Software Piracy, A Win-Win For China And Microsoft
from the network-effects dept
Last week we looked at the software industry's dubious claim that piracy was hurting the Chinese economy. Not only does software piracy probably not hurt their economy, it doesn't necessarily hurt the software companies, like Microsoft. In fact, as the company has acknowledged in the past, piracy helps the company achieve a high Windows user base. Companies using Windows, legitimately or not, are more likely to buy the software in the future, buy other Microsoft products, and help hold competitors at bay. Furthermore, differing price levels across regions is a common business strategy, but because selling low/no-cost versions of Microsoft products might be a waste of money for the company, piraters actually do the company's work for them. While Microsoft has talked a tough game, taking a hardline anti-piracy stance, they've actually been pretty good about not being too aggressive, knowing that they could drive users to rival platforms. They've certainly been better than the music industry, which derives a similar benefit from piracy, but has gone after listeners with a vengeance. Unlike Microsoft, which faces competition from Linux, the music industry has a captive audience -- what else would teenagers do for entertainment, read books?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
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
So maybe the music industry will learn the lesson too eventually, though they seem to feel more threatened.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
More tationalizing
Uh, if they pirate Windows, why wouldn't they pirate other software as well?
piracy helps the company achieve a high Windows user base
Yes, if *everyone* stole all of Microsoft's products, they'd have a HUGE user base -- but no income. Pirates are subsidized by people who purchase the software legally (aka "suckers").
This is just more rationalizing about why it's okay to steal.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
oops... "More rationalizing"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Perhaps a skinny version of Home for free, and XP Pro for a reasonable amount. Cripple the file sharing, advanced networking etc on the Home version.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Would you rather have 1 billion people running your OS and only 50% have paid for it...
*or*
Would you rather have 1 million people running your OS and 100% paid for it?
The bottom line would be far, far higher in the first scenario..
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Wow
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
His theory was that he could *give* a car to each person in the US, and he would still make a tidy profit from parts.
He was right... lol
But now they know they can sock you for the cost of the car too...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
you can't justify piracy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: More tationalizing
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Please cite the names of any legitimate economists that have studied and support the "Ecomomics of Piracy".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
Thats WHAT Microsoft does, they find the most effective way to make money.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No
When customers buy products is there is an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose [in this case, running a computer]. There is an implied contract that goes a lot like 'we give you an OS, and you give us $'. If the product is unfit for the purpose for which it was provided, the vendor is reneging on its side of the contract, and has to work until it is once again fulfilled.
If you give something away for free, there is no contract of that sort. Therefore, you don't have to do anything. You might get people calling you, but you'd be totally justified telling them to go away.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: More tationalizing
to wilfully take unauthorized possession of another's property with intent to permanently deprive the owner of that property.
since when does the copying of IP by someone who has no intent to purchase it deprive anyone of anything?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
And although I don't do this myself, I know hardcore fans who MUST possess the REAL THING even after they have watched the pirated stuff, if it is THAT GOOD. And if it is that good, they'll be hocking the product to all their friends as well.
The software industry boomed in countries that did not have any software advertisments whatsoever. But now that they've taken a hardline against "piracy", unofficial marketing plumetted, leading to loss in sales, resulting in a need to spend on advertising - which can be more expensive than letting piracy go right on.
(This is without mentioning the cost of implementing lock-in technologies).
I don't see any point in stopping pirates. They're doing the businesses a HUGE favor as it is.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Vista
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Second, if free legal crippled version will become available, many people in USA who don't need more can switch to it and save money (and really hurt MS profits)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: you can't justify piracy
Actually they decided to allow pirates to pirate Win XP and Vista and to still receive automatic updates over internet.
[ link to this | view in thread ]