sales in that timeframe.” 

This is in 2002.  believe it or not, P2P was still in its relative infancy.  As such, its effects on businesses have grown as cable internet has become more popular and more P2P networks have popped up.  Additionally, what’s .7% of billions?  Hundreds of millions?  How can you say hundreds of millions of dollars aren’t a big deal?  

Simple, it’s easier to get the pirated version.  Yes, that’s right, it is easier.  Pirates probably have their P2P programs running nonstop (files have to come from somewhere).  So all they have to do is type in a search and click download.  It would take time to go to the Radiohead site and download.  Not withstanding, that is assuming that everyone knew Radiohead was giving away the music for free.

You know the one benefit to pirating (samplers who buy) doesn’t even exist now a days.  Because back then there was no other download service.  Now with ITunes, you can sample typically 20% of the song before you make the purchase.  Not withstanding you could search youtube and sample 100% of the song one time without having it in a format that is 100% complete.  

businesses would not come to the market will new ideas because they would get stolen

SIGH...

Then because of alternatives, we have other oppertunities.

Microsoft Windows to *nix.

(go ahead and say its fail)

I'm for copyright laws except for things which are no longer for sale. Things like 10 year old games that have no more retail shelf space should be free legal downloads.

Some games I would love to play are never going to come out again, and no one is making a profit from those games unless NINTENDO would release it for vc.

But that said, p2p is my answer for now.

Digital piracy is illegal in the same way pot is illegal (in America). They say, "It is very illegal." But if you get caught in possession of recreational amounts of it, it is only a misdemeanor crime. They'll put you on the books and you'll likely get a fine with it. Millions of Americans still smoke marijuana (even if they get charged).

It's illegality is not really determined by the word of law. Rather how the law is upheld in regard to how serious the "crime" actually is. In both the case of marijuana and digital piracy it is obvious that they are not as harmful or detrimental the word of law would imply.

So yes, digital piracy is technically illegal. But you aren't likely to get caught doing it and it's not likely to do much damage.

I won't argue legality or morality, I'm giving you the facts. For the record though, I think IP and copyright law is bullshit. It's obvious that it's flawed by the introduction of services like Rhapsody and streaming Netflix. Soon these types of services will begin to get more popular and I'm hoping somehow it bleeds into gaming.

Most of these PC "piracy" problems could be solved if companies put out demos that were worth a shit! The MMO makers are the smart ones, 7-14 day free demos. You can get a good feel for the game. If all games gave you a such a solid look I'd have no reason to "steal" as many games. I usually only play an hour of them before I realize it's not my kind of game. So no, I wouldn't have been potential revenue for anyone, cause if I was well informed (which I should be) I would never have bought it.

The real question is, should I have to pay for something that I don't enjoy/like? Work out your own morality with that one.

Be careful, my sensibility might be too much for you.

Gentlemen I would like you to look at these articles

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801640.html -Friday, September 29, 2006; Page D05

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/antipiracy/hurt.html

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=268140 -September 29th, 2006

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20061003/185626.shtml

btw, Google -> does piracy effect the economy

1. I think IP and copyright law is bullshit <-so true, Soon these types of services will begin to get more popular and I'm hoping somehow it bleeds into gaming. <- gametap?

2. Most of these PC "piracy" problems could be solved if companies put out demos that were worth a shit! <- 1 hour free gameplay?

3. eh, just return the [consol] game ,  the companies (except for gamestop) dont get anything though, lol

go ahead and say what you want, #1 is true to an extent.

I had forgotten about gametap. But yeah, that's a good start.

I probably shouldn't slate all demos. Some of them give a good showing, but an equal number of them are crap.

I hadn't considered returning... I didn't think it was an option. Then there is the option of renting games, which is way better than a demo but you'll have to pay a bit.

What I'm taking away from this discussion is that yes piracy exists, but there are a lot of options for the consumer to become informed. If somebody truley enjoys something they've played through a demo/renting/pirating then we just have to hope society has taught us well enough to make the right decision (if it's financially viable). Sadly, I have not rectified many injustices I have committed with regards to this matter. I one day hope to rectify them when I am no longer unemployed.

i wonder how much money the adult industry loses from piracy.

just wondering ::whistles::