What Drives Software Piracy?

[Knyro]

You are not adverting sufficiently to the significance of the two little words at the end of your hypothetical but very real example: "for free".

If someone with a computer doesn't know they buy software at a computer shop (bricks 'n mortar or online), then their ignorance is willful and therefore culpable, ie they are chosing to ignore the moral issue for the sake of money. That is itself immoral.

No. This was addressed by my first point (which you conveniently left out). They want it for free because the price of Photoshop is completely unreasonable. If Photoshop was sold at a more reasonable price more people would happily buy it.

This second point was to address your statement that more people would use FOSS if it were a financial decision. I'm saying the reason most people don't use FOSS is because they don't even know that it exists because let's face it FOSS is geek domain so you can hardly call their ignorance willfull.

 

[Arthur]

I think the reason why people pirate things is due to the cost ie: Windows 7 Almost R2000. Where as with pirating, it will cost probably R400 (for the uncapped internet to download) or nor nothing.

If companies maybe made their costs cheaper and added more benefits like maybe "buy this and get 1/2 price on your upgrade" or similar, then I think Piracy will be driven down.

A goodly portion of the profit is in the channel. If Microsoft didn't make the revenues and profits it does on Windows, your main operating system would look a lot like Linux.

Which leads one to ask why you don't use Linux? Seriously, it's a very good operating system. Cut out this addiction to Microsoft and others and start using free software. You'll save yourself a bundle.

But puhleeze don't rationalise your piracy by trying to blame the software vendors who actually charge for their software.

Afterthought: why is it that all those who defend piracy always mention the ignorance of the "average user" and "other people" (never themselves, of course - they can't be ignorant!). We always hear these special pleadings for the ignorant average user. I have been in this business from the beginning and I have maybe only once or twice met an ignorant end-user who genuinely doesn't know there are cheap/free alternatives. It's a bullshit argument.

 

[Knyro]

A goodly portion of the profit is in the channel. If Microsoft didn't make the revenues and profits it does on Windows, your main operating system would look a lot like Linux.

I'm not sure what you mean by this, with a little Compiz magic Linux is a LOT better looking than Windows. All the eye candy Windows users go on about has been with us for years.

Which leads one to ask why you don't use Linux? Seriously, it's a very good operating system.

The best.

Cut out this addiction to Microsoft and others and start using free software. You'll save yourself a bundle.

Agreed. M$, Adobe and Apple can get bent with their overpriced crap.

But puhleeze don't rationalise your piracy by trying to blame the software vendors who actually charge for their software.

+1 No one makes you pirate.

Afterthought: why is it that all those who defend piracy always mention the ignorance of the "average user" and "other people" (never themselves, of course - they can't be ignorant!). We always hear these special pleadings for the ignorant average user. I have been in this business from the beginning and I have maybe only once or twice met an ignorant end-user who genuinely doesn't know there are cheap/free alternatives. It's a bullshit argument.

I can only speak for myself here. I'm not defending piracy. Merely stating why I think people do what they do. I don't know what kind of end users you deal with but believe me when it comes to tech the vast majority of people are hopelessly ignorant (and no I can't be ignorant otherwise I wouldn't be able to talk about Compiz, GIMP etc. ). Maybe you deal with people that use specialised software that is over the heads of average people anyway, thus they will probably have more proficiency with computers than the general public?

Most people I know (even those who are in their twenties) still don't know that browsers other than IE and Safari exist. Only one or two out of possibly hundreds of people (unless I'm on a university campus/around techies) walk past my laptop screen and go "Oh you're running Ubuntu/Gentoo/Fedora? Cool". Most of the time it's "OMG how did you get Windows to look like that!?"

 

[Beachless]

"Like" as in "similar to"? Actually, there are important differences. The analogy goes only so far.

Multiple computers can perform useful work concurrently and independently of your immediate interaction.

Surely you must know that Microsoft and others already allow installation on more than one machine, for certain types of licences in certain circumstances and conditions.

TV's can do the same, I can have MTV on while doing something else. Have a web site open to monitor the status of something, etc.

One computer can also multi task so I can do everything on one machine that I can do when I have many but I want the portability of a netbook but that netbook wont play games and does'nt have HDMI out for streaming media.

So I Want\need multiple hardware options to do what can be done with one software solution on a desktop but now I need to buy multiple licences just for the convenience of having more hardware.

Microsoft have been changing as per my example of the HUP but software companies are short sited and change very slowly.

 

[Arthur]

TV's can do the same, I can have MTV on while doing something else. Have a web site open to monitor the status of something, etc.

One computer can also multi task so I can do everything on one machine that I can do when I have many but I want the portability of a netbook but that netbook wont play games and does'nt have HDMI out for streaming media.

So I Want\need multiple hardware options to do what can be done with one software solution on a desktop but now I need to buy multiple licences just for the convenience of having more hardware.

Hehe. Nice try. Interesting wriggle.

"I want". That's the real answer to riverdusty's question.

Case closed.

 

[Beachless]

Hehe. Nice try. Interesting wriggle.

"I want". That's the real answer to riverdusty's question.

Case closed.

Yes, thats exactly the attitude of software providers they dont care what customers want.
They are not prepared to go with the times where hardware is cheap and people have more than one computer.
And therefore Piracy is high and will stay high.

Fortunately Open Source is gaining momentum and product maturity so there are other options available.

 

[Park@82]

App market/store revolution is coming to Windows?

For me its price + ease of buying, obtaining and use.

