One more reason to use OSS

[ozdream]

This MUST be a M$ Sponsored site.

Worth reading some of the Ramblings and BS...

Business Software Alliance

http://www.bsa.org/usa/press/newsreleases/Software-Watchdog-Collects-200000-from-CA-Hardware-Product-Distributor.cfm


Home: http://www.bsa.org

Hmm "Destory hardware?!?!?!

Thirty-nine percent of the world's software is pirated. Software piracy is not only a crime, but it can destroy computers and data. Visit our Tools & Resources section and learn how to protect yourself and your business.

Maybe it would not be if they did not want an arm and a leg for the software! (Music CD's)

[hard candy]

If it messes with the firmware, it destroys it. Look at Mandrake 9.2 and LG cdrw's.
Nothing wrong with the organization that I can see- if that was my money, I would enforce the law. If we do not like it, change the law. (Didn't you see Legally Blonde 2? :) )
And $1 per song is not an arm and a leg- they go for $50,000 according to my accident insurance.
"Don't steal, and you won't have to squeal when the pressure is down and you have to leave town."

[l01yuk]

If it messes with the firmware, it destroys it.

Um, ok, so software can hurt the hardware, but if the pirated software hurts the hardware then so does the non-pirated version. It's a copy remember, not another piece of software.

[Icarus]

I always get a kick out of the people that say "It's only wrong if I'm caught"...like obfuscated crime ok, welcome to the non-existent mob :)

Just like speeding in a car, it's illegal and you get a nice fine for it...just like software piracy. It's not hurting anyone, but there are laws that say don't do it. And not liking the law doesn't mean you can ignore it :rolleyes:

[l01yuk]

I have to say though that I agree with the sentiment of the site. Piracy is not a good thing. If you think about it, piracy to MS is someone not paying, to Linux it is someone not releasing the source-code. Both are illegal and you can't really demand one without asking for the other because the same copyright laws protect both licences.

[hard candy]

It's a copy remember, not another piece of software

Only if you are sure they copied it correctly or that something didn't get corrupted. If it is a legal copy, you have legal recourse for compensation for the damaged hardware- pirated copies, you are stuck and you can't complain too loudly-or someone who works for that company may read or hear about it.

If your are running a business, it part of the cost of doing business to pay for licenses. If you are downloading mp3's, now you have to weigh the risk of getting caught (if you live in the US). Plus, how about viruses, worms, and Madonna's revenge potentially being in the file?

[l01yuk]

Well I don't think the legal recourse has anything to do with its safety although as a business it is generally better to have that option.

As for a bad copy hurting hardware I think that is *very* unlikely since the corrupt files would have to make sense in quite a complicated and lengthy manner so unless there was some dangerous machinary running from a machine with a corrupted os install that crashed I think we're talking not too likely.

I agree about viruses and so on though, if you are buying your s/w cracked rather than just copying there is a real danger of a back-door there. After all, they are doing it to the s/w vendor so why not you?

At the end of the day, I wouldn't like to have to say to my boss that it was some pirated software that didn't work correctly and now we have lost a load of data. That would not be a good day. And I agree that it is just another cost to be factored in. There are other ways to get (most) work done anyway so why not use them?

[Satanic Atheist]

Interestingly enough, it's not the software that's pirated, but the licence.

Can someone confirm the Microsoft EULA to me? I heard that it's perfectly legl (or at least was) to install Windows on ONE desktop and ONE portable (i.e. laptop) simultaneously. They may have changed that one now and I think it only applies to an original that you purchased (i.e. not an OEM version with "Only for use with a new computer" stuck all over it).

With XP, they may have changed it because of the automatic on-line registration, but if someone has a copy of Win2k lying around...

Anyway, you can make as many copies as you want. I could even give away copies, but to make them legal, the recipient would have to contact Microsoft and buy a licence - that's all. Just a little piece of paper that entitles them to use the software. That's what costs the money.

James

[mrBen]

Originally posted by Satanic Atheist

Can someone confirm the Microsoft EULA to me?



I don't remember all of it, but I think it begins 'All your boxen are belong to us.......'

[Satanic Atheist]

I did come across this (http://mail.nl.linux.org/humorix/2001-04/msg00001.html) whilst hunting for that damn EULA...

But finally got it! Take a look here (http://www.computeruser.com/articles/1905,5,17,1,0501,00.html).

James

[hard candy]

Yea, they busted that company in the news story for not having enough licenses.
I was thinking of the p2p program sharing (especially palm programs), buying the cd's at street markets (where the name is written on the cd), and the warez sites/channels.
Of course, I confess, I went looking for Half-life 2 when it got out, and I was tempted to look at the Longhorn alpha available. Luckily, my conscience was saved by long download times/waits- not any moral limits. Sort of like having my seatbelt fastened when the cop pulls up next to me at the traffic light. A feeling of relief.

[bwkaz]

Originally posted by hard candy
If it is a legal copy, you have legal recourse for compensation for the damaged hardware- Actually, no you don't, most of the time.

The vast majority of license agreements that I've read (i.e. anything on any software I've installed in the past year) have specifically disclaimed all liability -- you have no legal recourse whatsoever.

Not that that invalidates what you're saying, of course.