Related Information to Is it Okay to Crack Software?

Is it Okay to Crack Software? - Page 3

Right now, I think there's one case where you can hack copyrighted material. I can't remember the law's name, but I do know what it was talking about. Basically, if you have data on an old media that's not supported anymore, you can hack it to get to that data. For example: Say you had an old Atari 2600. Well, the company has been out of the hardware business for a long time, and finding a working Atari 2600 for those game disks you have would be next to impossible. Under that law, you can essentually salvage those games and are allowed to at least find a way to put them in workable format again, such as creating an emulator. However, like regular copyright laws, you still can't distribute this stuff (or at least the games), so there's still some regulation.

Then again, much like music downloading there's still a lot of emulated games out there on the internet, so it seems like not much has changed. Guess the law was for bored people who wanted an excuse to rip open one of those 5 1/4 floppy disks.

By the way, I think that law was mostly for standard data, like some text documents you might have had on an old disk in an old program from an old computer. I think some of that would require hacking into old programs, if necessary, because there'd be little other chance of salvaging the data otherwise.

Edited: Talduras on 25th Sep, 2004 - 4:54pm

Software Crack Okay Is

If everyone agrees that not paying the copyright is so bad why there is so many illegal software out there? Can you say that in esteuropean country more then 70% of the population has no moral standards what so ever? ( this is the piracy percentage around there) Are there moms teaching them nothing? I very much doubt that...Nobody should encourage cracking software but can you imagine a price for a windows distribution if the only alternative to paying that price would be using some Linux distribution...

Is it Okay to Crack Software? Gaming Video & Issues Computer

I would not say they have no morals, but what they are doing is still very wrong. There is no acceptable excuse for stealing, which is exactly what one is doing when using stolen software. I think, it is more that they have never stopped to consider that what they are doing is wrong. Perhaps it is so accepted and widespread that they just don't think about it. However, that doesn't change the fact that what they are doing is illegal and does, in fact, amount to stealing.

Page 3 Software Crack Okay Is

OK, after over seven hundred posts, I think I have started to build up a bit of a reputation and now will risk it by revealing things about me that others definently will disagree with.

I download allot. Now, I mostly download training apps like Learnkey and CBT Nuggets. But I also download programs like nero and musicmatch, and download the crack for them to get full *plus features on them. I have an unlimited blockbuster rental pass, and I rent allot, and rip and burn the dvd's. I do download music, if I like it, I buy it. I especially do this to support new artists.

Problem with most of the arguments against this is that we are robbing the company of money, or the artist of money. Thats a weak argument when you consider that most people that download, never bought it to begin with before downloading. The industry surveys show that they are making more money than ever, not less. People who bought before, still buy, artists make money at concerts not on cd sales. Actors make money no matter who downloads it. DVD rentals are not where money is being made by the companies, its where money is made by rental companies.

I still purchase the same about of music I did before napster. I actually rent more DVD's then before so blockbuster loves me. I never bought apps, and I would have worked on writing my own or using GNU license software like I used to and still do. I have never purchased apps and I'm not a gamer. Cracking the software is not a problem, its simply a fight based on principles instead of actual money problems.

Is it wrong? Sure it is. Is it wrong to rip people off and over charge for software, movies, and music? Absolutely. Neither the companies nor the crackers are absolved, the only difference is that the companies can cheat you legally, and us people at the bottom of the rung get sent to jail for pirating while the corporate millionaires get fat of the products you over pay for. The rich get richer, and that is what this is about, plain and simple.

Software Crack Okay Is

I don't think I could disagree more strongly. In the US and any other country with "free" commerce this is how it is supposed to work. It is all about supply and demand. In a democracy it is every business's right to make as much as they can. It is up to the consumer to stop buying if the price is too high. When enough do this the business is forced to lower prices. That is what free enterprise is all about.

As far as the other things, it is stealing, plain and simple. It is no different than walking into a store and concealing the item and then walking out with it. I bet you wouldn't do that. So why will you steal from home where no one can see you doing it? It doesn't matter who is being hurt or whether or not someone is being hurt. It is illegal and you are taking a product made by someone for sale and not paying for it. Go to a store and do that and you will go to jail. It is no different just because you are doing it from your PC. To suggest they are not losing money over such things is ridiculous. Of course they are. Maybe you wouldn't buy as many as you steal, but you would buy some.

