The Anonymous Cracked Software Poll?

[mrdellano]

anyway i think all the people who complain about cracked software are upset because for so long music making was such an elitist field but now teenagers are making better music with cheap pc and cubase than some of the "professionals" are making with full blown rigs.

i wouldn't say ALL the people, just the ones who are $5,000+ deep lol jk

but yeah, kids are getting better at recording, and they can do it because they have the "resources" to tweak their skills at a professional level without waiting 10-15 years to be able to afford a plugin or two.

is it wrong to use pirated software? i could care less. in the end, you reap what you sow and it's not my place to be judgmental. that's a job for an entirely different authority.

 

[Toddskins]

issues

It's been a long time since I shared this information, and I'm not sure if anything has or has not changed in the years regarding this. Correct me if you know something that I am not aware of on this issue.

When you buy software, it comes with a license to use. Now, as best as I can remember from my Law School days, and common knowledge of the land, a license means you do not possess ownership.

A license allows you to use something contingent upon various stipulations. And when those stipulations cease to be honored, the license can be rescinded, or it is automatically null and void at that point, as the general rule.

But here's the interesting thing: The government taxes software like it is a commodity, or an item for purchase, which then means, according to law, that the item is owned. And an item that is owned, it is not subject to the rules of a license.

This is the dilemma that was faced by the courts when software sales for the PC began to get enormous back in the early 1980's, and the government said, "Hey, we need to get our paws on that money, too!"

It was a unique issue that had not yet been resolved - the digital medium called software, and in truth, it has still not been resolved satisfactorily.

Either it's a license and you do not pay taxes, or it is owned in which case you do pay a sales tax.

In the early years, the government attempted to justify the "tax" by saying that the consumer was buying a book (because in those days, all software came with owner's manuals, by and large). But that was ridiculous because nobody was paying hundreds of dollars for an owner's manual. And, as an example, Adobe Photoshop, regardless of the year and version, always sold near $1,000. Nobody was paying for a book and it was all a scam for the government to tax software which was a license. People screwed again by the government.

And then, as time progressed, companies put the owner's manual on the disk itself, which annihilated any idea that people were paying a tax for a book.

 

[marshallpk89]

I have mixed feelings on this, while I feel like it is wrong to pirate software, I started recording on a pirated version of cubase guitar tracks (I think thats what its called) and a quarter inch to eight inch adaptor into my pc, so while I think it is wrong, I probably wouldn't have started recording if it wasn't for this marvelous cd someone handed me one day.

I have since moved up, and paid my way there

 

[ez_willis]

So y'all know, the admins of the board can view who voted in these polls..

I'm not at all opposed to people using cracked software.

 

[loquat]

I have in the past used pirated software. I have never been worried that someone is going to kick in my door because of it. But I avoid it now because it's more hassle than it's worth. Here are a few reasons why:

1. There are very often stability issues with pirated software: it is compromised during the cracking process OR it's not a current release (say a 2.0 vs 2.02.)

2. Pirating is often an excuse for NOT learning how to use the software you already own or can download as freeware. If you need the latest and greatest VST virtual synth or effect the chances are you aren't using your current arsenal very well.

3. Nowadays in the the world of DAWs and virtual synths sample libraries are huge. The upcoming release of Komplete 6 is 60 gigabytes, my (legit) copy of Ableton Live Suite is about 30 gigabytes and the list goes on. These files are too big and are updated too often to pirate. Incomplete sample libraries and sudden missing samples are a nightmare.

Those are my three reasons not to pirate. And one of the benefits of making do with what you have is you often learn something.

 

[benjammin105]

I live by the linux philosophy. Software should be free. I BOUGHT my computer and I PAY for my internet every month. So why should I feel bad for using it to its highest potential and getting the most out of it.

 

[Steenamaroo]

because somebody somewhere spent hours/days/weeks writing the software that you use, and when you complain about it, they write updates to fix the glitches, and i imaging,,,most people who feel the should be entitled to software for free couldn't have written it themselves...


me...i pay for tax and insurance and i paid for lessons and a license...so....i just steal cars straight from the showrooms

to be honest, i just want to get the highest potential out of my insurance premiums

 

[DaveO]

Very simple logic to me. Yet some can't seem to grasp that concept. They would NEVER consider doing something as stupid as going to their job every day and refusing to let their boss pay them for their work. Yet they think that software developers should work for free.

