[sdiy] OT: Software 'theft'

[harry]

My HO...

If the software is useful to you you should buy it...   If it is not useful you
should not.
I'm more likely to buy less expensive software...

I will "try" any software for free, pirate or not.  A free trial is a reasonable
expectation...
and not just a crippleware copy.  I do agree with full - time limited versions.

If you like, buy. If it sucks (ah... way too often) erase it.

I agree... time for this thread to go to bed !!!

H^) harry

Colin Fraser wrote:

> Imagine someone invented a matter duplicator.
> Two large boxes, one a super high-res 3d x-ray scanner, and the other a
> sub-atomic matter manipulator.
> You put any object in one box, press a button, and a short time later, an
> exact replica of the object appears - constructed from some dense source
> material, just protons, neutrons, electrons - reorganised into an identical
> copy of the original object.
> All powered by totally free cold-fusion generators.
>
> Now, what would you do with this device ?
> How many people using the matter duplicator to run themselves off a Ferrari,
> a luxury yacht, a couple of Memorymoogs ;-) etc are going to stop and
> think - 'Hey - I'm stealing someone's intellectual property here ! Someone
> invested time and money in the design of these things, aside from the cost
> of the raw materials.'
>
> The 'thief' thinks he could never have afforded to buy a real Ferrari, so
> copying one for himself can't possibly hurt the maker.
>
> The maker thinks their design is being 'stolen'.
>
> Neither party is wholly right, neither is totally wrong.
> The debate will no doubt go on forever.
> But hopefully not here...
>
> Colin f