Software piracy cost SA R1.5bn in 2006: study

I can't see how the heck they get to that amount. If I actually had to buy Windows I would never even have considered using it. The people that pirate software would 10 to 1 not buy the software legally anyway. But maybe that's just me...
 
If anyone still believes the trash numbers put out by the BSA they need to go for therapy. Their numbers have been shown to be complete bull so many times already.
 
And all those pirated copies of Windows, if they hurt anyone at all, wouldn't be hurting the SA economy, but Microsoft.

In fact, pirating overseas software helps reduce the trade deficit :p
 
They have it all wrong, piracy SAVED SA 1.5bn and increased employment. Businesses and people who got the profit from the monies saved could spend that money in other ways in the local economy, improving employment, instead of the money heading overseas to Microsoft or whomever...
 
supersunbird said:
They have it all wrong, piracy SAVED SA 1.5bn and increased employment. Businesses and people who got the profit from the monies saved could spend that money in other ways in the local economy, improving employment, instead of the money heading overseas to Microsoft or whomever...
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking too!!!
 
I hate stats like these...

Just because somebody has pirated goods, doesn't mean it is a lost sales opportunity for the rights owner! People who copy music for instance have much more music than they would have been able to buy...

It is a load of hogwash too because if somebody is enabled to do business with pirated software, it is not a loss to the economy...

Software tends to be heavily overpriced. Lets be honest, thousands of rands for something on a disc is insane! Yes, we know about R&D and all that, but still, this is insane!

Don't trust this figure! It is NOT accurate.
 
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If there's R1.5 Billion worth of piracy in SA, why haven't they launched R1.5 Billion + penalties worth of court cases?

I know what the BS stands for, but what about the A? :D
 
If more people switched to open source they'd lose more than r1.5bn. :)
 
Remember the BSA is probably reporting a loss to their members and presumably Microsoft makes the most out of all of them. I have had goody friends report their companies for using pirated software and the BSA never came to the door. Almost every company out there has some form of pirated software on their premises. If not software then defnitely downloaded MP3s etc. Basically the BSA is sterile and they have only got themselves to blame for their over inflated figures. They need somebody to really get things moving. I challenge them to sort the problem out before putting figures up that embaress themselves. Otherwise they must shut up and stop hogging bandwidth with stupid reports.
 
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Using foreign software without paying is in South Africa's best interests.
 
I wonder how much tax revenue is generated by companies using pirated software. It's really only a small sector that is feeling the pinch from pirated software.
 
What I don't get:

They say it cost say 1.5billion, they also say that Zim has 4 times more piracy - in other words, Zim cost 6billion (if I can be allowed the rounding).

Now, I ask with tears in my eyes - does Zim even HAVE R6billion rand?

eish.
 
Those are complete thumb suck figures. I'm tired about hearing about piracy. Maybe they should concentrate on something like
"Telkom thieves cost SA R1.5bn in 2006: study"

On those figures would be way too low! :)
 
rpm said:
:D Interesting view on the matter...and a real concern to guys like MS I am certain...
Click to expand...

But MS have a new remedy for the drift to open source. Countless MS software patents are being infringed, according to MS, and open source software writers must cough up damages.

If you make a software product to compete with any MS product, you have clearly violated several of their millions of patents.

Forget about your selfless contribution to mankind, there is always some rapacious corporate monster out there, ready to chop off your limbs and suck your blood.

:eek:
 
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