Piracy?!
Started by Joseph Moore59 · · 👁 6 views · 32 replies
Participants
#22 ·
slycrane94 said:At least you guys are lucky enough to have decent cops.
Yeah, well, it's hard to be an officer if you aren't a complete idiot.
#23 ·
Angela Roberts said:Yeah, you can't be a cop if you aren't stupid.
Well, did you see what happened in Sweden? Honestly, it isn't really their fault when the government acts like a total sellout just to please big industry, but still.
#24 ·
fadedtrucker19 said:What's the big deal?
Well, if you aren't running a firewall, an antivirus, SpyBot & TeaTimer, and a browser that isn't Internet Explorer, then sure, that might bother you.
Personally, those sites don't phase me one bit... even when I'm not browsing from Linux.
The reason it doesn't bother you is probably because you don't have antivirus installed, while mine pops up every five minutes trying to download some virus file.👍
#25 ·
Can someone please explain to me why piracy is supposedly bad for America?
Here’s my take: say someone here in the States buys a legitimate copy of Windows and Office. They pay Microsoft, and the vast majority of that cash flows straight out of the US and into Microsoft's coffers. America sees absolutely nothing from it, aside from maybe a box, a disc, and some useless paperwork—likely printed in China—while a significant amount of capital just vanishes abroad.
Almost all major software vendors are foreign-owned anyway. For home users, where you can't even get decent technical support (just try getting a helpful response from Microsoft regarding an OEM Windows license at your house), it feels like we're just handing money over to foreigners. And very wealthy foreigners at that.
Sure, a portion of that money goes toward state taxes. But if the computer owner hadn't bought those specific licenses, they could have spent that money on local goods instead—maybe a solid desk or a nice ergonomic office chair. That would support local workers, who might then turn around and spend money elsewhere in the community (something Bill Gates certainly isn't going to do).
The same logic applies to all software, movies, music, and any other copyrighted material. Consuming these products is essentially importing intangible goods, which—under different regulations—could be obtained at a much lower cost. On a global scale, copyright seems to primarily benefit the US; everyone else is just an importer while the US acts as the sole exporter.
So, can someone please explain how the current copyright situation is actually beneficial for America?
Here’s my take: say someone here in the States buys a legitimate copy of Windows and Office. They pay Microsoft, and the vast majority of that cash flows straight out of the US and into Microsoft's coffers. America sees absolutely nothing from it, aside from maybe a box, a disc, and some useless paperwork—likely printed in China—while a significant amount of capital just vanishes abroad.
Almost all major software vendors are foreign-owned anyway. For home users, where you can't even get decent technical support (just try getting a helpful response from Microsoft regarding an OEM Windows license at your house), it feels like we're just handing money over to foreigners. And very wealthy foreigners at that.
Sure, a portion of that money goes toward state taxes. But if the computer owner hadn't bought those specific licenses, they could have spent that money on local goods instead—maybe a solid desk or a nice ergonomic office chair. That would support local workers, who might then turn around and spend money elsewhere in the community (something Bill Gates certainly isn't going to do).
The same logic applies to all software, movies, music, and any other copyrighted material. Consuming these products is essentially importing intangible goods, which—under different regulations—could be obtained at a much lower cost. On a global scale, copyright seems to primarily benefit the US; everyone else is just an importer while the US acts as the sole exporter.
So, can someone please explain how the current copyright situation is actually beneficial for America?
#26 ·
slycrane94 said:Also, I'm not even sure where you picked all that up. Even in Sweden, there are pirates selling stuff at flea markets.
One spot was a sci-fi bookstore at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, and the other was this massive two-story CD and DVD shop right near downtown. We definitely weren't just buying stuff from some random street vendor! 😬
#27 ·
And what kind of prices were we looking at? You can sometimes find clips for up to 70 cents or DVDs for around $1.50, but that’s usually just for the ancient stuff or things nobody actually wants to buy anyway.
#28 ·
I am an American. As I have previously observed, there is a certain undeniable, if somewhat exhausting, truth to what John Palmer4 is suggesting here.
Well, I suppose you wouldn't find it quite so irritating since you aren't currently being harassed by pop-ups every five minutes begging you to download some malware, but for those of us actually running an antivirus, this whole situation is a relentless nightmare.👍
Of course I have antivirus software installed.
And if they try to tell me I’m just out here attempting to download some malware—fine, let's say I didn't.
Oops.
#29 ·
slycrane94 said:And what were the prices like? Sometimes you'll see audio for up to $0.70 or DVDs for about $1.50, but that's usually just for ancient stuff or things nobody actually wants.
