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Regarding Piracy
 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 13:06 [#01844664]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker



Ceri wrote in the make your own beats thread:

Ha ha, this gets better and better. These cunts who have
the audacity to try to charge $100 for their amateurish
tutorials, don't respect IP themselves. Come on lads, at
least try to conceal the fact you're using pirate software.
"Sloppy" doesn't even begin to describe this outfit...


About software piracy. I had been trying for half a year to
get a proper licensed upgrade to Reaktor 5. The local stores
gave me the runaround, so I contacted the distributor and
never heard back from him.

Finally one of the stores told me they had given up and
weren't carrying Native Instruments stuff anymore - it was
too hard to get. Demand was so low the distributor couldn't
be arsed to fill the few orders that trickled in.

Why? Piracy. Anyone who wants it already has it. And if you
want a legit copy you're shit out of luck. I eventually
ordered from audiomidi.com in California and had a box at my
door the next day.

I've noticed independent music stores closing up shop
lately. Same thing I guess. Why is it that people who dream
of creating intellectual property for a living are the first
to violate it? Seems a bit... counterproductive.


 

offline isnieZot from pooptown (Belgium) on 2006-02-19 13:15 [#01844667]
Points: 4949 Status: Lurker



oh yes another warez thread.

ok here's what happend with me. I started making music 6
years ago with FL. I used a warez version of it for about
3-4 years. after that I bought it. 2 years ago I started
using absynth. this summer I bought it. there are still 2
vst's I should buy. Oddity and v-station. after that I'm as
clean as a whistle.



 

offline ecnadniarb on 2006-02-19 13:16 [#01844669]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



Yaaa matey...


 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2006-02-19 13:18 [#01844672]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



I think you've said everything that could be said in the
first post.


 

offline isnieZot from pooptown (Belgium) on 2006-02-19 13:21 [#01844676]
Points: 4949 Status: Lurker



and isn't it a somewhat unwritten rule that if you start
making money from your music you buy the software? that's
how I see it.
if a 18 year old kid downloads reaktor, you think NI will
have a substantial loss? they might gain a customer over the
years. suppose you couldn't find reaktor on the net. I doubt
people would blindly pay 500 dollars. I know there is a
demo. but still...30 days for a app like reaktor isn't
allot.

another aspect is the bad support NI gives. there are bugs
from absynth 2 that are still in 3. and it has been over 6
months since the last update. lots of people are pissed.



 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2006-02-19 13:22 [#01844677]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



In addition to what has been said before.
I used a cracked version of Reason before. Then I heard
Version 3 was coming out so I laid my money down and bought
it. I could've downloaded it quicker than it arrived in the
post but I felt good knowing that I'd paid for a piece of
software I was going to use a lot.
On the other hand, I haven't paid for a copy of Ableton
because a) I can't afford it. b)I dont' use it often enough
to warrant paying for it.
If I start using it more then I'll look at buying a copy in
the future.
As I see it now though. If I'm not going to buy it anyway
then they haven't lost a sale. The fact remains that if I
continue to use the product then in the future they will get
a sale to me.

Reaktor... Blows my mind. I'll probably never get a proper
copy. Unless I become rich. Then I'll just buy everything I
want.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 13:34 [#01844690]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker



another aspect is the bad support NI gives. there are
bugs from absynth 2 that are still in 3. and it has been
over 6 months since the last update. lots of people are
pissed.


Wow, it's almost as if they don't have the time and money to
fix bugs, and instead have to release new versions to keep
cash coming in.

I wonder why that is?


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2006-02-19 13:38 [#01844696]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844690 | Show recordbag



NI charge more than most of their market can afford and
offer poor support and buggy software (no matter how good it
is), not exactly a good business model.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 13:40 [#01844701]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to giginger: #01844677



Yeah it's not always a bad thing. For especially deep and
expensive programs an extended demo *cough cough* creates
more sales in the long run. I think that's especially true
for Reaktor, which has like a one year learning curve (to do
make interesting things, not just vanilla synths)


 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2006-02-19 13:43 [#01844705]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844701 | Show recordbag



I do mean to sit down for a weekend and work though the
Reaktor tutorials. I might get somewhere.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 13:50 [#01844715]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to ecnadniarb: #01844696



Keep in mind that most of their products run on Mac and PC,
and come in standalone, DXi, VSTi, RTAS and AU flavors.
That's a lot of territory for potential bugs to occur.

