Piracy Right or Wrong?

[kuku_hbk]

Piracy is the one evil which is considered much worse than our indian ministers! But is it really that bad, I mean you get the softwares and games for pocket prices, you dont burn your pockets! But again it cuts off a huge revenue off the owner of that particular game or software and you are called as shameless. But again do you think that companies like Microsoft, sony, and other industry giants, which have made us slaves of computers, can't protect their cd's from being copied? Why dont they sue the Burning Cd' software giants (and dwarfs) like Nero or Roxio who should have a copyright checker built in themselves to stop this thing. Have you ever thought where the hell does that first crack of the CD comes from, who does it, Why? Is it helping him in any way, is he doing this for fun or revenge? Why does MS or any other software publisher for that matter don't lower that prices to 'affordable' in India where piracy is much bigger than life itself? Why, is the question, and if you have any answers or any other views feel free to post them here. Now its high time we decide, Shall we live with it or destroy it for good...or for the worse!

[freshseasons]

Whew! Lot of questions.Still…
No Piracy is still not considered worse than our ministers.Our Minister effortlessly top the evil list.
Its not necessary that softwares burn a hole in the pocket. Because if there is so much a chance we are always free to shift to freeware and other similar alternatives.No Software is so necessary that it has to burn a hole in the pocket. There will always be free alternative.
And yes you are very right. Software piracy does hurt the companies in a big way.
But Companies like Microsoft, Sony , Apple don’t make us slaves of computers at all. I don’t see anyone putting up gun to ones temple ejaculate command to obey the computers. Rather Computers are our humble servants. Yes sometimes like servants without whom we cannot do with .MS ,Apple ,Sony only made sure than using this servant was a pleasing experience.
Nero or Roxio don’t have copy right checker because it will hinder the process of knowing which actually is legimate backup and which is pirated. And trust me Nero will hate someone make an illegitimate copy of Nero.
The first crack of CD comes from Cracker groups .Most of these groups are banned. Still tracking them is really difficult.Companies don’t encourage them.Rather every new updated version tries to make the last cracked version redundant.
Microsoft did start with low priced software in the form of Windows Starter edition.It wasn’t much successful.Still they tried it .
Piracy is bad! That’s it ….simple word.Like it or not. Even though I do have some of the movies downloaded but the ones that deserve I still watch them in the theaters. The effort should be paid for. I don’t think Movie industry can survive on loss.And I don’t want a world without movies or songs.
Cracks and piracy will always be there.
But Software companies make softwares for people who pay and that particular segment of the population is what that keeps this computer world ticking.

[cynosure]

Buying softwares is no big deal given that they offer super cool thingies for their price. I mean just look at Windows. For an average user like me, it DOES NOT provide any good services that cannot be provided by OSS. The services I am talking about are those which are really neccessary for an everyday "non-geeky" user like myself.
I have tried some pirated softs and if I like them, I buy them. I have bought some good games after trying their pirated versions (Soul Reaver for example). But the kind of service that windows provides is not justifies by its price. For that we will always have OSS.
But yeah, M$ surely provides good hardware at nice price. Like my friend got a supercool webcam for ~2K (around 6~7MP). This is not bad.

[kuku_hbk]

[QUOTE=freshseasons]Whew! Lot of questions.Still…
No Piracy is still not considered worse than our ministers.Our Minister effortlessly top the evil list.
QUOTE]

Okay, I take back the minister thing, but what is a "pirated Backup"? Why the hell do you want a backup? Okay I understand to make sure if the original gets lost, but then cant the software firms ensure that only one copy be made and not more than? Yes they can, but they don't, that's the question I asked, Why not? No one will ever need more than one backup copy, of anything, be it music, films, softwares, games... Okay agreed we might loose the backup also, but then for that there can be another solution like giving a private ID of some kind which can be given to the respective software company's website or posted to them so that they know that we brought the software from them, and to make sure we are the person who brought it, they can do a scan, like a voice scan or something, (A software can be made to do this also) and after they are satisfied they provide us another copy with a minimal fee. Now wont this method work? Cumbersom it is, yes, but it can help to a certain extent to stop piracy, but no does this,why? Money you say. oh comon, they are loosing more money now as compared to what they will loose if the method i described above is deployed. What do you say, now?