Prices have to be raised when others take things illegally. We all suffer in such cases. Insurance fraud is a perfect example. The person who breaks their window to get in their car and then calls the insurance company to replace it because that is free and a locksmith would cost money is a perfect example. Insurance companies are going to make a profit. So, when this happens, my premium must be raised to compensate for the loss. The same is true of all activities including the recording industry and software companies.

I disagree with you strongly, konquererz, but I still "love" ya.

Edited: funbikerchick on 7th May, 2005 - 11:50am

Is it Okay to Crack Software?

Well, I must admit that I pirate software from time to time. I don't generally pirate things that I can get if I pay for them. Some things, like old DOS games that I like, are simply no longer sold. Some japanese animated films that I like, I cannot get ahold of by any other means. I find that a lot of software is horribly over-priced. There is no way I could ever afford to get a lot of the things that I download. For example, I have a cracked version of Photoshop. I use this constantly, not to produce commercial goods, but for personal learning use. I have no illegal ambitions for this software, but I do possess it illegally. Now, here's the bottom line. Regardless of my reasons, I cannot justify it. It is still WRONG in my opinion, and legally. I feel ashamed at times, but the truth is, I would not be buying this software even if I couldn't download it. The company is not losing money from me because I wouldn't purchase it anyway. In fact, software that I have downloaded illegally, if I find that I actually use it a great deal, I save up and buy it. (I'm currently saving up for photoshop right now). Now, sometimes the fact that I pirate actually helps the company. I would never buy a lot of the software that I buy, if I had not first found out how helpful it can be from pirating it. Regardless, this is a big problem, and still, I am not justified in pirating. Butl, my conscience cannot outweigh my NEED for some pirated softwares that I use. I have a lot of photoshop projects for the school that I go to. I don't always have time to make it over to the art institute to use the legal versions of the software. It is greatly more convenient to be able to use it at home. Which, to do that legally would cost me an insane several hundred dollars. I'm rambling at this point, so one final thing that I will say. If software copyright was better enforced, I would not partake in pirating for fear of penalty. That is the only thing that could stop me. I am ashamed to admit it, especially since I am full and well aware that it is wrong. Perhaps my feelings will change when people pirate the games that I make as a proffessional. . .

(Note, I DO buy must of my software. Even if I CAN pirate it. If I have the money. . .)

Is Okay Crack Software - Page 3

My dear FBC, I have no problem with you disagreeing with me. Its the beauty of free speech!

You are both right and wrong. Pirating is nothing short of stealing. It breaks through the set rules designed to allow free commerce. Pirating has the ability to hurt others who work hard for their money and cheat those who have created a lively hood for themselves creating music and movies.

But stealing is not what raises prices. That is a farce that has just been used recently. Before pirating, it was operating expenses that allowed for the increase in prices. The stats are on my side here. Sales of CD's, DVD's, and movie tickets have gone up in the last ten years, not down. The American public spends more on entertainment than ever. If all the sales have increased, then why raise the prices? The answer is greed. They large companies used pirating as an excuse to raise prices when sales are up. Dave Matthews Band encourages the pirating and downloading of their music and allows recording of their live performances. Yet every year they are in the top ten money making bands in both CD sales and concert sales. How is this possible if pirating is cutting down profits of the artists?

Pirating is absolutely stealing. Its a crime. But that is not the reason prices get raised, its a facade used to mask the greed of wealthy men who don't want to miss out on one single dollar. Piraters should not be treated so harshly. Corporate theft is legal, but its the poor piraters who get punished.

Is Okay Crack Software Computer Issues & Video Gaming - Page 3

MICROSOFT SUES FOUR RETAILERS OVER PIRATED SOFTWARE

SEATTLE: Microsoft Corp has sued four online retailers in California and Virginia for selling pirated software, the world's largest software maker says.
Ref. https://www.stuff.co.nz/hlc/1,,93498~3315878a28~,00.html