The Reaktor 5.10 update is utterly rock solid for me - it's
almost a miracle considering what the program is capable of,
how CPU efficient it is and how good it sounds. I have heard
though that Mac users are having trouble with it in Logic.

As for the price, hey it's a free market. NI has to cover
their costs and make a profit. There are more than enough
free Synthedit synths to keep you happy if you aren't too
picky about sound quality.

gIgI: the basic tutorials that cover building a subtractive
synth aren't hard.


 

offline ecnadniarb on 2006-02-19 13:54 [#01844719]
Points: 24805 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



I'm not against them charging whatever they want, but with
the premium price comes the premium piracy, that's just
fact. I used Reaktor in the past and quite liked it. If I
was to ever get back into makin music then I would
definitely buy legit because I hate buggy cracked software.


 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2006-02-19 14:18 [#01844739]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844715 | Show recordbag



You're forgetting that I'm off above average retardity.


 

offline Taxidermist from Black Grass on 2006-02-19 14:56 [#01844788]
Points: 9958 Status: Lurker | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844715



I wouldn't go blindly running around in support of native
instruments. If someone has a problem with the product that
they paid between 300-600 dollars for, NI will give them the
runaround. Maybe its because they are so busy developing new
stuff, or maybe its because they don't make enough money to
hire more programmers from those 60 different romplers that
they made with east-west and zero-g (they cost $300 each
give or take $1000 and all they had to do was design a new
skin for kompakt more each one was released).

They make interesting software, but they are also extremely
bad businesspeople.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2006-02-19 15:08 [#01844799]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



Would I buy a softsynth on a whim for £10? Course I would.
Can I afford to cough up £100+ for a softsynth that I
couldn't be sure I'd use for years? Course not...

Same goes for sequencers (although replace the figures with
£20 and £200).

isnieZot sums it up, perfectly:

and isn't it a somewhat unwritten rule that if you start
making money from your music you buy the software? that's
how I see it.
if a 18 year old kid downloads reaktor, you think NI will
have a substantial loss? they might gain a customer over the

years. suppose you couldn't find reaktor on the net. I doubt

people would blindly pay 500 dollars. I know there is a
demo. but still...30 days for a app like reaktor isn't
allot.


The reason I criticised the people in the other thread, was
that they were making money (or rather, attempting to; I
hope no one is stupid enough to pay for that sort of
advise), using the software (be it tracks, selling sample
packs/loop CDs, selling tuition/tutorials etc.) from
software they'd not paid for. They even implied they were
full time professional hip hop producers making big bucks.
For people in that position to use pirated music software
isn't right.

For most people, making music is a hobby. Of course,
millionaire superstars who make thousands every release
should licence all their software. Was it reasonable to
expect me (when I was 13!) to combine my Christmas and
Birthday presents for a £150-odd quid piece of software
(Re-birth) which was, at the time, only a fleeting interest?
As Ecnad says, they're charging far too much for what most
people get out of it.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 15:38 [#01844850]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01844799



For most people, making music is a hobby.

That's true. That means the vast majority of potential
customers are doing it as a hobby
. What percentage of
guitars sold are used professionally? I bet less than one
percent. What would happen to Fender if 99% of their revenue
disappeared overnight?


 

offline evolume from seattle (United States) on 2006-02-19 15:47 [#01844865]
Points: 10965 Status: Regular



i'll use whatever software i can get my hands on it via any
avenue including just slapping down the cash for it. I'm
mostly using legal software now. but i honestly don't feel
bad about the things i've pirated. actually, i feel kind of
good about it. yep. it gives me a good feeling.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 15:57 [#01844881]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker



Actually I think people around here are unusually good about
paying for software that they like and use a lot.