[kuku_hbk]

Well well wasent that Mr."I hate piracy". This is what I wanted to show you, they don't take steps coz they don't care about this "****". Have you ever heard any company say 'We have lost this much coz of piracy'?Except for those entermainent people who want every cent they can, Well I never have and I will be damned if you ever did.Its people like you,me,all of us, who have created piracy and now don't want to take the neccesary measures to eradicate it. Deep down inside we know, if OSS doesn't work out, the shop round the corner sends pirated disc for Rs 50. Period.

[pc_game_lover2004]

Piracy is somewhat required for developing countries like India..

I mean we are not able to afford such high prices for eg. in usa game's cost is just $99 which for them is just like our 99 Rs. but for us the same game is for thousands... So piracy is partially right...

If they are cheating us with their dollars we are just paying back the foreigns...

3 cheers to moserbaer , t-series and the other companies who ultimately has realized the need and had fallen the prices to such an extent reachable by Indians...

But that's just old movies if the new one are at such prices who is such an idiot to but the pirated one for Rs.50 if the original although available when the film comes original in market will be much more cheaper than this like Rs. 28, 34, 45 etc...

[kuku_hbk]

Exactly, piracy is an evil, but a neccessary one.

[faraaz]

I shifted to Linux because VISTA has DRM built in...what do you think?

[codyhulk]

Piracy may be major upset for the Developer of the software but then major piracy happens to software which is trying to seperate us from our money.

eg. Windows XP. Which itself is made up of mixture of free developer tools on open source project. Only the programming that was required was to connect backend to frontend securely.

Why do I want to pay something which is free and forced on me? I don't want to pay for free application just because it will get Microsoft name attached to it.
eg. Media Player .. Good application but winamp is out there free.
All the codecs don't belong to microsoft, al the plugins were brought from free forums.

Its like Politician, if people feel they are trying to manipulate us, it will backfire on politician.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by faraaz

I shifted to Linux because VISTA has DRM built in...what do you think?

Tell me something, do you buy or use or download DRM content?

Originally Posted by CodyHulk

eg. Windows XP. Which itself is made up of mixture of free developer tools on open source project. Only the programming that was required was to connect backend to front end securely.

When Windows XP was released in 2001, Linux & Open Source distributions were working hard to get a working Desktop Environment. Have you worked for Microsoft? I would like to see some proof that MS used Open Source projects in the development & the programming was just for connecting the back end to front end.

Plz...Stop spreading FUD & Misconceptions. It is nothing like what u r talking about.

[Charan]

Originally Posted by faraaz

I shifted to Linux because VISTA has DRM built in...what do you think?

I buy DRM Protected songs from iTunes. Its much more simple for me to get a MP3 of any song via Limewire/FrostWire But I dont want to steal the effort put in by the artist.

I happly use both windows and linux without much problem.

[codyhulk]

Hit google search.

Same is happening with Windows Vista.

90% of software are copied from Mac os x and other free source.

Search youtube,

Bill Gates himself said that it is true that everything that is bundled with Microsoft isn't created by microsoft and it is freely available outside.

Only reason it is there is because only 10% of compute user worry and update the latest software while windows market its latest tool as ease for other 90% users.

eg.
See Mercury software in 2003/2004.
You will find out where did Windows media center idea come from.

Small list of software available way before Windows tried to apply it as thier own.

1. Paintbrush
2. Office (read about Lotus, Adobe, Wordspread)
3. WIndows tab viewer ( see google labs)
4. Glass theme ( search glass2k)
5. Gadgets (see yahoo/aol widgets)
6. Recycle bin ( read about apple sue Microsoft)
7. Window itself (read how windows 95 was copy from other software out)
8. Windows Media Player new (Sonicstage, Ambience and winamp)
9. Search (Google and google desktop)
10. Windows meeting space (skype)
11. Windows burners ( millions of them out there way before windows introduced it)

list continues foreever

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

When Windows XP was released in 2001, Linux & Open Source distributions were working hard to get a working Desktop Environment. Have you worked for Microsoft? I would like to see some proof that MS used Open Source projects in the development & the programming was just for connecting the back end to front end.

