Quote:
|
Either way, there are much better reasons for not using pirated software. Ethics come to mind. People consider stealing a physical object to be a crime, but not software. If you try to steal boxed software from a store, you'll be prosecuted for shoplifting. But if you download pirated (essentially stolen) software online, it's considered ok? What's the difference?
|
If I buy an apple and plant the seed in my garden to grow a apple tree, and eat the apples from that apple tree that would also be the same as stealing apples from a grocery store right?
Stealing phyical items is just something different then duplicating them and giving away those dupicates.
Quote:
|
Another thing I should point out is that Microsoft became the de facto standard in part due to the massive piracy of its products. Lots of people have used and still use pirated copies of Windows and MS Office, instead of using alternatives like Linux and OpenOffice. People often say they're doing this because they don't like Microsoft or that the products are overpriced, but if you're using their products you're still supporting their monopoly.
|
You can either say that pirating a product is helping a company or you can say it is damaging.
Saying both at the same time is just silly.