Beefy Boxes and Bandwidth Generously Provided by pair Networks
"be consistent"
 
PerlMonks  

Re: Re: Software piracy- what would you do?

by PixelRat (Sexton)
on Nov 27, 2001 at 14:41 UTC ( [id://127769]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Re: Software piracy- what would you do?
in thread Software piracy- what would you do?

Morals and law often donīt mix.

I morally support the kid that downloads software X because he/she canīt afford it (and uses it only for personal knowledge gaining), but "stealing" software is a crime.

Hereīs a definition problem as well: What is stealing?
If someone steals my VCR, my VCR is not longer in my possesion but if someone steals my software he/she gets a copy but I still have it.
Is all copying stealing unless the software etc is realease under, say, the GPL?
(Yes iīm oversimplifying, but you get the point).

Supporting the community
I run GNU/Linux (SuSE 7.2 even) and Perl is installed as default, it also comes with great Perl documentation. It even includes a whole damn book (Thank you).
Even though I probably didnīt need any more docs (got the default stuff and joined Perlmonks) I bought Programming Perl (OīReilly). Why? To support the community.
I think this is one important lesson to be learned: Even if most software/docs is free when it comes to GNU/Linux people need money. So instead of stealing docs or software, buy it, because the long run I think the GNU/Linux (and Perl and ...) will flurish even more.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Re: Software piracy- what would you do?
by shotgunefx (Parson) on Nov 27, 2001 at 15:18 UTC
    Definitely should support the community. I think it's unrealistic to expect to take without giving anything and still get something of value. I own just about every Perl 0RA book there is and the CDs. Some of the best money I've ever spent. Outside of utter poverty, I don't understand why so many monks appear to not to have some version of the Perl Cookbook. Money very well spent.

    I think another big factor with theft of Music (Especially), Movies, Software and etc is that many people view it as getting ripped off.

    Music labels could probably sell CD's at $7 US retail and still make ton's of money. A kid can make one for 60 cents. I know there's marketing and failed bands but they still make tons upon tons of money.

    On the other hand, they try their hardest to create an intense compulsive urge to buy their products (or your not cool.) in youth who have a limited amount of cash to drop on consumables. Sounds like they're sleeping in the beds they made.

    I think the megaconglomerates charging slightly more fair prices would do a lot to alleviate some of the problems.

    -Lee

    "To be civilized is to deny one's nature."

Log In?
Username:
Password:

What's my password?
Create A New User
Domain Nodelet?
Node Status?
node history
Node Type: note [id://127769]
help
Chatterbox?
and the web crawler heard nothing...

How do I use this?Last hourOther CB clients
Other Users?
Others goofing around in the Monastery: (4)
As of 2024-03-19 11:03 GMT
Sections?
Information?
Find Nodes?
Leftovers?
    Voting Booth?

    No recent polls found