Why I've Become A Software Pirate
from the not-a-very-good-rationale dept
Not sure I buy the reasoning, but a so-called "internet guru" is explaining that she has no problems pirating software because it's so buggy. She rationalizes the decision by saying that she shouldn't be forced to pay for what clearly should be alpha or beta level software - where our "testing" and discovery of security holes is a paid-for privilege that creates the next generation of software that (yup) we're expected to buy again. Of course, if she finds the software so buggy, why is she using it in the first place?
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Internet guru?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Internet guru?
Isn't that just another name for "person who spends too much time surfing the Internet at work"?
Nope. A guru is being paid for surfing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
Of all my friends I know 2 who have a legit copy of Windows (I have one too, 98SE I think it was) and I even know companies who have bought one copy of Windows/Office and installed it on 40+ computers, or the latest trick is to install it on a shared drive and create a shortcut on everybody's desktop!
I don't really agree with her argument though - pirating software usually just makes the software vendor concentrate more on implementing copy-protection than improving the product - DVD2one is a prime example of this.
Then again, copy-protection can actually ruin software too - like Unreal 2003 was really unstable until they finally removed Macrovision's copy-protection in the latest patch.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
If you think your software is too buggy, don't use the damn thing. Her whole argument is a poor justification for her actions, which, quite frankly are offensive.
It sounds like her problem is PAYING for (as in spending actual money on)software. If this is true, let her switch to Linux. I use it, and it runs marvelously.
Free sofrware is usually of similar quality to paid software, and a modern Linux box will run just about anything. All, that, and you don't have to deal with the burden of the BSA staring over your shoulder. It's a win win situation.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
Most of these companies are falling all over themselves to get their software used in critical applications. The kind that, when they fail, people can be hurt. Yet they don't care that the stuff just doesn't work, as long as they can sell it.
I myself have never pirated software, and feel it's wrong to do so. I've just stopped buying any new windows software. The old versions work well enuf for what I want to do.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]