Something to think about

[Mntsnow]

This was posted over at the OEM systems builders website as they keep us uptodate on stuff like this http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

E-Alert:
Software Pirate Receives 2 ½ Year Jail Sentence

Watchdog Group Applauds Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

Washington D.C., March 17, 2000 – The Business Software Alliance (BSA), a software watchdog group which represents the leading software publishers, applauds the Florida State Circuit Court in Jacksonville for taking a tough stance on software piracy. Atlantic Beach, FL resident David Pugh was sentenced today following his conviction for dealing in stolen property by trafficking in pirated software. Mr. Pugh was sentenced to a 30 months jail-term, 2 years probation and court costs. As part of his probation, he will not be allowed to own computers or have them in his place of residence.

“This sentence sends the clearest signal yet that software piracy can land you in jail,” said Bob Kruger, vice-president of enforcement for the BSA. “BSA commend the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for its efforts to protect the Internet and help create a safe environment for legitimate electronic commerce.”

According to a press release issued by the FDLE, investigators purchased multiple copies of pirated software from Mr. Pugh. During a search of Mr. Pugh’s home, investigators found over one thousand suspected pirated software programs and CD-ROM disks worth an estimated retail value of $52,000. The investigation revealed that Mr. Pugh sold pirated software over the Internet both domestically and internationally.

Recent criminal prosecutions in New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. reveal the heightened level of attention being directed at software piracy by law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a new Intellectual Property Rights Initiative last summer designed to combat software piracy and promote the domestic and international prosecution of intellectual property crimes.

According to a recent study, the U.S. software industry lost nearly $2.9 billion to software piracy in 1998.* This loss has a significant impact on the U.S. economy. It is estimated that software piracy cost the U.S. economy over 109,000 jobs, $4.5 billion in lost wages and almost $1 billion in tax revenue for 1998. **

* “1998 Global Software Piracy Report” conducted by the International Planning and
Research Corporation
** “Forecasting a Robust Future” conducted by Nathan Associates

Since 1988, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has been the voice of the world’s leading Software developers before governments and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members represent the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA educates computer users on software copyright; advocates public policy that fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software piracy. BSA worldwide members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Corel Corporation, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, and Symantec. BSA websites: www.bsa.org (http://www.bsa.org)
www.nopiracy.com (http://www.nopiracy.com)


Mntsnow
*edited to fix broken link*




[This message has been edited by Mntsnow (edited 03-26-2000).]

[Thor]

yep, crimes doesn't pay in the long run. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

Thanks for the info Mntsnow

Thor

hmm where did I put that copy of Win2000 ? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[oblivion]

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/icons/icon13.gif

[This message has been edited by oblivion (edited 03-27-2000).]

[U-96]

Good move by the courts if this guy was doing it for commercial gain!

Bad move by the article to quote dodgy statistics:


According to a recent study, the U.S. software industry lost nearly $2.9 billion to software piracy in 1998.* This loss has a significant impact on the U.S. economy. It is estimated that software piracy cost the U.S. economy over 109,000 jobs, $4.5 billion in lost wages and almost $1 billion in tax revenue for 1998. **



Note the key words - according nearly significant estimated

To be read as


If all these scum-sucking pirates actually ever intended buying our software, then this is how much money we and the government would have creamed from them, but seeming as your regular warez dude doesn't want to shell out the price of a family saloon for a 3D rendering program, nor really need it, these figures are made up.


U-96

[OuTpaTienT]

You are exactly right U-96.

And as far as this guy going to jail...GOOD. He was selling pirated stuff for cash. LOSER. I might have a different opinion if he were offering the warez for free. But selling it? Utter scum.

Comment to oblivion: I suppose you'd be perfectly willing to spend hundreds of hours coding a piece of software and then offer it at no charge to some punk-*** loser 1,000 miles away just so he can sell it and make some money. I'm not sure what planet you live on oblivion, but when you get back to Earth drop us a note.

[Wiz]

Warez was originally "developed" to combat high prices of programs, such as Alias($40000), Unigraphics($24000), Win2000 Avd. Server($6000).

It has spread to $20 games now, which i think is kind of dumb. I like games, and i want to support the creators so they make more good games.

BTW, Thief II: Metal Age is AWESOME!

