Here is al that I know. I think getting and keep programs and not paying for is illegal. Downloading demos and keeping the demos are legal.
Same applies to music.
I never listened to techno or rock or anything until I went to MP3.com by accident and d/l a song. Now I take maybe a day or two each month to go song hunting on these services to figure out what CD I'm going to buy next from the mall.
However, I do not tolerate taking the music, burning a CD out of it, and not paying for the songs unless the songs are public domain.
However, I do know there was one song I got from napster and the author no longer sold the song, nor was it being distributed. So, for the hell of it, I sent a check as a donation to the author of the song. I got a nice, hand written thank you in return that I'm still trying to translate to english....
In that, I feel I did not steal the song as I did pay for it in my own way. Afterall, MP3's tax the memory of a computer more than a CD audio track in my CD player.
As for software, the only free software I take is that sent to me for a formal review from a developer/publisher. Which has happened twice. I consider them letting me keep the game thier payment for my services.
Often, I will run into a site that runs to a warez site. If I find that you can download the game (and it's not a site full of porn links), I will promptly report them to the makers of the game and report the email of the person to his ISP or to the FCC.
There is a very fine line between sampling and stealing on the internet that people are all too often too blinded to see.
Yes, I do sample foods at diners and such if they allow it or offer it. What can I say, I enjoy food.
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HADRIAN
T. AVENTINE
admin@spaceempires.org
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