Why can't developers do anything about Torrents or Somilian Software Pirates

[nscode]

-1

 

Life is not black and white.

 

If you sell crappy buggy software to people with an EUA that gives them no recourse then YOU are the thief.

 

Nobody is forcing you to click the I agree button. Even this story of rebelion against the system is in common with other common criminals. Shoplifters will argue that they are stealing from large companies thate "have too much anyway". Bull - it's the poor honest paying customers that pay the price in the end!

[Steel Jaw]

Then obviously you don't buy from them again.....

 

Oh? Is that how it works with appliances or cars? Or my blackberry? Or even the $20 mp3 player I just bought for my 7 year old?

 

Why should software be exempt from consumer protection?

 

You see, it has gotten a free ride for far too long.

[Steel Jaw]

Nobody is forcing you to click the I agree button.

 

That's a weak argument. Any EUA that prohibits a refund for faulty software is morally defunct. Certainly would never get away with that on ANY other consumer good. So why is software exempt from consumer protection?

 

You argument is flawed and narrow in scope.

[nscode]

So, you fix that by stealing? I don't see how that has anything to do with consumer protection. The software does not meet your needs, so you will steal that exact same peace of software instead of buying it?

[Steel Jaw]

So, you fix that by stealing? I don't see how that has anything to do with consumer protection. The software does not meet your needs, so you will steal that exact same peace of software instead of buying it?

 

I dont steal software.

 

However, when the EUA says yo cannot return it for a refund if it's defective/buggy, then all consumers are ENTITLED to a trial. If the seller does not wish to privide one, it's up to the consumer to get one.

 

I have yet to hear your outarge about crappy software being sold to unsuspecting consumers with no recourse of refund.

 

What is your agenda?

[nscode]

If the seller does not wish to privide one, it's up to the consumer to get one.

 

By stealing it.. "temporarily"?

 

My agenda is software piracy (coincidently the topic here). And software piracy is just a fancy, poetic name for one kind of theft.

[Steel Jaw]

And software piracy is just a fancy, poetic name for one kind of theft.

 

The "theft" often occurrs in both directions.

 

Black and white, right or wrong, thinking does not apply to complex issues.

 

So good luck with that.

[ObvilionLost]

yes they can. Arma2 has the FADE DRM protection, also there is online serial code authentication.

 

I'm sorry to say but FADE does not work. Know few ArmA 2 players who use not so legal version without problems. Maybe all games should use system like U-Play, I feel bad for mentioning it, :puke:. Silent Hunter 5 pirated copies still don't fully work.

Another way is to tie software with USB dongle, but it will add to the cost of software. But if you ask me I don't want to pay more because of some pirates....

Edited October 15, 2010 by ObvilionLost

[zakobi]

Can't remember exactly, but some game publisher tried to cooperate with some of the pirates sites, by allowing them to sell the legal version with the pirates getting a cut of the profits.

 

Can't find the article on Tomshardware.com tho :(

[nscode]

The "theft" often occurrs in both directions.

 

Black and white, right or wrong, thinking does not apply to complex issues.

 

So good luck with that.

 

 

It's not a complex issue. It's a very simple issue. You don't need no " ". Theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's freely-given consent. Software is the intelectual property of its author. You do not own it. The only way to use it legally is to do it under terms determened by the author. If you do not agree with those terms, you do not use the software.

[Boberro]

I agree with Mower, he says right IMHO.

[Steel Jaw]

If you do not agree with those terms, you do not use the software.

 

And the terms always boil down to this in a paraphrase:

 

This software is provided as is with no guartantees of functionailty and once you agree to this completely one-sided EUA you cannot get a refund for any reason other than a defective media (ie cd/dvd etc). And, really, once you even open the package you cannot get a refuund other than for defective media.

 

I repeat: this would not be tolerated by consumsers for ANY OTHER PRODUCT.

 

Why is software getting away with this crap?

 

Your limited patterns of thought on this matter astound me.

[nscode]

And the terms always boil down to this in a paraphrase:

 

This software is provided as is with no guartantees of functionailty and once you agree to this completely one-sided EUA you cannot get a refund for any reason other than a defective media (ie cd/dvd etc). And, really, once you even open the package you cannot get a refuund other than for defective media.

 

 

And you can argue that EUA isn't fair, but it is not illegal, and has nothing to do with software theft, except as a lousy excuse.

 

I repeat: this would not be tolerated by consumsers for ANY OTHER PRODUCT.

 

Why is software getting away with this crap?

 

Your limited patterns of thought on this matter astound me.

 

How about credut cards? Property of the bank! Venue tickets? Usually no way to return or resell legally, especially once you've entered the venue. Music? I don't like this song, it's faulty.. I'll just return it.

 

Software developers realise that it might be bad for their business if users can't try the software first, so they will usually provide a trial version. But if they for whatever reason do not wish to - it's up to them.

And there have been many instances where developers realised that the software really does not do its purpose and gave compensations to their customers (Win95 version of RAM Doubler, to name one).

 

The very nature of software makes it difficult to

1) determine that it isn't faulty

2) user does not continue to use it once the original copy has been returned

[Steel Jaw]

Your profile says you are a 24 year old software developer.

 

So this suggests 2 things to me:

 

(1) You are concerned with your livelihood, not consumer rights;

(2) You are not old enough to have been ripped off by faulty software over the years as I have.

 

None-the-less, consumers need to have rights, and failing that, a recourse.

 

Just because software EUA are not criminally illegal, does not mean they are morally right.

[nscode]

I am old enough to realize that I am responsible for my own decisions.

 

Just because software EUA are not criminally illegal, does not mean they are morally right.

 

That is absolutlly true. Also, just because you, or anyone thinks they (EUA) are morally wrong does not give them the right to act illegaly.

 

I have given you some reasons why software, and some other things are treated by the law the way they are. You can disagree with them, you can even continue to be ignorant, and call it 'crap', but that approach isn't going to change anything.

[Steel Jaw]

Laws are designed to protect people or entities. Where those laws infringe upon the natural rights of the citizens, they have the moral right to oppose or obviate such laws.

 

The consumers' natural right not to be ripped off by defective products trumps the rights of software developers to protect their intellectual property.

 

If it wants to combat piracey, the software industry needs to look inwards.

 

I oppose theft, but support consumer rights.

 

Round and round we go.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Mower

[winz]

What has EULA to do with anything? If your legal system guarantees you protection from faulty products then no EULA can strip you down of this right.

 

If it is a bugy and bad written SW why are you using it?

 

It's like arguing with a barkeeper that the beer you just drank was bad and you want your money back. It also doesn't justify you to steal the beer next time, because it is 'faulty' by your oppinion.

[Steel Jaw]

Lemme guess, another software developer...

[winz]

Your point? SW piracy doesn't affect my salary.

[Steel Jaw]

Your point?

 

What agenda impells you to have such a narrow and simplistic view on the matter?

[winz]

Oh, spare me.

I'm just curious why are you using SW that yourself find bad and bugy.