Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:26186 comp.misc:4308 Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!ncar!boulder!sunybcs!bingvaxu!leah!jac423 From: jac423@leah.Albany.Edu (Julius A Cisek) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.misc Subject: Re: Software Development And Piracy (Spurred By FTL replies) Summary: Sounds like blank rationalization to me... Message-ID: <1334@leah.Albany.Edu> Date: 7 Dec 88 19:40:16 GMT References: <555@icus.islp.ny.us> <2363@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Organization: The University at Albany, Computer Services Center Lines: 61 In article <2363@ddsw1.MCS.COM>, karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) writes: > I've never copied a disk of non-crippled commercial software. This > is mainly due to (1) my sense of fair play, and (2) I'm not a > thief. > I HAVE copied crippled software (CPd things), mainly to see if > they'll even BOOT on the hardware we use! This is a relatively > recent phenomena, and is inspired by the $250 worth of TRASH DISKS > that I have (that once did boot, and did hold games of various > descriptions). These are programs that I paid for, and should be > able to use, but fail to load on all our present hardware due to > copy protection. I'll get to this later. > How about "I don't have money to throw down the drain on copy protected > software that will either self-destruct or be useless when I buy a faster > (but still compatible by everyone else's standards) computer, and I refuse to > provide economic incentive to manufacturers who deliberately cripple their > products and limit their scope of usefulness." > IMHO: Copy Protection counts as a bug in my book; one that I _might_ be able > to live with if it stays the heck out of my way. Intrusive, invasive, > or simply draconian CP measures count as a fatal bug. > How does SSI come up with the 4:1 ratio? I simply can't believe that half > of these people would have paid money for the package if they couldn't > pirate it -- it flies directly in the face of what I have experienced. Not me, that's a very conservative ratio. > All it takes is ONE company that doesn't cripple their products -- and all > of the cripple-ware firms' business dries up overnight. Yep, even though they may be the better software company... > Btw: My relavent experience: > We publish and write Unix and Xenix software, as well as some DOS > material. NONE of our products has or ever will be copy protected, Errr... How could you copy protect Unix software in the first place? Well, Let me make a few points. The reasons for copy protection are not because companies are greedy; the users created the problem. You can't complain about your problems, when there are people out there who get a kick out of cracking a game and spreading it. That 4:1 Ratio is very conservative, probably because the Amiga community is mostly honest, productive users. In the ST market, I would say the ratio is more like 10:1. A neighboor with an ST in my home town had EVERY single software title ever released. He called himself a collector; 90% of his stuff was pirated. You gave many reasons why companies should not copy-protect software, now how about some ideas in how to stop piracy. -- What about technology, computers, .------------------. J.A.Cisek nuclear fusion? I'm terrified of |Spectral Fantasies| jac423@leah.albany.edu radiation, I hate the television. `------------------' jac423@rachel.albany.edu