Pirating Question.

[Nova]

I know we don't talk about it on PC stats, but its linking it or giving advice about it thats "taboo" so here it goes. I was always wondering who here in the stats would tell on someone or disagree with pirating and why. Personally I have no problem with it, mainly because software today SUCKS and i'm willing to trust people to go out and buy that wat they feel like supporting. Me for example, i don't find much music from europe sold here, so i pirate it. Games for example, i pirate some that "i'm taking a chance on" and if i like them like morrowind, a game that i beat, and its expansions, i still went out and bought it no matter the price, mainly because i want to support the company that makes such great games.

What about you guys? How many of you still do it? And who here would "rat out" those who did it.

[dantheman]

My pirating of games has gone down a bit from what I used to do, but that's only due to the fact that I have more money to play with now. I still pirate other things like music and movies a decent amount. I don't feel bad about it because I wasn't going to buy these things anyways. If I pirate a game, it's because I didn't have the money for it, but I still want to be able to enjoy it. So really, the developers and artists out there aren't loosing any money because of my pirating. They were never going to get it in the first place. That doesn't make pirating right, but it's good enough reasoning for me. I would never rat someone out for doing it, that would just be hipocritical.

[speedy11309]

i dont really pirate games too much. the only time i do is if the game doesnt have like a trial or a beta or something for me to test it out. if i like the game, i will buy it. if i dont, i delete it. problem solved. i also agree with dan in saying it doesnt really affect them because they wouldnt have gotten my money anyways. as for pirating music, the same thing applies. if there was no way to pirate music, i would just get a portable radio and sell my ipod. movies ive gotten into a lot lately. mainly because the connection here is incredible. it takes me 2 minutes to get forrest gump. same thing again applies. if i couldnt get it, theres no way id buy it. but there are certain movies that i will buy. some movies i wont pirate just because they are worth it to buy it. like for instance office space, scarface, the boondock saints, and star wars. all bought. i have about 75 dvd's that ive purchased.

im no hypocrite. like the rules of thieves from back in the olden days.

my motto about this subject is from a song i pirated by linkin park: "I can't forget about the criminal I am, stealing second after second just 'cause I know I can".

[DKZ]

If it wasn't for downloading, I wouldn't bother at all with a computer. My internet connection went down a while ago, and I barely turned my computer on. The money I used to spend on music and movies, now goes to those who make computer hardware. Its not like I get to keep my money. I say the internet should be a largely free place where people can share any file they want. If that hurts your business, then adapt or go bankrupt. I am sure there were lots of people who owned horse and cart businesses when cars were invented, what happened to them?
As to pirating, shouln't that be a term better applied to people who sell copies of movies, music, software etc. compared with keeping it for personal use.

[NotMyBest2Day]

I do the same as Nova with music from Europe. Most of what I DL is recorded off radio stations in Europe..2-3 hour rave sets and such. I still buy CDs and such for artists that I actually want to support, like if they have a kickass album, I'll go buy it instead of DL it. Same with movies. If there's a really awesome movie that I want, I'll buy it unless it's one of those ones that are "only in theatres", then I'm left with no other option but to DL it.

I never did DL games. I always bought mine. I tried DLing a game one time and it wouldn't work because the CRC was wrong for one of the files, so I lost interest after that. I have a few programs that I DLed years ago, and are horribly out-of-date now, meaning there are three or four newer versions, but they still work just fine. The newer versions don't really have anything different though, except it's got the next number in the title and sells for twice the price of the previous one.

I always believed that if the music industry wanted to put a stop to piracy, they'd tell the artists that they sign to make music worth listening to, and then sell the albums for a price that people would actually pay.

[Crax]

Pirated software:
for learning experience = okay
for profit making = not okay

Music... I buy the music I want, and I find alternative sources for the rest... I don't want to pay 16 bucks for a cd when I only want one song off of it. I also don't want to pay 99cents for a song with restraints and stuff so that I can only listen to it on one computer... That's that.

[Stone Fox]

Pirated software:
for learning experience = okay
for profit making = not okay


Well said that man!

I have to admit I do download quite a bit. With Games, I'll download a bunch when i get bored but I'll usually go out and buy a copy of the best one or two. Although thats normally motivated by wanting to multi-player.

Music? I don't bother downloading, I normally buy. But that's partly because my experience of p2p stuff like Kazaa involves worms, trojans and random other nastiness - along with the fact that I mainly listen to jungle - which is hard to find.

I am kinda guilty of dvds though. I do download quite a few but they normally get deleted after I watch them. One or two get put on disk to lend to a mate if they're really good but if I want to add something to my collection then I buy it if only so I've got a proper case for the rack.

I do know people who download, and copy, and sell dvd's. I don't pass judgement on them because I don't feel it's my right. I'd never grass them though.

[Zefram]

I didn't adhere to MP3 downloads, and i didnt download it, instead, i've downloaded Music Videos............
I've bought many Genuine music CD's, it cost me a lot, but heck, its not me who paying for the stuff :p

I've downloaded many Animes which HASN'T been licensed and translated into english. Those fansub are amazing.......

I also downloaded many TV series, for example, battlestar galactica and stuff, just because i hate waiting for the DVD. But i do buy the DVD, if the shows are good - like Babylon 5

About gaming piracy, i admit to buying pirated games, but I DO buy genuine games sometimes. Reason? In order to play online :eek:

No matter whats our explanation of getting pirated stuff, its downright illegal - but we just have to save our $$$$$ as much as we can before the coming of DRM and TPM platform!!