From: dlanglan@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (super-dave)
Subject: A Frank Discussion on Piracy (Flames, Anyone? :-P )
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 06:19:13 GMT

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
sin cast the first stone!  (Nota Bene: Before you flame me about a
possible misquote of the previous biblical passage, note that there are no
quotes around it - i.e. paraphrase)

Sorry for the protracted length, but please read the entire post.  I
welcome all intelligent responses on both sides of the question.

I am a fan of most types of software piracy, game cracking (as an art
form), and hacking (as a hobby).  I detest those who perpetrate virii on
helpless people, but I admire those who are curious about their workings. 
I own the infamous Virus Creation Lab, but I will NEVER give it to anyone
whose integrity I cannot personally vouch for.  I have never, and will
never use it to perpetrate a virus on another computer.  However, I feel
it is an invaluable tool for the study of virii.  If one fully comprehends
how they work, one is less susceptible to them.

As stated above, I feel that some forms of software piracy are valid. 
Copying games and distributing them to friends with the included
documentation is NOT what I consider valid.  For example, I chanced upon a
pirated copy of Falcon 3.0, I used it for several days without the full
documentation (only a small text file with keyboard map), and enjoyed it
so much, I bought it at CompUSA to have the benefits of the full docs. 
Now, I think that this should be perfectly legal.  It is similar to a
shareware concept - If one likes and uses the software, one should
register (buy) it.  The distribution of cracked games on thousands of
BBS's across the country helps prevent the unsuspecting buyer from buying a
total lemon of a product.  How many times have you bought software only to
find out that the package is ten times better than the product?  Caveat
Emptor! Now I'll admit, there are some games that I have used and never
bought, and that is one of the HUGE loopholes in my previous theory.  Some
people will use the games and never pay for them, but how many of you out
there have registered your PKZip? ARJ? CSHOW? Get the picture?

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!

Perhaps bit.listserv.games-l is the wrong forum for this discussion, so
don't be surprised if you see this cross-posted somewhere else.  Pirates,
feel free to e-mail me about your opinions/experiences with our slandered
art (an underground network for intelligent discussion/transacting
is strongly needed).  Software publishers, I also welcome your opinions,
perhaps I am overlooking some aspect of piracy.  Law enforcement, I very
much would like to hear your opinions concerning the
enforcibility/fairness of the current software licensing agreements.

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.

Regards,

Dave

P.S.:  As a favor to others, please SELECTIVELY quote this article.


cc:  judge@spa.com
     jury@fbi.gov
     executioner@prison.gov
 
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|| dlanglan@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu - University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign  ||
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            PIRACY IS NOT A RIGHT!  IT IS A PRIVILEGE!