Plz...Stop spreading FUD & Misconceptions. It is nothing like what u r talking about.

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by codyhulk

Hit google search.

I am very lazy, plz point me to the proof location.

90% of software are copied from Mac os x and other free source.

Since you are new in this forum, I will have mercy on your ignorance.

Bill Gates himself said that it is true that everything that is bundled with Microsoft isn't created by microsoft and it is freely available outside.

Again, proof plz

Small list of software available way before Windows tried to apply it as thier own.

1. Paintbrush
2. Office (read about Lotus, Adobe, Wordspread)
3. WIndows tab viewer ( see google labs)
4. Glass theme ( search glass2k)
5. Gadgets (see yahoo/aol widgets)
6. Recycle bin ( read about apple sue Microsoft)
7. Window itself (read how windows 95 was copy from other software out)
8. Windows Media Player new (Sonicstage, Ambience and winamp)
9. Search (Google and google desktop)
10. Windows meeting space (skype)
11. Windows burners ( millions of them out there way before windows introduced it)

3rd party developers are the real innovators. Is it wrong for MS to integrate a feature in the OS itself?

[codyhulk]

THis is digit Magazine forum.. Read Magazine Books... June issue with Windows Vista.

Bill Gates enlisting Mac Os X features for VIsta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQmOmdYPKJQ

Bill gates talking about Vista isn't a copy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP0_uN42P44

Windows Vista did not steal ideas from Mac OS X! (sarcastic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaIUkwPybtM

Get the hint!!!

[esumitkumar]

piracy rocks man..if there were no torrents how wud we watch such world class dvd rip hollywood fllicks .........

[gxsaurav]

Bill Gates enlisting Mac Os X features for VIsta

R u sure u r not on Pot, where does Bill Gates say that the features are from OS X?

So if a Photo Viewer shows Photo's as thumbnails, it is copy of Mac OS X? Wow, I guess somebody never used Windows XP thumbnail view or ACDSee classic

That video infact shows how Vista is superior then OS X

2nd video has lip sync problem, I doubt its authenticity

You should get the facts right. Integrating features in an OS is copying ya right.....then I guess Windows should just give the kernel in a blank DVD

By the way, Piracy rulzz for learning & education, but sux if u r capable of buying the app but still pirate it.

[sakumar79]

^^ @gx_saurav, Even for learning and education, most of the big software now come with academic editions that make it a bit more affordable, which may not always help though...

If you are inclined towards Linux, this topic becomes more or less meaningless. Even though there are many commercial software in Linux, most people who enter the Linux world usually do it to get away from MS stream where they neither want to pay for the OS nor pirate it, or they believe in the OSS/GPL philosophy...

In Mac, I wont comment, as I have no idea... I believe piracy is happening there also, but I am not aware of what extent it is...

In Windows, the situation is complex... In developping countries, you have to look at the monetary situation... While piracy is wrong, many people are either unaware of the piracy, or feel that there is no alternative to piracy... But, even if they want to stick to Windows (which is now becoming a little more affordable to middle-class Indians due to increased standard of living), there are many free alternatives to many popular software these days (Photoshop, MS Office are awesome, but there are decent free alternatives if you dont need the high-end features that may be missing)... It is necessary to create awareness in people to either buy Windows, and try these alternatives, or to try out Linux and see if it fits their bill... Sometimes, even very costly software like 3D Studio Max has freeware alternative like Blender... However, in specialised fields, penetration of good free alternatives to costly software is limited. And the prices of those software are beyond reach for the people in developping countries...

I feel that the big companies can release country-specific software (for example, saying For Sale and Use in India only), and provide the same software at a lower rate based on relative GDP or something (the poorer a country is, the cheaper the version will be, but the version will be legal for use within that country only)... If they release such versions and provide full features, I feel that they will gain more in the long run by covering many converts from piracy... But of course, I dont have any idea how this will work out in practice since some people in the developped nations may use software purchased in the developping nations at a lower rate illegally... With enough awareness though, I think it will help bridge the gap between developped and developping nations, but I dont know for sure...

