Software piracy: is there a justification?

fable · 01-10-2002, 11:43 AM

I thought about placing this topic under Polls, but really didn't want yes/no answers as much as civil discussion of the issue. It's arisen over in the Wizardry 8 forum, and there have actually been a couple of people defending the idea of piracy--on grounds that I found rather feeble, personally.

My own feelings are that pirating software is a stupid, short-sighted act that cheats the developers. It lessens the chances of further games in the same line, because it shrinks the visible market for the product which accountants use to determine where company profits will go in the future. It's not like the stolen game can be simply "written off" as theft by a store; the merchandiser doesn't see a copy getting stolen when it's pirated. And when lots of pirated copies are out there (and this happens unfortunately), it makes a good, popular game look much less appealing to publishers thanks to poorer than expected sales.

[ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: fable ]

Scronan · 01-10-2002, 12:06 PM

Hi Fable,

Personally, I feel that Pirating software is morally wrong and anyone doing so should be shot!

A game like Wiz 8 was made with a company going out of business, you can't get much lower than pirating a game like that.

In order to avoid giving the flame happy pirate supporters reason to whine more, I've chosen to not get into those discussions. I've already voiced my thoughts on the matter and asked those people to take their discussions elsewhere.

Ziroc just posted on the Wiz 8 forum and laid the law down to them, so if they don't follow the rules they will be banned.

Grrr......ok, I'm calming down now....*sighs*.

Scronan
Wiz 8 Mod

Sazerac · 01-10-2002, 12:37 PM

There is NEVER a justification for software piracy. It runs the price for new games up for the rest of us, puts legitimate companies out of business or at least in a straitened financial position, and is plain morally and ethically WRONG.

One can try to justify it and rationalize it any way you can, but there is no getting out of it...pirating software is STEALING, plain and simple.

Would you try to justify shoplifting? Or bankrobbing? It amounts to the same thing. Maybe the dollar values are different, but it still comes down to the fact that you are gaining access to a product that you have not purchased the legal rights to obtain.

I have read through the thread in question on the Wizardry 8 forum, and am shocked, dismayed, and frankly disgusted. I am posting a link to the thread in question here, so you can see, and judge, for yourselves:

http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/cg...&f=15&t=000211

I think Scronan and Ziroc have said it most adequately without intervention on my part, however, if I see any more infractions of the rules Ziroc has laid down there, I will jump in both feet first.

-Sazerac

MILAMBER · 01-10-2002, 01:01 PM

I never copy games because I can always afford games. On the other hand, I have a couple of 3d proggies that there was no way I could ever afford, but wanted to learn to use. I'm not proud of it, but there is no way I'd ever have $6,000 to put towards one 3d program. Yeah, I'll probably roast in hell for it. I wish I could afford it, but I can't, so I made a decision that I'll live with.

01-10-2002, 01:17 PM

I say no, there is never a justification for software piracy, I wont condemn all theft as unjustifiable however...life and death situations may make a difference but this is not the case with software piracy.

I also say there is never a justifiable reason why a legal owner of a product should not be able to use the product due to restrictive copy protection schemes either a backup copy of a key CD is essential for safety sake if you want to continue to play a great game years after the people who published it are gone.

[ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: MagiK ]

Lavindathar · 01-10-2002, 02:28 PM

Ok, I'll be honest.

I don't agree with it, but I admit to doing it.

I have copied games on my PS1, and a few for the pc.

I download FULL games off warez for free.

I can see why people say they don't agree, but it saves ME a hell of a lot of money. And if i said I cud get you FULL FREE games, I'm sure you'd be tempted.

Just my opinion.

slackerboy · 01-10-2002, 03:33 PM

There is no justification.
I am just a dispicable person
but i'm ok with that.

250 · 01-10-2002, 03:45 PM

I think it is wrong, but I would like to use that.

I am a little different here. I LOVE to purchase the softwares( particularly games) that I favor. such as Baldur's Gate II. my friend offered to burn a copy for me, but I refused it, and instead I went to store and bought the real version. however, there is no way I am going to buy every single game there is on the market! ofc, I would love to shop around and use some pirated games: such as Unreal, Rogue Spear, those are big titles, but I am not a diehard fan. I would use a copy of Wizard 8, because I know I wouldnt stick long to it. unless they fall into my favorite (collectable) category, I always prefer pirated games (if I have the means to it)

Jorath Calar · 01-10-2002, 04:01 PM

I think as along as you are not making money from using software, and by that I mean not games, then it's okey to use it. I have a pirated version of 3d Studio max, I'm learning how to use it and as soon as I get a job using it, then I'll pay for it (well in theory). I never pirate games cause their prices are not as insane as applications.

I'm going to hell right?

250 · 01-10-2002, 04:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jorath Calar:

I'm going to hell right?

unfortunately, I am afraid you are... I am to express my deepest remorse here

01-10-2002, 12:06 PM	#2
Scronan Zhentarim Guard Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Washington State Posts: 315	Hi Fable, Personally, I feel that Pirating software is morally wrong and anyone doing so should be shot! A game like Wiz 8 was made with a company going out of business, you can't get much lower than pirating a game like that. In order to avoid giving the flame happy pirate supporters reason to whine more, I've chosen to not get into those discussions. I've already voiced my thoughts on the matter and asked those people to take their discussions elsewhere. Ziroc just posted on the Wiz 8 forum and laid the law down to them, so if they don't follow the rules they will be banned. Grrr......ok, I'm calming down now....sighs. Scronan Wiz 8 Mod __________________ Member of No Clans, Groups or Organizations.<br />But an all around nice guy.

