Animation Source Forums

It certainly is simple. A buddy of mine does it, so I ought to know. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to copy, using ROMs and such. I've always been fascinated by it.

What is software piracy, exactly?
It is the unauthorized duplication, distribution or use of computer software -- for example, making more copies of software than the license allows, or installing software licensed for one computer onto multiple computers or a server.

Copying software is an act of copyright infringement, and is subject to civil and criminal penalties. It's illegal whether you use pirated software yourself, give it away, or sell it. And aiding piracy by providing unauthorized access to software or to serial numbers used to register software can also be illegal


Just because it's easy doesnt mean it's legal

http://www.cit.cornell.edu/computer/pol ... definition

Just because it's illegal doesen't mean it's wrong. Some illegal things God says is OK. I'm not talking about acceptable things like effing demon liqor that ruin peoples lives, but things like a, God forbid, a 15 year old WORKING. Heh, you find that somebody would actually say that surprising? Don't mess with me about legal crap.

Said the kid who thinks stealing software is not against the law. Most things are illegal because they are wrong, I know crazy idea.

Thats correct. Software piracy of any kind is wrong, and there is no way to justify it.
The revenue the software companies lose to people who pirate or use software they have not paid for causes them to have to raise prices of the software. It also delays the release of updates and new versions.

And there are ways to legally get the software cheaper. There are academic discounts (provided you are a student and you do not use it commercially). Thats how I get my software. Also sometimes the campus bookstore will put old versions on clearance (I got Adobe Creative Suite CS Academic for $99; that's 75% off. I waited until they marked it down from 50% off to 75% off).

The finally, there are alternatives. There are cheaper less functional versions of some of the programs, and then there are open source alternatives. The open-source alternatives may not have the eye-candy and polished feel of the big name software; but they still work and they are free.
And an individual is liable for having any counterfeit software in their possession.
http://bsadefense.com/resources-licensing-faq.asp

And if prosecuted in a civil suit, said individual may be fined up to $100,000 per counterfeit title. In addition, if they decide to press criminal charges, said individual can be fined an additional $250,000 and can be imprisoned for up to 5 years per count. In addition to this, theft of over $300 is a felony. You will lose your right to vote and your right to purchase a firearm.

As for the "its too expensive" excuse, granted companies like Adobe don't effectively grasp the concept of competitive pricing. Nonetheless, that doesn't make it right in the least to steal it. If you can't pay for it then get something cheaper. Or get an academic license, they are exponentially cheaper. In the end it often comes down to not a "I don't have that kind of money," but rather a "I want to spend my money on other things."
If you are going to pursue art as a hobby or career you need to invest capital in it.

As for the backup copy. You can make one single backup copy for archival purposes only. That backup copy may not be sold, may not be given to another individual, it may not be used to load the program onto additional machines, and it must be destroyed if the owner sells the original copy.

And as for "some illegal things God says is OK;" I believe it is mentioned many times in the Bible that stealing is wrong.

And as for the individuals that think they are getting away with it, most new programs (like Photoshop and Flash) have circumventions against piracy (sometimes called macrovision), which allows them to track activations and users. They CAN find you, they are just going after the big fish before they go after more of the individuals (remember the RIAA suing individual users of filesharing programs, right?). It is a matter of time before they start picking out the individuals users who use the illicit software for "personal" use and bring them to court. They will only get a few at a time, but it is meant to send a message.

Edit
I don't make a lot of money either, but I am still able to legally purchase things like Photoshop and Flash. I hunt for deals first off, get acadmic discounts, and save money by not spending it on other things (like not spending it on video games, movies, music, toys, eating out).[/b]

Never in my life have I seen such circular logic (and only barely that). That opening statement is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Besides...you infer that you're 15. What the heck do YOU know about the intricacies of the legal system? In ANY country? Is your father or your mother a lawyer? A relative, maybe? (Can't POSSIBLY be any lawyers in your family...not with that kind of mentality.) It's people like YOU that drive up software prices for those of us who actually try and stay legal with this stuff. Again:

As to your earlier statement (not quoted)? I read your post just fine, thank you. Perhaps you DO need a better understanding of legality and morality, ey?

