How much pirated Amiga software did you have?

[KThunder]

I've always liked PD games and demos, if a game interested me enough to want to play it I figured the author deserved their money. If they wanted too much I just wouldn't get it.

People think of software differently than hardware and it is weird. They will pay thousands of dollars for computer hardware and upgrades but 50 bucks for a program they would use all the time? No way! that's too much!
I saw in Amiga Format once (think it was amiga format) a reviewer talking about piracy  and he said something to the effect of "this isn't charity, if it's a good program pay the author what they are asking"

"That computer isn't worth $500 so instead of buying it I'll just swipe it." Why does that statement make any less sense than stealing software, from MS or Ubisoft, or Ocean, or an independant publisher.

I have discussions with my brothers all the time about this stuff, they pony up the dough for xbox 360's and ps3's but $50 for a game inconceivable!

[KThunder]

I think there should be a poll asking if people think that anyone should be able to make a living writing software. I use lots of freeware, open source and pd games and stuff but I see the value of commercial software; I just haven't bought a real lot of it.

[KThunder]

@pentad
You have the time right here and now, tell us what the legal position is. Was it ok to copy software and share it?

[KThunder]

What all this means is that an individual has no chance to make a living at software or music on their own. They need a large powerful company with tight controls to protect them and get the money. And large companies have to fight for everything they can in court and with their software and music controls.

Yeah that sounds great for all of us.

Artists and programmers have as much right to profit from their creation, as we have to use them. But the thing is there are probably 1000 consumers to every producer. And with digital copying a cd or movie or game can be leaked and out and around the world before the creator has any chance of making any money. We complain about large companies but we make them all the more necissary by what we are doing.

[KThunder]

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=499114>1=28101

this is going to become commonplace...

Most copyright holders don't usually go after individuals, but there is no reason they can't. It's all a matter of incentive, and we are giving them lots of incentive. If they actually lost money or not, you enjoyed their creation without them benefitting. That is what they are in the business for after all, it's not like freeware or open source. These people are trying to make a living, not just enjoying a hobby.

[KThunder]

You're right. BUT, if an individual downloads your application and uses it because they cannot afford to buy it then its probably a fair bet that suing them isn't going to get you anywhere either. It just runs up costs for lawyers and chokes the legal system.

The way to attack the problem is to go after those who distribute copies of software on a commercial scale; stop the supply of these products. Then make home use/educational/... versions of your applications available at a reasonable price. For games, go to an electronic distribution mechanism and lower your prices significantly - charging 10% less for downloadable versions when a significant chunk of the cost of software is in the box, delivery and artwork is offensive.

This is a recurring argument, we don't have much money so we wouldn't have ought it anyway. Or they are charging too much, or sueing us wouldn't help since you wouldn't get much...or whatever...

And I see that, I grew up in a middle class family, and I have been a student. My only question is this: Is it ok then for poor people to do whatever they want? A pirated copy of Windows, MS office, thousands of songs, dozens of movies, dozens of games, etc... Is that ok? Would the courts see that as ok? If you put a significant amount of time and money into producing a product only for it to be copied and distrubuted without you so you can't make any money keeping you in a stupid low paying job. Is that ok?

All so that a group of people, who If they really put their mind to it could pay, can say arrrrrrgh!!!! I'm a pirate.

It's not about the money, you could pay if you wanted, you don't really make any distinction between a large company, and a starving artist, or MS and a lone wolf programmer. You want the content and you don't care about who produced it. You think it is cool to be a pirate.
pay hundreds for hardware but think its a crime to pay 50 for a game....The hardware is worthless without the software, so which is really more important?