I've also always said that simple cowardice is a part of it as well. They don't walk into Guitar Center, steal a guitar of their choice, and flip off the security cameras as they walk out without paying for it, do they? Of course not. Is it a morality thing? Of course not. They stand a good chance of getting caught and facing time in prison. That's the reason they don't do it.

People pirate software and music and other content from the internet because it's easy and they know they won't get caught. It's the same reason those people probably picked on the small, weak kid when they were in school. It was easy to do and the victim couldn't do anything about it.

Then the *real* entertainment starts when they start trying to justify pirating. The stupidity and ignorance that comes out couldn't be dreamed up by the best comedy writers!

 

[kcearl]

Rather than some pretty weak analogies and/or general ad hominem abuse it would be a far more interesting exercise to hear peoples solution on the problem..

Lets face it piracy will not go away by the use of dongles, codes, internet activation, draconian government enforcement etc etc..In fact I know many users who deliberately look for companies that don't impose these security measures so in fact they are losing legitimate paying customers..I know because other than the Line6 products I'm one of them..

The music industry has already realised that the way music is distributed has changed and they are already looking at methods by which artists, and themselves, still get paid...In fact I think in years to come, and once the industry has adjusted, the artist is going to have more creative control and many of the middle men are going to disappear..good thing imo

Now how does the software industry combat this?

My suggestion is it's better to make a smaller profit from more users; so rather than try to stamp out piracy from the security of the product why not try to win over the downloaders (or pirate thieves huh? ) that use pirated software out of curiosity and/or because they could never afford it (some will never be persuaded of course)..why not pay, along with your broadband charges, a standard fee that varies depending on download sizes...then you have free reign to download what you want..the money is distributed proportionally depending on company software downloaded..

Music companies have already started at looking at a method like this for mp3's....software could be on a different level...updates would also be paid for even though it wouldn't affect each users monthly account..perhaps this could make up the shortfall, or perhaps those on the fence who dabble with some pirate software would go legit??

I know this is just an embryonic idea but saying its just like "stealing a guitar" or "you're all just stupid for trying to make excuses" sure is going to see the demise of piratebay etc etc

 

[ez_willis]

Now how does the software industry combat this?

who cares? let them figure it out, then let the crackers figure out a way around that.

 

[kcearl]

you really cant find an interesting thread can you?

thanks for your participation though

 

[ez_willis]

you really cant find an interesting thread can you?

thanks for your participation though

no problem.

 

[gecko zzed]

Now how does the software industry combat this?

I thik software piracy is inherently wrong, and I'm an ardent defender of intellectual property rights. I, too, believe, that it's like walking into a showroom and stealing a car. And I too would use ad hominem arguments against those who do it.

However, I also recognise the realities of life . . . we will always have people who do not respect other's property . . . and I think your question is an important one. I do believe that software companies need to rethink their approach. I acknowledge that this is difficult . . . and we have seen this with the belated efforts of music companies to deal with internet distribution.

I don't have solutions, but I do have an anecdote. Many years ago I worked for RCA. They were experiencing considerable pilferage problems; employees taking home LPs (it was all vinyl then) despite the extensive security measures. What they ended up doing was to, each month, let employees choose two of that month's releases which they could have for free. This cost the company quite a bit, but the effect was to reduce the uncontrolled pilferage. The cost of the giveaways was markedly less than the cost of pilferage.

 

[kcearl]

I thik software piracy is inherently wrong, and I'm an ardent defender of intellectual property rights. I, too, believe, that it's like walking into a showroom and stealing a car. And I too would use ad hominem arguments against those who do it.

However, I also recognise the realities of life . . . we will always have people who do not respect other's property . . . and I think your question is an important one. I do believe that software companies need to rethink their approach. I acknowledge that this is difficult . . . and we have seen this with the belated efforts of music companies to deal with internet distribution.

I don't have solutions, but I do have an anecdote. Many years ago I worked for RCA. They were experiencing considerable pilferage problems; employees taking home LPs (it was all vinyl then) despite the extensive security measures. What they ended up doing was to, each month, let employees choose two of that month's releases which they could have for free. This cost the company quite a bit, but the effect was to reduce the uncontrolled pilferage. The cost of the giveaways was markedly less than the cost of pilferage.

