lempkee wrote:
cool cpu: do u pirate dvd's just because u dont have a region free dvd player also==???
If he was talking about pirating things and not buying them, then you might have a point, but in the example he gave of Robocop3D not working, he had purchased the software.
I think that distributing software without permission on the basis that it has been 'improved' in some way, or some value has been added, should be illegal because you can't guaruntee that the people receiving it have bought a legal copy of the software (eg, the MyMp3 case where they were letting people listen to mp3s of CDs they owned - the problem was it would be easy for people to fool the system and get mp3s they have no legal right to, so I am not surprised or disappointed that it got shut down).
But in a case where someone makes modifications to software, then even if they obtain it as a copy from someone else, as long as they have a legal right to use the software, then that act of distribution imo should be considered a lawful one. Unfortunately now in the US, you aren't even allowed to make modifications to your own copy
Often we are told how we merely own a "licence" to use the software, and we don't physically own it - but if this is the case, surely our right to use the software should be independant of which physical source we are using? I never understood this, and it seems to me to be a case of them trying to have it both ways.
what do u do on your pc then?? , nothing works there...unless its a lucky day,..do u pirate it?? did windows crackers fix windows ...so it would work properly on all setups??
Keep things in the correct context. If he had legally obtained a version of Windows which didn't work for him, but a friend of his had a version of Windows which did work (either because it had been modified, or whatever), then imo it should be legal for him to use that copy instead (and as I say above, I don't see how it should be illegal).
Otoh, if this other guy is distributing his fixed version of Windows to all and sundry irrespective of whether they have a right to use Windows, then he'd most likely be committing copyright infringement.