I started using Android recently, buying apps is painless. I select buy it then automatically debits my account, downloads and installs. You also get to use the purchased app on multiple devices.

Apps compete with each other on the market subsequently prices are driven down.

With Windows it is often more painful to buy an application then to pirate it.

 

[Lounger]

Some of the policies adoped by game makers/distrubutors are also whacko.

For example, I can sell a second hand book, but often not a used game. Why not?

 

[Sumio]

Once people know that they can get the stuff for free ... I think it has to do with ethics and morals.
There is still a significant amount of people who obviously don't know about torrent's and .mp3 downloads etc
I was watching people flock to a red bull car in Hatfield, that was giving out free Red bulls some time back, and I thought if it's free then you might as well take it.
Also alot of the stuff downloaded on torrents, like for example the bundled ebook torrents, where for example you would get like 500 ebooks about a particular subject. Personally I don't think people read them all, and it is a matter of possession.
Same goes with pictures and movies and porn :|

 

[noxibox]

Same goes for any other property crimes.

It's not a property crime.

If it were financial, then people would simply use the open source/free alternatives.

Right because two pieces of software are completely identical in features and interface.

"Like" as in "similar to"? Actually, there are important differences. The analogy goes only so far.

Says the person that would have us believe that intellectual and physical property are identical.

 

[SLAQ]

My personal reasons for the few software that I pirate is price, availability and "try before I buy". As a student I cannot buy products that I will only use once, but need full functionality (trails not good enough). For example: I needed a program that assists me in planning the layout of a breadboard efficiently for a project (Costs $70).

Another issue is the licensing of many software, I format often and if my license is one time use only it is hell to re install (Reason why I own a Windows 7 copy, but use a pre-activated pirated version.)

Finally, and I hope developers realize this, if your anti-piracy measures are disruptive to the legit user and a non-disruptive cracked version is available then your efforts will back fire!

 

[Dolby]

A year back I would have said price is the main driver.

Now I'd say availability of the digital media is the main, with price being a secondary.

 

[luketang56]

A year back I would have said price is the main driver.

Now I'd say availability of the digital media is the main, with price being a secondary.

+1

Due to the fact that it is readily available on the internet, it is GENERALLY less effort to pirate the software: http://freeware.info.pl/software.html

 

[xera]

Some of the policies adoped by game makers/distrubutors are also whacko.

For example, I can sell a second hand book, but often not a used game. Why not?

Can I sell my Black Ops?
How about my Vista Ultimate? (I'm sure it hasn't even been activated - think I got BSOD before I even got to the activation screen...) :erm:

 

[xera]

Another issue is the licensing of many software, I format often and if my license is one time use only it is hell to re install (Reason why I own a Windows 7 copy, but use a pre-activated pirated version.)

Finally, and I hope developers realize this, if your anti-piracy measures are disruptive to the legit user and a non-disruptive cracked version is available then your efforts will back fire!

+1, DRM SUCKS

Installing MW2 and Black Ops was such a pain... plus you can't easily play offline thanks to steam.... And if you do go online, steam continuously downloads huge patches without notifying you.... (some were 600MB) Leaves a very unpleasant taste in the mouth for 3G users with smallish bundles.

 

[Necuno]

What Drives Software Piracy?

sex

 

[AfricanTech]

Price, convenience - people really can't be bothered to put up with outdated and painful methods of digital content distribution (limited titles and songs in your country via official online sources; pain in the kiester methods of topping up digital wallets; restricted from buying from your country, the list continues)

Sometimes even when you want to pay for content, you are literally blocked from doing so.....people will pirate.

 

[robertwj]

in my opinion, YES. If software wasn't so expensive i am very sure people would buy it. i know for sure that i would. Why pay r1000 for MS office suite if i can get it free? Just saying that prices should be reduced...

 

[GreGorGy]

Mmmm - something that has been touched on here but now rings a bell: convenience. For many users, the convenience of acquiring and installing the software may be the primary driving factor behind the decision. So, if the cracked version can be downloaded and installed, without any fuss or crashes or inconvenience, I see the legit version having a problem: activation, system-build installations, painful licensing procedure. If the crack is EASIER than going legit, it may be a driving force as well.

Of course, for me it is mere speculation. I am not one who pirates software. I have been vocal about it before. The only stuff on my mac that MAY be considered pirated would be the old ROM files on MAME and such like. But I tell you what, my attitude may well change with my next Mac, purely because I cannot afford R20K to "upgrade" CS3 just so I can install it.

 

[howardb]

For me it's the fact that I pay a fortune for a game or program, then have it either not work properly (glitches because they were too greedy to do a proper job before releasing the software) or not work at all (because of DRM, protection, etc.) - most recent example was LA Noire from Rockstar, R460-odd for the "Complete Edition", pop the discs in and installs fine - go to play and it just hangs at the loading screen. Also knackered some of my other settings on other programs...

Anyways, try the usual, then start following the 2-3 page "remedy" pages from Rockstar - knackered a few other settings on my PC now. Managed to find an illegitimate version to see if that works, no such luck either... so what now? I have forked out the cash, it doesn't work; I've gone illegal, it doesn't work; My game PC is knackered, re-install needed; and I still can't play my game!

This is the kind of thing that personally really ticks me off, and I think this drives a lot of behavior towards piracy - more and more people I know would rather download "illegally", see if it works properly, then go and buy the software - I know there are probably many that don't go and buy it though. I've also given up with gaming now as it's not worth the hassle and frustration - so for me it's a catch 22, based on my experiences.