Internet piracy is quite a debatable subject, and a lot of people have different opinions about it. Many argue that it is not only stealing, which technically yes, it is... but that it is morally wrong, no matter how easy or insignificant it may seem. Others argue the practical aspects of it, saying that some money lost from whatever music artist, director, will have no impact.

I for one, feel that it varies from case to case. If you have a big-name music artist who is making millions, is it such a bad thing that some pirated music of theirs may cause them to have to live with a golden toilet seat instead of a platinum one?

Also, a lot of software, while excellent, is way overpriced for the average person. I've always felt Adobe's products were really overpriced, and I know their products to be pirated extensively, I think in some cases more than they are actually bought.

So, what do you think?

~Nick

I think there is a "level of diminishing returns." Meaning... if you charge too much for something, people will steal it instead of buying it. You end up making less money by charging too much.

So, it is difficult to say what that threshold is but the phenomena is real enough.

Well, it's undeniable. But the question is, is it right or wrong?

This is the pain you cause downloading music.

I personally pirate programs and music because it is the easiest way to obtain them for me, and I'm not going to mess around with something more time consuming and complicated just so I can lighten my pocketbook.

(October 8, 2009 at 8:23 pm)Dotard Wrote: This is the pain you cause downloading music.

Haha! I remember seeing that a while ago. Hilarious!

I usually only use free open-source programs since they have the right idea about building up a good and secure software community (i.e. people who want to learn how to do certain things in programming can simply look at the code of another program and learn). If open-source isn't available, I'll go with free proprietary (Adobe Flash for instance, is much better that Gnash).

Rarely do I ever use software that I have to pay for.

Ah yes, cheers for Open Office!

If the software is good enough for you to keep using, it is good enough for you to pay for it. If you don't like the price, look for an alternative software solution. If you can't find an alternative, then the price was good enough to start with. Lots of companies have a try before you buy period where you can experience if the software is suited for your needs. If that period is over, it is time to make a decision.

There is no excuse not to pay for software if you use it.

Like Adrian I advocate Open Source, but I also make it a point that projects that are open source and need financial support in the form of donations are compensated in the best way possible. Every small amount helps.

Read a really interesting article ages ago about perceived value and peoples leaning toward commercial software where a no cost alternative existed. Piracy is so widespread people are comfortable talking about it in public. Of course it's wrong and we all know it, but while we see it going unpunished we'll continue to do it. I even have a soft spot for the idea that it's perverse marketing on behalf of the big boys. Being a technology addict I've succumbed in the past but not now. I find it incredibly liberating to use open source software, and am definitely a supporter.