Take Emerson, Lake & Palmer, for example—3 CDs for $1.80 (buying them individually costs more, but it's great how the price drops when you bundle them). That’s just one example. My buddy used to pick up classic rock CDs for maybe $1.00 to $1.20 each, but
a) you can't find that kind of deal here in the US,
b) and even if you could, they'd cost way more than $50, because high-quality classic pressings are insanely expensive.
Honestly, from what I've seen, music and movie prices in America are higher than over there, and the selection is way smaller!
The truth is, we weren't exactly buying whatever was "hot" at the moment, so maybe that's why the prices stayed reasonable. Who knows how much people would pay for some old-school hits or today's teen pop trash? 😬
Sure, there was plenty of junk too—like getting 5 items (DVDs or CDs) for $1.00—but we never found 5 things we actually wanted for that little money. 😁There was all sorts of random stuff, like yodelers, Elvis Presley impersonators, and whatnot...
#30 ·
Since we've already opened this topic:
What kind of legal repercussions and sanctions are actually on the table if someone is caught and proven to be using pirated software? I'm looking at the legal framework regarding:
a) corporations
b) individuals ??
What kind of legal repercussions and sanctions are actually on the table if someone is caught and proven to be using pirated software? I'm looking at the legal framework regarding:
a) corporations
b) individuals ??
#31 ·
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 3 CDs for $18
If you actually care about quality, you’re making a wise investment! Honestly, it’s worth paying much more than that just to have them in your collection!
When it comes to the whole piracy debate, I find it quite acceptable—much like any other form of "crime" where you aren't mugging some poor soul on a street corner, but rather taking a little back from massive corporations and the government!
I have a deep appreciation for original CDs, but since my bank account isn't exactly overflowing, I can't buy every single thing I love; so, I borrow, I rip, I pirate, I download, I beg, I trade... it's a constant hustle.
Software follows the same logic (especially video games), and frankly, I don't have the stomach for the stress they cause.
On the flip side, when it involves professional work, it makes sense to own the originals and hold valid licenses.
I don't believe it's right to build a fortune using someone else's intellectual property.
If you manage to pull in 10 to 100 grand $0.00 from a single project, and you handle ten of those projects a year, it becomes much easier to justify buying a software license than it is to justify handing over a 7% sales tax to politicians instead of the actual treasury.
So, the rule of thumb is simple: if you're turning a profit, buy it.
If you're just looking for enjoyment, steal it.
That is the philosophy I live by, and I don't lose a wink of sleep over it!
If you actually care about quality, you’re making a wise investment! Honestly, it’s worth paying much more than that just to have them in your collection!
When it comes to the whole piracy debate, I find it quite acceptable—much like any other form of "crime" where you aren't mugging some poor soul on a street corner, but rather taking a little back from massive corporations and the government!
I have a deep appreciation for original CDs, but since my bank account isn't exactly overflowing, I can't buy every single thing I love; so, I borrow, I rip, I pirate, I download, I beg, I trade... it's a constant hustle.
Software follows the same logic (especially video games), and frankly, I don't have the stomach for the stress they cause.
On the flip side, when it involves professional work, it makes sense to own the originals and hold valid licenses.
I don't believe it's right to build a fortune using someone else's intellectual property.
If you manage to pull in 10 to 100 grand $0.00 from a single project, and you handle ten of those projects a year, it becomes much easier to justify buying a software license than it is to justify handing over a 7% sales tax to politicians instead of the actual treasury.
So, the rule of thumb is simple: if you're turning a profit, buy it.
If you're just looking for enjoyment, steal it.
That is the philosophy I live by, and I don't lose a wink of sleep over it!
#32 ·
Thank goodness, 😬 I'm running a pirated version of Windows. If I actually had to pay full price for this stuff... man, I would have been out at least $2,000 easy 😬
Look, I get it—software licensing matters and people really should be buying legitimate copies. But honestly, you have to wonder if that's even a realistic expectation for everyone. Half the country is struggling just to put food on the table, let alone sending massive amounts of cash overseas to big corporations. Honestly, the Chinese model makes more sense sometimes... everything is basically communal property
Look, I get it—software licensing matters and people really should be buying legitimate copies. But honestly, you have to wonder if that's even a realistic expectation for everyone. Half the country is struggling just to put food on the table, let alone sending massive amounts of cash overseas to big corporations. Honestly, the Chinese model makes more sense sometimes... everything is basically communal property
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