From: espensk@stud.cs.uit.no (Espen Skoglund)
Subject: Re: PIRACY
Keywords: Huh, what's the point about keywords anyway?
Organization: University of Tromsoe
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 21:11:01 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.015645.28044@ra.msstate.edu>, skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Skip Sauls) writes:
>You don't think that there is a limited quantity of software in the world?
>Sure, it is possible to make as many copies of SuperDroolBeastHead IV for
>all the pirates and non-pirates alike.  But once the software companies
>wake up and realize how unprofitable the Amiga market is, there will be no
>more new software.

Are you saying that this piracy-phenomena belongs only to the Amiga market?
I may be wrong, but I believe that the problem is just as great on the PC
market. The difference is that most people who has never had any relation to
computers before buys PCs. The fact that they has had no relation to the computer
scene implies that they has no relation to the piracy which again implies
that they buy their software instead of copying it. Amiga owners on the other
hand, often are computer fanatics and therefore knows quite a bit about piracy.

>Before anyone begins to tell me that the PD writers will continue, think
>about this in the long term.  If the software companies stop supporting
>the Amiga, the honest people will not have new software to buy and will
>not buy any new Amigas.  Commodore is hurt because no one is buying the
>machines and decides to get out of the Amiga business.  In turn, even
>the most die-hard PD developers realize that the Amiga is dead and there
>is no need to bother supporting it any longer.  Given the rabid nature
>of most pirates, I doubt that they will want to bother with a machine
>for which no new games are being developed.
>
>Okay, I know that the above sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it is no
>more so than the arguments presented by the pirates and their supporters.
>Some of you are complaining that you are not pirates, but the very fact
>that you are defending the pirates actions makes me wonder about your
>character.  

I will not comment your arguments since you has allready said that it
sounds ridiculus. But your suspssion about non pirates defending pirates I
can't handle. I will follow the logic from some of your previous articles:
I'm not black, therefore it's unthinkable that I should defend the black's
rights. I'm not a drug user, therefore it's unthinkable that I should argue
for legalization of drugs. 

>Fortunately, most of the people defending the pirates are but mere
>children and there may be some hope for them.  As a child, I participated

I may be wrong again, but didn't the WP corporation thank piracy for the
popularity (and great sales) it gave to their products. And I don't think
that the WP corporation is runned by a bunch of kids.

>The most appalling thing is that there are persons who are majoring in
>computer related fields who are pirates.  Why would anyone in their
>right mind want to hire someone who is a criminal?  Drug users, convicted
>felons, and others are not hired because of their actions and I would
>think that most companies would not hire a pirate either.

It is not unusual to hire ex-criminals. What should a criminal do if he
knew that he would never get a job or a future because of his criminal
background? He would have to stay criminal since that was his only choice,
and that would not gain the comunity in any way. I believe it's the same thing
with pirates. And another fact: pirates, or should I say crackers, can indeed
be very useful. Who else has seen so many copy protections and program-
structures as thay have? They have a lot of useful inforamtion that should not
be lost.

>No matter what anyone may say, piracy is a crime.  Pirates are criminals
>and should be dealt with as such.  I'm sure that certain people who are
>in favor of piracy will respond with witty arguments, but that still does
>nothing to change the fact that it is wrong.

Any idea of how pirates should be punished? Ok, I know your answear:
It's not for you to judge. But then, who should take that responsibility?
Who knows exactly how great this crime is?

>Skip Sauls, Amiga Advocate, Pirate Basher, but not a Lawyer
>skip@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu

-- 
 /---------------------------------------------------------------------------\ 
(  10 rem *** Nice program! ***             |   Letters: abcdefghijklmnopq    )
 ) 20 print"Espen Skoglund is my name. ";   |            rstuwxyzABCDEFGHI   (
(  30 goto 20                               |            JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ    )
 \---------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Hey, I really hop you like my sig Skip!