Is software piracy is good or bad?
@mdzahirulkader (15)
Bangladesh
December 23, 2009 1:02pm CST
Today we all are know to the term software piracy. Even giant corporation like Microsoft faces this problem. Millions of people around the world are using pirated software. may be it is good or bad? some people may use only this pirated software because they have not enough money to buy the original one. in the perspective of third world country or little earning people what is your opinion to this term.
14 responses
@badman006 (224)
• India
24 Dec 09
There wont be any need of piracy when Microsoft and other big companies reduces the prices of their Softwares.Every software is costly enough for normal man.Therfore upto that time Pirated Disks are the only source.The piracy is more famous because of internet.All softwares are available at internet for free.Who'll spend money to buy if we get it for free.
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Thieves drive up the cost of everything more than the manufacturer and seller. Whether you are 'testing' a few grapes in a grocery store or pirating software, you are stealing. Save you money for the item, buy a used copy or leave it alone. If you cannot afford it, you shouldn't get it until you can.
@goodday007 (316)
• India
24 Dec 09
Piracy is bad............ bt there is a side of piracy which needed to be assesed.......... like in a poor country like india.......... most of the people can't afford genuine OS like Vista nd Windows 7............... so what will they do?????? .............. though many may say that if they can't afford they should not use it............ bt that's not the right ans...............I know its bad and its harming the business of software industries but ............... software gaints like MS should do something like give concession on their products for countries like india so that people can use their products............... because remember........... if people can afford to buy software they will buy them not
and will not use pirated versions
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Sorry, but I'm on the side of 'if you can't afford it, don' use it.' I spent a good part of my life buying clothing from the Salvation Army and thrift stores because I could not afford the regular stores.
Surely there are yard sales, flea markets, etc. in every part of the world where almost any item can be bought for less simply because it is a used product. Better to pay a little for a used item, than steal.
@sagnik42 (3592)
• India
25 Dec 09
Mystic you are right. But it is more or less the same. I know places in my city where they sell used softwares. But, sometimes, the CDs and DVDs are in such a poor condition that it is really impossible for a drive to read it.
In those cases we have no other option but to download it off the internet using torrent and that is piracy. But it is much more reliable than those second or third hand CDs, isn't it?
@tonyllenium (6252)
• Italy
23 Dec 09
it is alays difficult to find a comprimise as regards this kind of discussion!!Surely in my opinion in many cases softwares costs too much especially those ones from micorsoft or apple too so i think it is naturally that people searching for an illegal copy of them if they require!!In my opinion ,as regards music,if majors will give a more decent price people don't think too much about piracy...but if so i think is normal!!
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Maybe if so many stopped stealing, the prices could go down, but losses have to be made up somewhere. Thieves drive prices up much more than the manufacturer. So when pointing a finger at the manufacturers, point a whole hand at the thief.
@lullaby2005 (175)
• China
2 Jan 10
Hi there,
In my opinion, if you don't have enough money to buy licensed software, they don't use it. It likes that if you don't have enough money to buy delicious food, then you don't buy it. That's it.
For those who have not enough money to buy licensed software, I think they can try to use free software. There's so many free software in the world such as Linux and many application software run under Linux. Though Linux is not very friendly to user who is beginner to computer, but it's free. Try it.
@rene12 (794)
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
Piracy have good and bad aspect.
Good?
It is good for those people who cannot afford software products especially microscoft and overpriced anti-virus. Microsoft is understandable but other softwares should be reasonable with their price right? And if you were given a chance to choose, free or pay it? You will have to go for free. Moneywise, it is good.
Bad?
It is really really bad to copy softwares which you didn't make. In respect to the person who spent so much time to create the software, we should buy the product. If we look at the position of the creator, he loses so much revenue because of copies which are selfishly owned and sold out there or were downloaded free which is supposed to be payed for.
@hypyz007 (35)
• China
24 Dec 09
I think free anti-virus software in China is very popular.People aroud me are using NOD32,Kap ,symantic and so on.But using these softwares encounter a few problems: upgrade.As we all know virus develop always faster than anti-virus,so endless upgrading is neccessary,we often need to find the SN.As far as concerned me,free is good,I like free software!
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Then, you are in agreement that if YOU made a piece of popular software, it would be just dandy if everyone decided to steal it from you? How about saving a penny or two here and there and eventually having enough to buy instead of steal.
Thieves are criminals, no matter what the excuse. IF YOU AIN'T GOT THE DOUGH, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T GET THE GOODS.
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
24 Dec 09
No matter what the reason, thieves are thieves. Think about it, if you made a wonderful product that the whole world wanted, would you sell it, decide those that stole it had the right to do so, or give it away and forget actually making money for yourself.
Piracy is theft and it operates on a huge level. It isn't just the poor little fellow with holes in his pockets who steals, it's big gangs who do it to make money off those little fellows with holes in their pockets, because the gang wants every cent that falls through those holes.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Piracy is a big problem in many industries. Music, Movies, and Software. I think piracy is stealing, and there is no justification for it. If you can't afford something, then go without it. You're not just stealing from Bill Gates, you're also stealing from all the average paid workers under him who just trying to make a living. If you want a piece of software, then save up for it. If you don't have the money, then live without it.
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
24 Dec 09
Piracy is bad because under the law this is punishable and prohibited. But we cannot avoid being that way because most people cannot afford the price of the software. Then another problem is have an expiration that will long around a year while piracy is not expire...If linux is friendly user I think I switch to that operating systems because this is free
@benny128 (3615)
•
23 Dec 09
piracy is good and bad,
now let me explain I personally d/load dvd's and games, now the reason why I do it is so I can try the game or dvd before I buy it.
The reason why it is good is if people like me d/load a game and like it then I will buy the original if its not a good game I delete it and don't waste my money on it.
If more people do this it would make sure that games designers of film makes made decent quality films and games.
How many times have you bought a dvd or a game and thought what a load of rubbish I just wasted £30 on that.
If people just d/load games or dvd's without then buying the original and just using the dodgey copy then I think thats wrong.
But trying before you buy I see no problem with that.
@faridmadeabillion (1127)
• Bangladesh
25 Dec 09
Suppose you are an inventor of a new product and you are selling it to compensate your hard toil applied behind its completion and to earn money for your livelihood. Your product has been so popular that people don't hesitate spending money for this. In this situation, if you hear that someone has stolen your product and selling it, how would you feel. Yes, most people of the third world country use pirated software because they can't afford the original ones. In this perspective, my suggestion is the PC vendors can provide the original software while selling PCs sacrificing a portion of their profits.
@shonepen007 (111)
• India
23 Dec 09
Software piracy is a very bad practice..It is illegal in many countries..
It is understandable that softwares are very costly to buy..it is because of the effort that is given to make that software...A software developed through years of research,analysis and effort..It is a teamwork that many people is involved and twisted their brains..So if you are pirating a software then you are neglecting the effort behind it..So please think about it..
