OT: Which is better: XP or 2000? > Another Piracy Discussion

JayBdey · #1 November 28th, 2003, 07:27 AM

woopdy-doo.

I don't have a legal piece of software on this system. If I had the money I would definitely pay for it, people do deserve to get payed for their work. But I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on software.

Photo Shop alone costs 599$ I could build a new PC (or two!) for that much.

SpaceBadger · #2 November 28th, 2003, 07:33 AM

The defense "I needed it so I took it, even though I couldn't afford to pay for it" may have some arguable validity when talking about food to feed one's starving family, but I hardly see software as that sort of necessity. By extension, it would be silly of you to buy a new computer, or parts to build one, if you could just steal them instead.

SpaceBadger

JayBdey · #3 November 28th, 2003, 07:38 AM

Ah but there is where your argument is flawed.

Stealing would require me to take something, thus depriving the owner of use of the original. If I steal a car the car is gone, the owner no longer has it. But If I download some software, someone who payed for it doesn't loose their ability to use it. I have only made a copy. One more copy exists, at no cost to the maker (admittedly, at no profit either)

I could steal a painting, or I could take a picture of the painting. The painting is still there, but I also have use of it with my copy of it.

It is wrong, but it is not stealing.

SpaceBadger · #4 November 28th, 2003, 07:51 AM

Pffft. So in your view someone who wants to play SEIV and just gets a copy of the CD from a friend has not stolen anything from Aaron Hall or from Shrapnel? Get real.

Hmm, you said there wasn't any legal software on your system - does that include games? Do you think that your "need" for a game outweighs the creator's interest in getting paid for his work?

SpaceBadger

JayBdey · #5 November 28th, 2003, 07:55 AM

No, if someone burns a copy or downloads from say, kazaa, they did not steal anything.

They did however commit a crime. But that crime was not theft.

Stealing would be if I broke into a store and stole a SEIV disk since the store no longer has the physical disk and can't use it.

I'm not defending piracy, but I'm just making sure you know that it isn't "stealing". Yes, it is wrong, but it is not theft.

Edit: Most of my games have been purchused legaly because of the CD-Key.

[ November 28, 2003, 05:58: Message edited by: JayBdey ]

Roanon · #6 November 28th, 2003, 07:57 AM

No legal software AND running WinXP? Be careful, very careful. You can do it, but you have to know how to antispy it.

Fyron · #7 November 28th, 2003, 07:59 AM

Yes... it is stealing by any sense of the word. Taking someone's idea for a new movie and marketing it as your own is stealing. Pirating software is stealing. It is not the exact same sort of stealing as stealing bread, but it is still theft nonetheless.