Arun

[rakeshishere]

@gx_saurav
Looks like u got a new competitor in the forum

ONTOPIC:
Piracy is really helpful for Learning but I personally hate it

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by sakumar79

^^ @gx_saurav, Even for learning and education, most of the big software now come with academic editions that make it a bit more affordable, which may not always help though...

Ya, tell me about it. The cheapest License for 3Ds Max 9 is worth $400. Real price is $3500 for multiple nodes. I would rather buy new hardware then use $400 on an academic license of 3ds Max.

U r right, the biggest reason for Piracy is price difference. Dollar or Euro 150 for a GeForce 8600GT might not be a lot in value in Europe or USA, but Rs 7500 is a lot in India, & you also know that.

most people who enter the Linux world usually do it to get away from MS stream where they neither want to pay for the OS nor pirate it, or they believe in the OSS/GPL philosophy...

100% people I have seen here with me are running Linux just for one reason, to get an hold on how the OS works & to learn to work on the OS. In other words, Education. Then again, I was only one who actually tried Installing Fedora Core 4 in my friends cyber cafe to install Shake 4.1

In Mac, I wont comment, as I have no idea... I believe piracy is happening there also, but I am not aware of what extent it is...

there are many free alternatives to many popular software these days (Photoshop, MS Office are awesome, but there are decent free alternatives if you dont need the high-end features that may be missing)... It is necessary to create awareness in people to either buy Windows,

About both Windows, Linux & Mac .

even very costly software like 3D Studio Max has freeware alternative like Blender...

Off topic : Blender is a joke compared to Full 3ds Max :-P

I feel that the big companies can release country-specific software (for example, saying For Sale and Use in India only), and provide the same software at a lower rate based on relative GDP or something (the poorer a country is, the cheaper the version will be, but the version will be legal for use within that country only)... If they release such versions and provide full features, I feel that they will gain more in the long run by covering many converts from piracy... But of course, I dont have any idea how this will work out in practice since some people in the developped nations may use software purchased in the developping nations at a lower rate illegally... With enough awareness though, I think it will help bridge the gap between developped and developping nations, but I dont know for sure...

I actually suggested this 4 years back in my blog on Joeuser.com which I don't use anymore.

Looks like u got a new competitor in the forum

must resist kicking the arse of ignorant fanboys

[codyhulk]

Exactly.
Why to pay for something which you can get at much cheaper rates.

For me I don't use all the features provided by MS. Maybe if Microsoft provided, Check list and rating the software accordingly I may buy it like many ebooks online.

But majorly it doesn't meet my criteria.

Microsoft is providing Upgrade versions for thier OS. I find them much much cheaper and something I can afford. Just rs 900. I actually did buy it. But if someone like Norton/ Mcafee forces me to buy thier software every 2 year just for them to provide upgrade of same thing. It isn't even getting upgraded properly. This is where Piracy for me comes in.

I just won't pay for same thing again and again just for stupid upgrades. Also those softwares don't even run smoothly. So actually not worth the dime they are charging

Originally Posted by sakumar79

^^ @gx_saurav, Even for learning and education, most of the big software now come with academic editions that make it a bit more affordable, which may not always help though...

If you are inclined towards Linux, this topic becomes more or less meaningless. Even though there are many commercial software in Linux, most people who enter the Linux world usually do it to get away from MS stream where they neither want to pay for the OS nor pirate it, or they believe in the OSS/GPL philosophy...

In Mac, I wont comment, as I have no idea... I believe piracy is happening there also, but I am not aware of what extent it is...

In Windows, the situation is complex... In developping countries, you have to look at the monetary situation... While piracy is wrong, many people are either unaware of the piracy, or feel that there is no alternative to piracy... But, even if they want to stick to Windows (which is now becoming a little more affordable to middle-class Indians due to increased standard of living), there are many free alternatives to many popular software these days (Photoshop, MS Office are awesome, but there are decent free alternatives if you dont need the high-end features that may be missing)... It is necessary to create awareness in people to either buy Windows, and try these alternatives, or to try out Linux and see if it fits their bill... Sometimes, even very costly software like 3D Studio Max has freeware alternative like Blender... However, in specialised fields, penetration of good free alternatives to costly software is limited. And the prices of those software are beyond reach for the people in developping countries...

