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From: cjp@vax135.UUCP (Charles Poirier)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: all copy protection
Message-ID: <1813@vax135.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Jul-87 19:27:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: vax135.1813
Posted: Mon Jul  6 19:27:49 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jul-87 01:52:18 EDT
References: <1303@crash.CTS.COM> <593@madvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: cjp@vax135.UUCP (Charles Poirier)
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 38
Keywords: excuses, excuses
Summary: got any better ideas?

From time to time I hear a rather strange argument.  It goes thus:
"If software worked better, if it cost less, if one could get better
value for one's money, there would be less piracy."

For example (and let me state, I am NOT accusing this author of piracy):

In article <593@madvax.UUCP> richc@madvax.UUCP (Rich Commins) writes:
>	  I HATE ALL COPY PROTECTION OF ANY KIND!
>
>Lets find a way of protecting the vested interests of the programmers
>and still not burden the user with kludges to prevent illegal copies.

Fine idea, but I don't think the suggested solution will be effective:

>If the software that is being sold was of better quality I think their
>would be less stealing of software.  I've seen better public domain
>software, than some of the stuff being sold.  

This kind of argument assumes pirates are ethical Darwinists.  Their
noble motivation is to weed out the baddies who overcharge for rotten
code by refusing to pay them for it.


I just don't understand the logic of this.  Pirates are thieves.
Typical, smirking, self-centered thieves.  Thieves are not motivated by
social ideology.  They are motivated by getting something valuable at
the expense of others, preferably without getting caught.  Oh sure, all
thieves have some thin excuse with which to salve their self-image.

The point is, pirates are not going to suddenly stop stealing if you
make the booty more valuable.  All that will change is the brand of
salve.

	Cheers,
-- 
	Charles Poirier   (decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4,attmail)!vax135!cjp

   "Docking complete...       Docking complete...       Docking complete..."