[welsh wizard]

Its about time they got tough with commercial software pirates, in the past they have cost many a good computer company their ability to get Software houses to support them, Classic example being Atari, http://thedam.com/cwm/smile/ah/icon2.gif
WW

[ytay]

selling warez is scumbag thing to do, unless your trying to cover the cost of a cd and shipping......i also those figures are abosolute bogus, i can get adobe photoshop5.5 if i wanted it, but would i pay $999 Cn. for it....NO! NEVER!....so am i a lost sale NO!.........any program i do like i will buy

my 2 cents

[buddmann]

Looks like he received his just reward

buddmann

[oblivion]

I suppose you'd be perfectly willing to spend hundreds of hours coding a piece of software and then offer it at no charge to some punk-*** loser 1,000 miles away just so he can sell it and make some money. I'm not sure what planet you live on oblivion, but when you get back to Earth drop us a note.
Actually OuTpaTienT,I was giving the thumbs down for another reason...........I feel that this just signifies the decline of freedom,and a new era of government control that will be partially brought upon by an abuse of internet and computer related security issues coupled with other things such a terrorism and the "bogus" war on drugs........I do not think it is cool if he was ivolved in a mass distrubution ring of pirated software..................and I do not think it is cool that the time is coming soon when we truely will not have privacy,as groups such as the BSA,and other related groups become more powerful we will lose more rights.


BTW did you know that microsoft has its own police for software piracy......they raided a store here in NC not to long ago......


[This message has been edited by oblivion (edited 03-27-2000).]

[OuTpaTienT]

Alright. Just checkin'.

And that kinda surprises me about MS. I've always heard rumors that MS looks the other way when it comes to piracy. Mainly because Windows is the number one pirated software, and the pirates are largely responsible for MS being as huge as they are.

[Mr Twobit]

Reading all these justifications for piracy makes me laugh. (These people charge to much, they're already rich!)
If someone broke into your house and stole your computer, you would be self-righteously PO'd.
How 'Rich' would you have to be before it was alright to steal your computer???

[oblivion]

I do not think they mind as much with the little guy,but this company was selling windows products as retail over the internet,and in thier retail store,along with partners in lousiana.

[CMonster]

~edit: First, let me say that I feel sorry for the guy - he ruined his life for something that will not matter in a couple of years. Maybe he couldn't get a real job and got tired of working for peon wages. Perhaps if greater opportunities had been available to this individual he would be too busy with his happy productive life to consider illegal activities. Perhaps even if our excuse-making, finger-pointing, amoral schools had taught a simple class in good social values from K-12....

The sentence in this case creates even bigger and multiple problems - like how will his wife and kids (if any) get along now? And don't say, "Well he should have thought about that before he.." There are many victims here and many more to come. Do you think this individual will come out of prison reformed or with a "#u<K-it" attitude? Could we not actually rehabilitate this individual - obivously he showed some marketing talent that could be devoloped. But the powers that be are not working for the greater good of society - but for the corporate powers that be - just look at the list.


I have heard very good arguments on both sides.


I am a futurist, and idealist, and a dreamer; I wonder how long we must go on charging each other for everything. I guess basically I am a true communist at heart - but we all know that there can never be "true" communal-ism.


So for now I will live with the constant bombardment of advertizement even on the placemat when I dine out - I suppose it's okay if "Coca-Cola" wants to build that satelite thing that will display "Enjoy Coca-Cola" amidst the stars of the night sky.


I wonder just how wealthy will they become, these companies and industries that do not grow food, sew clothing, build houses, or maintain transportation systems.


So much for the world's ills and my own cognative dissonance - I guess the best thing to do is not to buy that which is overpriced and to support the competition. I support alternatives (but I have bought quite a bit of MS stuff too) - I bought several versions of Linux, I bought BeOS - but truth be known I tried a pirated BeOS first and then bought my own legal copy at a very reasonable price (and I'm posting this with it).

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 03-28-2000).]

[redstone]

(posted on another BB)

Median time served for murder in the United States... 5.5 years
Median time served for rape...3 years
Median time served for robbery...2.25 years
Median time served for assault...1.25 years
Everyday 14 people are murdered, 48 women raped and 578 people are robbed by persons who have been caught, convicted, and subsequently released on probation or parole.
30% of all murders are committed by persons on probation or parole.
Of the 3.7 million convicted felons in the U.S., 3.2 million are on probation or parole.

Now does the punishment fit the crime? I am thinking that there is another motivation to the sentence Mr. Pugh received for his crime. ÿþ

[CMonster]

Yes redstone, and that is indeed something to think about.