01-10-2002, 12:37 PM	#3
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 61 Posts: 7,387	There is NEVER a justification for software piracy. It runs the price for new games up for the rest of us, puts legitimate companies out of business or at least in a straitened financial position, and is plain morally and ethically WRONG. One can try to justify it and rationalize it any way you can, but there is no getting out of it...pirating software is STEALING, plain and simple. Would you try to justify shoplifting? Or bankrobbing? It amounts to the same thing. Maybe the dollar values are different, but it still comes down to the fact that you are gaining access to a product that you have not purchased the legal rights to obtain. I have read through the thread in question on the Wizardry 8 forum, and am shocked, dismayed, and frankly disgusted. I am posting a link to the thread in question here, so you can see, and judge, for yourselves: http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/cg...&f=15&t=000211 I think Scronan and Ziroc have said it most adequately without intervention on my part, however, if I see any more infractions of the rules Ziroc has laid down there, I will jump in both feet first. -Sazerac __________________ "And all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams, Are where thy grey eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams, In what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams..."

01-10-2002, 01:01 PM	#4
MILAMBER Lord Soth Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,948	I never copy games because I can always afford games. On the other hand, I have a couple of 3d proggies that there was no way I could ever afford, but wanted to learn to use. I'm not proud of it, but there is no way I'd ever have $6,000 to put towards one 3d program. Yeah, I'll probably roast in hell for it. I wish I could afford it, but I can't, so I made a decision that I'll live with. __________________ \"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.\"<br />-General George Patton (1885-1945)<br /> <br />Member of CLAN HADB<br />Founder of The Anti Clan Coalition

01-10-2002, 02:28 PM	#6
Lavindathar Harper Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Lancs, England Age: 40 Posts: 4,729	Ok, I'll be honest. I don't agree with it, but I admit to doing it. I have copied games on my PS1, and a few for the pc. I download FULL games off warez for free. I can see why people say they don't agree, but it saves ME a hell of a lot of money. And if i said I cud get you FULL FREE games, I'm sure you'd be tempted. Just my opinion. __________________ =@

01-10-2002, 03:33 PM	#7
slackerboy Gold Dragon Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: smyrna, tn, usa Age: 47 Posts: 2,506	There is no justification. I am just a dispicable person but i'm ok with that. __________________

01-10-2002, 11:43 AM	#1
fable Quintesson Join Date: March 17, 2001 Location: Where I am. Posts: 1,089	I thought about placing this topic under Polls, but really didn't want yes/no answers as much as civil discussion of the issue. It's arisen over in the Wizardry 8 forum, and there have actually been a couple of people defending the idea of piracy--on grounds that I found rather feeble, personally. My own feelings are that pirating software is a stupid, short-sighted act that cheats the developers. It lessens the chances of further games in the same line, because it shrinks the visible market for the product which accountants use to determine where company profits will go in the future. It's not like the stolen game can be simply "written off" as theft by a store; the merchandiser doesn't see a copy getting stolen when it's pirated. And when lots of pirated copies are out there (and this happens unfortunately), it makes a good, popular game look much less appealing to publishers thanks to poorer than expected sales. [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: fable ]

01-10-2002, 01:17 PM	#5
MagiK Guest Posts: n/a	I say no, there is never a justification for software piracy, I wont condemn all theft as unjustifiable however...life and death situations may make a difference but this is not the case with software piracy. I also say there is never a justifiable reason why a legal owner of a product should not be able to use the product due to restrictive copy protection schemes either a backup copy of a key CD is essential for safety sake if you want to continue to play a great game years after the people who published it are gone. [ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: MagiK ]

01-10-2002, 03:45 PM	#8
250 Horus - Egyptian Sky God Join Date: March 4, 2001 Location: either CA or MO Age: 43 Posts: 2,674	I think it is wrong, but I would like to use that. I am a little different here. I LOVE to purchase the softwares( particularly games) that I favor. such as Baldur's Gate II. my friend offered to burn a copy for me, but I refused it, and instead I went to store and bought the real version. however, there is no way I am going to buy every single game there is on the market! ofc, I would love to shop around and use some pirated games: such as Unreal, Rogue Spear, those are big titles, but I am not a diehard fan. I would use a copy of Wizard 8, because I know I wouldnt stick long to it. unless they fall into my favorite (collectable) category, I always prefer pirated games (if I have the means to it)

01-10-2002, 04:01 PM	#9
Jorath Calar Harper Join Date: October 6, 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 4,706	I think as along as you are not making money from using software, and by that I mean not games, then it's okey to use it. I have a pirated version of 3d Studio max, I'm learning how to use it and as soon as I get a job using it, then I'll pay for it (well in theory). I never pirate games cause their prices are not as insane as applications. I'm going to hell right?

01-10-2002, 04:12 PM	#10
250 Horus - Egyptian Sky God Join Date: March 4, 2001 Location: either CA or MO Age: 43 Posts: 2,674	quote: Originally posted by Jorath Calar: I'm going to hell right? unfortunately, I am afraid you are... I am to express my deepest remorse here

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