That was along my lines of thinking...hence the suggestions under the question...better to have a larger amount of smaller profits than a larger amount of profit alongside a large amount of theft..

At the moment its very hard to even want to stay legit...morals or not

 

[ez_willis]

I thik software piracy is inherently wrong, and I'm an ardent defender of intellectual property rights. I, too, believe, that it's like walking into a showroom and stealing a car.

what if the manufacturers make the previous version of your car obsolete every few months and require you to purchase the updated version in order to continue driving their car? And what if the dealerships just threw out the older versions? And what if someone figured out how to make those old cars run without all of the newest bells and whistles that you really don't even need to get from point A to point B? And what if the people that drove those cars wouldn't be driving at all if it weren't for those old cars because they refused to be raped by the auto industry?

 

[kcearl]

what if the manufacturers make the previous version of your car obsolete every few months and require you to purchase the updated version in order to continue driving their car? And what if the dealerships just threw out the older versions? And what if someone figured out how to make those old cars run without all of the newest bells and whistles that you really don't even need to get from point A to point B? And what if the people that drove those cars wouldn't be driving at all if it weren't for those old cars because they refused to be raped by the auto industry?

you're not forced to buy updates..just as you're not forced to buy the latest model car

I think the software is sometimes ridiculously priced..but I also think you can record etc on the cheap..I know I do, I also know that I try to replace software with analogue..when drum components from 18 years like the R8M sound better than software nowadays then thats where my cash is going...not on some set of samples from a drummer I've never heard of

but it cant go on as a free for all either...younger folks (hell I was one too) will prolly always like to download the latest "whatever"...I bet most pirated software users have half a dozen DAWs on there PC..are they really learning how to use them to their full extent? I mean one of our best homerecorders here uses reaper..$60 reaper...how can he manage to do those recordings without Pro-Cubonartude 9.56 Producer Live Edition HD

 

[ez_willis]

one of our best homerecorders here uses reaper..$60 reaper...how can he manage to do those recordings without Pro-Cubonartude 9.56 Producer Live Edition HD

I'm not using Reaper??

 

[kcearl]

I'm not using Reaper??

you know dude..I get confused..is it you that records his daughters flute or not?

 

[kcearl]

I thik software piracy is inherently wrong, and I'm an ardent defender of intellectual property rights. I, too, believe, that it's like walking into a showroom and stealing a car. And I too would use ad hominem arguments against those who do it.

really...just like stealing a car?

..that's preposterous

much of pirated software is used by curious kids..is that like stealing a car in a showroom?

much of pirated software is used by people who go on to buy legitimate software when they do take it seriously..is that like stealing a car in a showroom?

downloading a couple of hundred dollars program that you probably wouldn't buy in the first place is like stealing a 20k car from a showroom?

However, I also recognise the realities of life . . . we will always have people who do not respect other's property . . . and I think your question is an important one. I do believe that software companies need to rethink their approach. I acknowledge that this is difficult . . . and we have seen this with the belated efforts of music companies to deal with internet distribution.

I don't have solutions, but I do have an anecdote. Many years ago I worked for RCA. They were experiencing considerable pilferage problems; employees taking home LPs (it was all vinyl then) despite the extensive security measures. What they ended up doing was to, each month, let employees choose two of that month's releases which they could have for free. This cost the company quite a bit, but the effect was to reduce the uncontrolled pilferage. The cost of the giveaways was markedly less than the cost of pilferage.

now that seem like a sensible approach to a significant problem



it would be just like the car showroom owner giving away trade in cars to potential car show room thieves to stop them taking the new stuff surely?


or would that be a pretty absurd analogy as well..

hang on..pirated software gives you aids..there you go

 

[dodgeaspen]

I have no patience for this kind of shit.

You would never think of stealing a guitar or an amplifier from a music store mostly because you'd never make it out the door with it. But it's all right, no big deal, no harm done to pirate software --- large, small or otherwise --- that someone put a whole bunch of time, creativity, knowledge and plain old sweat into.

My take on it -- fuck all y'all who use pirated software.

I had to laugh at this post. HEHEHEHE!!! So your saying that you NEVER download songs or Cd's to your computer (or anything else) that you didn't buy? If you have then you are as bad and falsely condemning the very people that you say you have no patience for. YES I have done it before and after trying the product out and liking it, I BOUGHT it.