I feel that the big companies can release country-specific software (for example, saying For Sale and Use in India only), and provide the same software at a lower rate based on relative GDP or something (the poorer a country is, the cheaper the version will be, but the version will be legal for use within that country only)... If they release such versions and provide full features, I feel that they will gain more in the long run by covering many converts from piracy... But of course, I dont have any idea how this will work out in practice since some people in the developped nations may use software purchased in the developping nations at a lower rate illegally... With enough awareness though, I think it will help bridge the gap between developped and developping nations, but I dont know for sure...

Arun

[gxsaurav]

Originally Posted by codyhulk

Exactly.
Why to pay for something which you can get at much cheaper rates.

For me I don't use all the features provided by MS. Maybe if Microsoft provided, Check list and rating the software accordingly I may buy it like many ebooks online.

Good, if you like it buy it. Just don't spread wrong misconceptions that MS copied this or that. By this logic Linux is the biggest copy cat & Mac OS...well, they don't even have there own in house kernel.

But if someone like Norton/ Mcafee forces me to buy thier software every 2 year just for them to provide upgrade of same thing. It isn't even getting upgraded properly. This is where Piracy for me comes in.

Actually, you can look in the market for Alternatives.

I just won't pay for same thing again and again just for stupid upgrades. Also those softwares don't even run smoothly. So actually not worth the dime they are charging

Ok one thing about smooth, taking an example of NAV 2007. Symantec learned few things from NAV 2006's pathetic consumer responce. They made NAV 2K7 fast, less resource hig & idiot proof. It runs very smooth on 512 MB RAM or more based computers

[kumarmohit]

Hmph!

BTW, Is this thread meant to bash piracy or to bash each other's operating systems?

[Charan]

Yea WTH are we talking about Copying from one OS to other!!! this thread was ment to discuss about Piracy.. i.e., paying for the software and not who copied what feature..

[ThinkFree]

Piracy:right for those who just like the software/find useful for those who want to save their money. Wrong for those who spend months toiling hard sleepless nights to write and test the code of program

[ECE0105]

Happened to chk the link by cody and looked at the "related" videos....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgriTO8UHvs

This is amusing...

[xbonez]

obviously piracy is wrong. thw question is can we refrain from buying pirated goods or not

[gxsaurav]

If you can buy the software, or if you make money using the software (like you are using it in some studio, & you earn lots of money through that software) then buy it.

If you are a student, either Pirate or look for student edition of that software. Do some research, almost all the software students needs are available in some sort of education license. If not then look for free alternatives, & trust me, there are free alternatives available for everything in Windows, which might or might not be as good as the paid one. But its a trade you have to make.

If you are a student & also comfortable with Linux, then switch to it. But contribute something back, I don't know if even the mod contributes something back to the Linux community. At least if I liked Linux, I would have given hell lots of UIs back to the community which they need a lot.

Linux is like the Indian software industry, solid back end...but pathetic front end & end user experience.

[mustang]

piracy is a very big problem which have been by the market/industries at present time.it effects the quality of product and also the economic growth.

[ax3]

piracy is good 4 us ALL ............


WITHOUT piracy, there wouldnt have been many educational centers 4 Oracle, Animation softwares etc ........


they just cost in LAKHs ....... do they renew it ??? no ...... just use cracks ......


have seen many institutes doing the same ..........


& as 4 movies r concerned, y shouldnt v save money 4 these idiotic BOLLYWOOD movies ...... especially KARAN JOHAR 1`s ...........


spending 250rs on 1 movie is yyYUCKS ........


i like 2 save MONEY .............


DO U ??? ......................

[entrana]

think of it this way
people who get pirated stuff= cant afford original
cant afford original= wont buy original
wont buy original = no profit for the producers
now,
buying pirated= no profit for the producers
i dont get it, its same thing we buy pirated because we cant afford original stuff and in the first place we werent gonna buy the original stuff anyways so how can they say that they are losing this much money which they havent even earned, so how can piracy be a bad thing, though illegal
why do people try to stop piracy its something like the revolution of the earth that cant be stopped