Copied from ATSU newsletter, PO Box 16274, Columbus,OH 43216 with a correction as to the author of the SINCUS NEWS item.
STEALING_______________________________ by Jim Peterson
I have been asked to respond to an article by [Paul Hill], entitled “Thoughts on Copying Software”, (SINCUS NEWS,Sep/Oct’85), which was a response to my article entitled “Stealing” [ATSU Computer Users June/July ’85 issue.
First, may I briefly give my credentials. I am a commercial programmer, under the name of TIGERCUB SOFTWARE, writing entertainment, education and programming utility programs for the TI99/4A computer. My catalog list over 130 orginial programs – far more than any other TI software dealer – at only $3 each -others are selling public domain software for that price! As disk collections, my prices are even lower. In three ears (sic) in business, I have had two complaints about my programs – and my reputation has also been established by the more than 100 programs which I have published for the public domain and given away in my newsletter to user groups.
And yet, in the past three years, I have earned less than the Federal minimum wage for the hours I have spent at this keyboard. The reason? Stealing! And I will not insult the memory of the pirates of old by referring to the sneaky thievery of software by the name of piracy!
It is not that my software has been that widely copied. It has never sold well enough to be readily available for copying! And why is that? The real problem is that “piracy” has become so widespread that the average computer user does not even consider buying his software, regardless of the price or quality. He will feed his kid on cornflakes and Kool-Aid while he saves his pennies to upgrade his system with peripherals he neither needs nor knows how to use, but he won’t buy a program because someday he might oet a chance to copy it for free.
[Mr. Hill] listed many excuses given by users for their thievery. I have herd (sic) them all, and many others. There is only one possibly legimate excuse – that the program is no longer on the market. In that case, copying might be morally justified – although it is still illegal.
You just want to try it out first, see if it works, see if it is any good? If someone is willing to let you copy it, surely he is willing to let you try it out rather than copying it, or demostrate it and tell you how it works. That’s really a flimsy excuse, isn’t it?
You just want to take it apart and see how it’s programmed? You really think you have a right to steal a programmer’s ideas and knowledge without buying his product?
It doesn’t work, anyway? You’re trying to run a stolen copy without documentation, and you’re complaining? Now that’s really Stupid!
You copied it because you thought it was overpriced? Why didn’t you go to a computer store and shoplift a copy? You don’t dare? You’d rather do your stealing where it’s safer?
It’s nothing you really want, you’d never buy it, so there’s no harm done? You steal things you don’t even need? That’s called kleptomania – a good psychiatrist could help you.
I will certainly agree that much software is overpriced. The main reason is that the programmer or distributor is
Trying to recover his investment “off the top” before the program is pirated to death. Also, if you’re not in the business you have no idea what a large chunk of that price goes into advertising and distribution. But, if you think the price is too high, do what you would do in the case of any other product – pay the price or do without. Or go out and shoplift it, if you want to be a thief.
And I will also agree that a lot of junk is being sold – in software, and in every other commodity on the market! Your recourse is the same as with any other junk merchandise. If a product fails to perform its intended purpose, you have a legal right to a refund. If it merely fails to live up to your expectations, you have a right to refrain from buying from that seller again. I don’t live (sic) to buy a pig in a poke either – that’s why I never buy an expensive program until I have read a favorable review in a publication which I trust. But – the fact that one person sold you junk does not entitle you to steal from everyone else.
Regarding backup copies – they are perfectly legal! The law clearly permits you to make an “archival” copy to be used in case your master goes bad. There are differences of opinion as to whether you can make more than one, but you wont be doing any harm. However, it is illegal to use your backup while the master is loaned out to someone, or to use the backup after you have sold the master, obviously!
As for limited licenses with regard to reselling, etc., my understanding is that they are totally invalid unless you were made aware of the restrictions, and agreed to them, BEFORE you made the purchase!
NOW stop and think for a moment what it would be like if all computers provided an absolutely foolproof and simple protection method, if it was impossible to steal a copyrighted program. Programming would then be profitable. Hundreds and hundreds of people would be trying to make a buck – and very little would be turned loose as public domain or freeware! But, there would be tens of thousands of programs on the market, and then competition would drive prices down to rock bottom. True, 95% of the stuff would be be pure junk – but the good programmers would soon get a reputation, and the baddies would get a different kind of reputation.
However, that will never happen. The stealing will continue, and laws will do no good. Fathers are teaching their children that “Thou shalt not steal – unless it’s a computer program”, so the next generation will be no better. And so the computer will never become as useful as it could be, because the programs that people need will nver be written. Too bad, isn’t it?