From: dcutter@oregon.uoregon.edu (dann cutter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Copying and piracy
Date: 21 Aug 92 21:44:45 GMT
Organization: Stellar Enterprises

That does it! This is starting to really annoy me. A poster asks a question
which may or may not mean he has pirated the game - and everybody jumps all
over him. God damn it... I hate to say it, but the fucking software
industry better really thank there luck stars that some people pirate
stupid games... these are the people that grow up and end up programming
for the same stupid company in the first place. And some games would not
survive without piracy... I mean, some of those old games get pirated, and
then as the pirate actually gets old enough to get some real cash, buys the
new copy of the game. Millions are lost yearly to the record and tape
industry (cd too) because people dubb, but bloody hell - Having 40% profit
margins compared to 50% is just only so sad... and I believe the record
iindustry is at a hieght that has never been equaled. 
	Now, don't get me wrong - I AM NOT CONDONING PIRACY... as such. Companies
who use a product to produce anything which in turn they profit from should
NEVER pirate.  But as a college student on a VERY limited income... you
should be able to play a game or use a program, as long as you inform the
company that you have it and have an agreement from them. As such, in HS I
copied many games... Since that time I have written or contacted each
company whose game I posess and explained my situation... Not only have
companies been receptive (several companies gave me the copy in my
posession for a $5 fee), but a few companies have actually sent me the
manuals, and told me to please enjoy and recomend their product to others.
THEY DO THIS cause they now, as I have told them, that when I am
financially able I will probably end up buying the games from companies I
liked anyways... So they end up making a gareenteed(sp?). I am proud to say
that I now own EVERY piece of software on my machine, and in my possesion.
Most companies justwanted to know about it, and make sure I wasn't making a
profit from it.
	I don't encourage corporate Piracy... but at 15 fours years ago, I
certainly didn't have the money for a $50 game... now I do, and I bought it
from them...with a very nice thank you letter for my input on the game over
the years.  I know very few people who actually can say the never pirate
software... and I feel good at least because I have permission from the
companies to have all my software... even if I didn't pay for it. Some have
turned me down... And after I finished their game, I ssent them a $5 check
and erased it from my hard drive. 

	Please - Users, Programmers, and Companies... Understand the difference
between corperate piracy, and just economics... many asshole companies
don't last long, while if you understand a bit more about your users...
you'll be a much better revered company. i.e. I hate Microsoft, yet Origin
will get all my business first, and always...



_______________________________________________________________
Dann Cutter  Stellar Enterprises* /
dcutter@oregon.uoregon.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games,comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard