Quote: "That's the big moral dilemma isn't it - if you don't have the money to buy the software, what gave you the right to steal it?"
i didn't read most, cause no doubt most point will be either for or agint it
that statement above is the real statement that will turn an ordinary person into a crinimal.
at the end of the day thats all it comes down to, can you justify stealing it. Can you justify the difference between stealing some software or stealing an automobile?
i know which gives a better buzz when you do it, also know which one gets your mates killed cause you've crossed the wrong person.
software piracy is a faceless crime, it isn't a victimless crime, its simply faceless. Because you can't see the people your actions affect you think that it doesn't affect anyone.
Discreet doesn't miss $3,500 that they wouldn't make anyway - fact!
however Max4 was only $1,200 they doubled that for Max5 ... why?
because they have the figures of how many pirated version of thier software there is, and so the industry picks up the bill for all of the slackers.
Where does this bill go?
Publishers get rid of dead-weight companies, which are companies whos software doesn't meet quotas and more oftenly than not are just small companies no matter how big thier assets are.
Then there is also the belt-tightening on current companies, which means that salaries are cut even lower than they are ... in a few years time most pro's won't be earning any more than someone at burger king. (the low end staff aren't that far off now!)
Third and final thing is to foot the bill directly onto the consumer, ie the legal customers of the end product.
So rather than when you nick a car affecting just the inconvenience of someone and insurance costs (perhaps dealership losses too).
you're affecting so many people but just taking one piece of software.
but hey its so much easier to know you've screwed over 100 odd people that you'll never see eh.