Just so we're all on the same page, as to what I just accused "Zeldaholic" of: http://circularlogic.blogspot.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_logic.

Is it still considered stealing IF you buy the original software and make an extra copy just incase? That's what my mom does. (she didn't used to until she lost the first copy of Windows XP, so she bought a new one and made a copy.) But if it's an illegal copy then it only lasts so long before your computer freezes every couple of minutes, so either way, your going to have to by the original copy eventually.

I agree with Piney and White Wolf on this one, but I do know a person (Husband and wife actually) who sell illegal copies of Windows, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and so on. Would I buy one from them? No, they sell them for only $50 less then the original. Talk about a rip off..

I think this might be splitting hairs. I mean, if a person's already paid the price of the software, then he or she has technically consented to the licensing agreement contained with it. However, I know some programs allow you to make a backup copy once you've PURCHASED the software, for yourself (ONLY), if you've become a licensed user (registered purchaser). But to purchase it and then sell copies, as the other person you mentioned is doing? Wrong. Big wrong.

Software-Piracy is, of course, "stealing" - otherwise it wouldn't be "piracy". Hence - it's illegal and wrong. Yet, the other side of this story is, what software-giants and monopolists like Microsoft do isn't correct either: they limit my posibilities to reinstall their programs (which has a range from entire Operating Systems to simple Computing tools) and forbid me to make a backup copy of a product I actually purchased and I therefore also OWN.

Luckily, certain countries, including Switzerland, see and respect the owner's right to USE and BACKUP purchased software and digital media, hence, if I own a CD or DVD, I'm allowed to do my backup copies as long as I don't hand them out to other people.

Again another aspect is: WHY does someone need to make illegal copies of commercially produced software? There are enough of completely and legally free alternatives available, for almost any Operating System (Windows, Mac OS-X, Linux, Solaris...). A few examples:

• Windows -> Linux
• Microsoft Office -> OpenOffice
• Adobe Photoshop -> The Gimp
• Microsoft Outlook -> Mozilla Thunderbird
• Microsoft FlightSimulator -> Flight Gear
• Norton AntiVirus -> Clamav / Clamwin
• Nero -> X-CD-Roast
• ...

All of these alternatives are to 100% free and serve exactly the same purpose, and are often by far more efficient and capable than their commercial companions.

So, technically, I see absolutely no point in doing illegal copies of such software. I'm running Slackware Linux on my computer instead of Windows XP, didn't ever pay a cent for software and am allowed redistribute, modify and install it as many times as I want.

Well, as for me, I don't fear copying software for my own use. For 1 reason, I would not sell it, indeed, they'd have to catch me first, as far as it goes, being illeagal and all. Don't be an a** to Zeldaholic. Some illegal things are fine, and some legal things are not. That's just the way it is. As for myself, I'd rather have or give a happy illegal life than an unhappy legal one. I take it you know what I'm implying when I say that.

Don't be an "a**" to Zeldaholic?? No one HAS been. Zeldaholic brought any responses others gave upon himself. And then he decided to cut and run, because he couldn't face the music.

Wrong is wrong. How in the WORLD can you justify the statement "some illegal things are fine..."?? What kind of an upbringing must you have had that you could make such a ridiculous statement?


a) and if you eventually get caught, then you can live a happy life in jail, or paying off court costs and legal fees.

b) why don't you just tell us what you're implying, skippy?

Here we go again with the whole some laws are pointless topic. They are not pointless, they are here to stop people with no common sense from doing something stupid or morally wrong. No I'm not calling anyone stupid on here.

I have yet to see to many people that do illegal things happy because most of them are behind bars or are waiting for the jury to come back, only to tell them that they person has to pay Hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It's best to play it safe and not only live for the "now" As in now I'm not in jail so I must be getting off well.

hmm, so, Ronno Fanatic, if somebody broke in to your house, killed your parents, stole everything and then lit the house on fire, you wouldn't care? You wouldn't want them to be arrested? Seems pretty stupid to me..