From: Steve.Withers@bbs.actrix.gen.nz
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.misc
Subject: Re: Piracy, anyone?
Date: 20 Dec 92 19:08:53 GMT
Organization: Actrix Information Exchange

In article <BzE35s.Az1@news.cso.uiuc.edu> dlanglan@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (super-dave) writes:
> Warning!!!  This post contains material which may be unsuitable for
> sensitive, self-righteous readers who believe that software pirates are the
> reason that God created firing squads.  Let ye among you who is without

bit deleted

> I am a fan of most types of software piracy, game cracking (as an art
> form), and hacking (as a hobby).

a bit more.....

> Commercial software companies are soaking Joe PeeCee as well as
> corporations, and the only difference is that Ford Motor Company can
> afford $500 per computer for a word processing package.  Should I just shrug
> and buy an inferior product like Microsoft Works because I can't afford Word
> for Windows?  If you can get by without tech support and documentation,
> more power to you!

and a bit more...

> Please respond in earnest to this newsgroup or directly to me for discreet
> opinions.  Pirates unite!  I would like to assemble a mailing list of
> those sympathetic to the above article - please e-mail me.

Piracy is not something that I would recommend. It represents using the work
of other without paying them for it. 
 
Having said that......some companies beg to have their software pirated.
Microsoft, for example, protects nothing. They use piracy to enhance and
extend their position in the market. Programs that are protected - like Lotus
apps - lose ground because people do get the try-before-you-buy experience.
 
Also - outside the US, piracy is very popular. Many US software companies
charge "foreigners" *more* than in the US - despite the fact that most
"foreigners" have much lower incomes in terms of US dollars.
 
In NZ, we earn about the same *number* of NZ$'s as an American earns US$'s.
But our dollar is worth about 50 cents US. So we earn half. 
 
An example of what I am talking about would be Proportional Software - the
makers the DCF/2 (disk compression software for OS/2 v2.0). US buyers pay
US$99....but "foreigners" pay US$139!! Both prices exclude shipping - which
for the foreigner will be about US$25-45....depending on the method.
 
My point is that the foriegner who earns half as much is expected to pay 40%
more! This is a frequent problem. It also invites software piracy on a massive
scale because *all* software is too expensive for the average New Zealand
computer user. 
 
All of it. Even MS Works cost NZ$350 plus 12.5% sales tax.
 
Companies that want to avoid piracy will price the products at a reasonable
level. Especially in overseas markets where incomes are generally lower. In NZ
people often figure piracy is OK because they were getting ripped off on the
price anyway....so they are getting their own back on gouging vendors.
 
Doesn't make it right. It just explains why it happens and will continue to
happen.
 
Steve
-- 
Steve Withers - Wellington, New Zealand | On Sept. 19th, 88% of NZ voters opted
Steve.Withers@bbs.actrix.gen.nz         | for proportional representation. It
+64 4 478 4714                          | looks like we may get a more  
**** Happy user of OS/2 v2!! ****       | democratic system "real soon now".