[Smokey]

Yeah... anyone that sells pirated software is an idiot. It really bugged me when a friend of mine bought a new computer, and every install CD that she got was a copy http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[oblivion]

Here is another thing to think about........ college students need alot of expensive software to work with..........I have some friends that go to the art institute of pittsburgh(AIP)that study computer animation...most of them are not rich kids and they have to work all the time just to buy food...they can not afford thousands of dollars to buy software such as 3d studio max
I feel like the need this software,and they do........I do not see anything wrong with them burning copys of it.....they do,and they need it..........I think it is not morally wrong to do this....

[Mntsnow]

Sorry but I cry BS on that one Oblivion. Most if not all the schools that REQUIRE a student use or have a peticular software has it avaliable for pennys on the dollar! I'm glad to see some schools cracking down on software piracy too! At one of the local university's here just dismissed 6 or 7 students who were doing just what you stated and they had ALL of the software avaliable to them for under 20 bucks for each software title! Stealing is just that.....Stealing http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

Mntsnow

[CMonster]

One thing that really pi$$e$ me off about most software licences is the "one computer" rule. If I happen to have 4 computers in my own house, one for each family member - THE SAME FLESH AND BLOOD UNDER ONE ROOF - I usually need 4 separate licences to avoid breaking the law. This is rediculas! So are they going to sentence me and my family to 3 years of getting the big sausage put to us for this dispicable crime?


~edit: personal content deleted


And do you think I applaud when they sentence someone to prison for software piracy? Ha!.. the priorities are all bassakwards if you ask me.



[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 03-28-2000).]

[Mntsnow]

Cmonster, I'm sorry that the "justice system" failed you and your family http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif That is a sad thing to have had happen.

I personally DO WISH that the software makers would change the way they have software licensing setup for the HOME user as I have spent probably an upwards of 7-10 THOUSAND dollars on software over the last few years. and I am in NO WAY affluent in the matter of money! (maybe that's why I work 2 jobs and live on about 4.5 hours of sleep a day) I will admit that when I first got into computing that I too "pillfered" OS's and other software, but as I got older and had "more to lose" I decided it just wasnt worth the risk and how many systems in your home NEEDS to have Photoshop and Flash and ect ect on it?. Also thats one reason why I only have 2 systems running Win2K (I personally cant afford more copies for my self)

I guess one reason that software piracy bothers me is the fact that I am trying to make money building and selling systems.

and I guess another is the fact that I "paid" for what I have and other seem so "flipant" about the fact that they don't!

Well I'm off the soapbox now http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

again I'm sorry to opened up any wound Cmonster http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

Mntsnow

[oblivion]

...........

[This message has been edited by oblivion (edited 03-28-2000).]

[oblivion]

Well AIP does not have that pennies on the dollar ****..........it is not a university though............where my girlfrined goes to school for photography they do not have any special deals on adobe photoshop......
so I got her a copy of it.....hell she can barely afford gas to get to school,let alone 650$ for photoshop................at any rate
I am not against making copys of stuff for friends and whatever.........I do not care about laws really......I bet every one on this BBS has broken a law within the last year..............you know if you help a friend out and he gives you say 15$ for example for the time you helped him.......you owe the government a % of it.....and if you do not pay you are stealing from good ole uncle sam.........

Do any of you make money ever from building comps for people ect? If so,do you pay taxes on that money?

Same thing..............


*puts on firesuit*

[Mntsnow]

Yes I do pay my taxes. I was even audited 3 years ago and past with flying colors http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I will say it was one of the scariest times of my life...Thoughts of Interest/Fines ect ect http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif But in the end everything was on the up and up just as I knew it was...I can say the IRS believes you GUILTY until proven otherwise!

I will again say I DO wish that software was cheaper for everyone but I dont make the prices...

Mntsnow
*Need to go back to school and learn how to type http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif *

[This message has been edited by Mntsnow (edited 03-28-2000).]

[BBA]

Ummm...

I don't get the money part.


the U.S. software industry lost nearly $2.9 billion to software piracy in 1998............cost the U.S. economy over 109,000 jobs, $4.5 billion in lost wages and almost $1 billion in tax revenue for 1998


Ok, like the software companies would have payed 109,000 people a total of $4.5 Billion in wages and $1 Billion in taxes for a total of $5.5 Billion, just to make up only $2.9 Billion?

??????????

Someones stretching a few numbers here and there.

What

[OuTpaTienT]

Yep. They do the same thing with drug busts. They catch a shipment of 2 tons of pot and then calculate it out...if this were 2 tons of dimebags sold at $10 a piece then this drug bust is worth 18 trillion dollars.