ahoy!

[keryx]

I have old versions of various design stuffs that can't be upgraded to OSX compatibility, and in looking at the shockingly high cost of such things, it occurs to me that there are situations where I don't find software piracy particularly bad. Not that every independent web artist should use stuff illegally, but I really don't have an ethical issue with 14-year-olds (or even underemployed 34-year-olds) using pirated copies of PhotoShop to design their blogs. It's a piece of software clearly priced with a corporate market in mind, but it's also the best tool for certain jobs. Basically, I'm a big commie, as I think software license fees need to do a better job of taking into account your usage and ability to pay - there's a difference between a hobbyist and a professional, a difference between one kid and an entire high school. Why not accomodate that? I'd give people software according to their need, and have them pay as they were able. In the meantime, 14-year-old budding designers have done really well at stealing according to their need, and I can't say I blame them.

What do you think? Is piracy a form of civil disobedience?

[Poll #451506]

Comments

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

other situations not listed: software you needed and legally acquired/used in school (via educational licensing and/or institution), but now you're out of school and you still need to use those files/software.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

yeah, i did kinda the same thing (although with stuff obtained from work, not school, a really long time ago).

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

especially since my computers have completely crashed thrice since i graduated - if i hadn't pirated all my software before i left east hell, i wouldn't be able to work on my publications. which i, um, am totally working on. [dammit, this means i have to send all pleasant email to eeeevil advisor.]

[belladonnalin.livejournal.com]

There are very few times that I would actually pay for software. Pretty much the only time that I wouldn't pirate, if I could, is if the company is small, the designers and programmers run and own it themselves, and the software is reasonably-priced.

Photoshop? Pagemaker? Illustrator? My entire Office package?

Shamelessly stolen.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

It's funny how much the manufacturer being a tangible person changes our views on things, isn't it? Like, I can't imagine using anything (not just software, but anything) that a small company produced without appropriate payment/credit/whatever, yet I'm totally okay with doing it if the company's big.

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

the photoshop gap is SHAMEFUL.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

what do you mean by "photoshop gap"?

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

the gap between "people who want to use it" and "people who can afford it", i guess.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

ah, okay - YES, that is shameful. and i think partly intentional on adobe's part - they're clearly attached to being the ultimate/professional/whatever brand on the market, and i don't see them giving that position up anytime soon.

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

they have a "lesser" version that's a little cheaper, yet. YET. IT SUCKS AND YOU CAN HARDLY DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

at least that is what i have heard since it's still too rich for my blood. and i can use a legal copy of the full thing at work.

now i have to also ask, have you used gimp (probably not as i am betting that you can't use it on an apple?) and how did you feel about it? i would love it if i could just get the text thing to fucking work.

[missmeridian.livejournal.com]

i have used gimp and it sorta sucks, but will do in a pinch. and no, i can't get the text to work either.

[examorata.livejournal.com]

gimp's available for macs! Not that I've tried it, but it's out there.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

yes, i have seen gimp for mac os x. i haven't used it, because it requires me to download a whole assload of things that aren't even bundled. hello! mac user! simple minded!

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

omg i totally forgot about all that bullshit. i didn't install it for a long time because i was in protest of making something that complex. jack forced me to, and then i couldn't make the text work, and nyeah nyeah'd at him.

because i am mean.

but anyways yes, that extra having to download and install complex technical crap is bs. if you want to make free software for your adoring masses, make it a self-extracting executable and leave it at that for chrissakes.

hey could you make me an icon? out of this? And incorporate the word "Stinky!!!" in it? Because I need an icon for when I talk about the beloved yet stinky cat.

If not no big. :D

[firecat]

I use pirated software, but I think it is unethical. Let's face it, I'm not completely ethical. That's why I answered 0.

But in fact I have used pirated software in a number of the situations you list.

Oh, and there was one case where I was justified. I made every effort to buy a piece of software, only to find that it simply wasn't available for purchase any more, since a new version had come out - and there was no longer a version for sale supporting my operating system.

The OH had acquired a copy a while back, and so I used his.

[firecat]

I'll add that one reason I don't think pirating software is such a cool idea is that I can usually find a free or cheap shareware piece of software that does what I want. The free software movement totally rules, and I think people should put a little extra effort into supporting it by using and promoting the software it produces.

[keryx.livejournal.com]

I would agree with that, in principle at least. I haven't found a viable replacement for my design stuffs in the free/open source world yet. But there are a lot of other good free and cheap things produced by smaller peeps.

[originalenid.livejournal.com]

other situations not listed: if they over-price the software rediculously.

[anysia.livejournal.com]

Other possible reasons that should be listed: Older version of said software, still functional, but no longer supported. (Classic example, M$ going after a guy putting together old 386 and 486 computers and putting Windows 3 on them so disabled and lower income kids could have a computer. The sharks errr laywers from Micro$hit threatened to sue, even though they no longer sold, or would support techwise, the software.)