This post was actually a part of a thread which was deleted (due to someone encouraging piracy in the thread) but I felt that a part of the thread concerning piracy was very interesing. So, I quote myself from that very thread:
I am certainly not going to say that I encourage piracy and I am not going to say that I find the original post in this thread suitable on this site (because it isn't because the rules of the forum is to be followed and that is my point of view on this very matter).
Though, what I do want to say is that the sad thing concerning much software is that it is unavailable to purchase as of today. I do understand that some people do get frustrated by the fact that they are willing to pay for software but can't do that because the software is unavailable. I can also understand why some people don't see the logic in paying a private person insane amounts of money to get hold of a piece of software which since long have gone out of print (because in the end this doesn't do anything good for the company behind the software, instead making some private person rich thanks to something that someone else has programmed... one could say that in some cases, like Radiant Silvergun for the Saturn, the cult status that the game has achieved, not only because of its greatness but also thanks to the insane prices it sells for on eBay and other places, helps the company to recieve some interest from the public and possibly place them in a better position on the market, but that isn't really the case with most old Amiga software).
Anyways... what I am trying to say here is that, although impossible, it wouldn't be so bad with a law that said that once a piece of software (or music, or film or whatever, really) is released it should be aviable for purchase, in one way or another, as long as the copyright is active. There will always be people that instead of spending hours and hours and yet more hours (and sometimes insane amounts of money) in their quest of legally obtaining a copy of some specific software takes the easy way out and obtain a pirate copy. And that is a fact.
My point of view is that piracy should be discussed, and never neglected or ignored.
Wouldn't that be something? Making the copyright law also include an element which says that the movie/music/software (in the cases which "piracy" could be of a real problem... not like in the case of a 50-year old refrigerator) must be aviable to purchase in one way or another as long as the copyright is active?
I do honestly not see the point in paying PUT WHATEVER PRIVATE PERSONS NAME HERE €200 to play Radiant Silvergun on my Saturn, since those money isn't reaching the authors of the game. If instead a service where I could buy the game at a reasoable price, maybe only in the shape of a standard pressed CD with the label of the game on it, would exist, not only do I think it would it prevent piracy in many cases but also bring in some extra cash to the ones that actually deserves it, the developers (and the company that supported the developers).
Do I have a valid point, or am I just way off here? Give me some point of views...
