Slashdot has an article about a software developer that shares his opinion on software piracy.
As a shareware software developer he is, he has a clear view, and also explains why you should pay for his software. But also shows us that the average computer user doesn't want to pay for software when they don't have to.
Which brings us back to the question, "how many people are using pirated codes?" Well, the plain fact is that most people are honest unless given a chance to be dishonest. If they stumble across a working license code for software, or maybe do a quick Internet search, then they can quickly enter the code and cover their self-loathing with the adrenaline rush of blasting aliens and squishing fish. It's only the most hardcore computer user who will try to reverse engineer the software and crack the copy protection -- and I'll be honest, there's isn't much a programmer can do to stop them. Crackers enjoy the challenge itself, the tougher the better, so that if they want it badly enough, they'll find a way. |
While historically it's been difficult to measure piracy, our experience is that the vast majority of computer users don't have the time or inclination to modify the software to bypass any license checks. Here's the rub: these users might actually buy the software if it weren't so easy to find pirated codes. Thus, expiring codes are a good way to defeat (or at least hamper) this kind of casual piracy -- the serial numbers stored in databases and posted to the Internet are only viable for a short while before they must be renewed.
Ironically, it's these casual pirates that are helping me measure the impact of piracy on our sales
I think it's indeed a little too easy to get serials and cracks when need, besides that there are a lot of freeware alternatives for some software.
BUT some software is not worth the money, or you just want to use it one time, or you just could never afford it, I don't say it's okay, but well maybe then it's 'understandable' that you look for a crack or serial...
Source: Ambrosia Software