 

offline Dannn_ from United Kingdom on 2006-02-19 16:14 [#01844901]
Points: 7877 Status: Lurker



I think a lot of software is just too expensive. Demo
versions never really cut it either. I do buy some software
for making music, for several reasons; because I like having
a manual thats a real book, because it works better, because
it's the right thing to do, but as much as I love making
music I hardly do it at all so I don't pour much money into
it.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2006-02-19 16:18 [#01844906]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844850 | Show recordbag



Fair point. You should ask the following question too
though; "Would the majority of those 99% amateurs with
fenders pay full list price for a guitar, if they could get
one for free, without depriving anyone else of one and with
no fear of prosecution for doing so?"


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-19 16:26 [#01844924]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01844906



So far, the justifications for piracy are:

- it's too expensive to buy
- it only hurts the company making the software
- it has bugs
- it has poor support
- I don't like it anyways
- hobbies should be free

Am I missing any?


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-19 16:31 [#01844929]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844924



I think nr.1 is the least bullshitty and probably most
honest one.


 

online big from lsg on 2006-02-19 16:43 [#01844939]
Points: 23729 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



im an anarchist and i want to bring the whole system down :)


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2006-02-19 16:58 [#01844950]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular



i totally agree with fleetmouse... the ease with which data
can be pirated has created a bizarre philosophy of
entitlement amongst most internet users.

i have more respect for the people who at least admit what
they are doing is wrong. there's a huge gap in logic and a
basic understanding of economics if you don't see how
pirating something could be a bad thing to do.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2006-02-19 17:30 [#01844969]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



I use pirated stuff for making music, but I couldn't afford
the programs anyway, so the alternative is not making music,
which isn't an alternative at all. I can't really justify
cracking the software, but I don't think I'd be able to live
long and keep somewhat sane unless I could make music, and
if I had to buy all the software, I'd be missing other
important parts of "living," such as food and shelter.


 

offline Rostasky from United States on 2006-02-19 17:39 [#01844973]
Points: 1572 Status: Lurker



Haha, I actually bought reaktor without even trying it. I
could get the goddamn demo to work on my comp. (it was 300
dollars w/ student discount, however.)

I never would pirate software, because then A) I would never
use it (as I wouldn't be able to motivate myself, though if
I invest money, I make myself) and B) I would never pay for
it, I would jsut keep putting it off and off.

I pirate porn all of the time, though, because I am trying
out the immoral porn industry out of business.


 

offline Taxidermist from Black Grass on 2006-02-19 19:25 [#01845009]
Points: 9958 Status: Lurker | Followup to fleetmouse: #01844924



I have loads of pirated software. I don't use any of it, I
pretty much just try stuff out and suggest different synths
and sequencer to people and whatnot. So if I tell 10 people
about a certain program, and one of those people end up
buying it, and telling 10 people about it, and one of those
people tell another person about it, there are two sales
that the programmers got because I tried an illegal copy of
their software that I wouldn't buy in the first place. Not
counting people who have bought additional software to run
programs that I suggested. And honestly, there is no money
lost by my trying out pirated software. They don't have to
pay for distribution, manufacturing, or warehouse space. Its
a fine line, but I feel its justified, because they are
still making money from my suggestions that they wouldn't
have otherwise.


 

offline Q4Z2X on 2006-02-19 23:03 [#01845044]
Points: 5264 Status: Lurker



guiltlessly steal their ones and zeros, so when you get
famous making professional ones and zeros, people can't
really feel too bad about stealing your ones and zeros from
you.


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-20 06:15 [#01845184]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01844969



so for you it's the choice between food/shelter and music
software and you're saying they're on the same level of
importance?


 

offline Laserbeak from Netherlands, The on 2006-02-20 06:31 [#01845197]
Points: 2670 Status: Lurker



I bet software makers copy software code all the time from
other developers and then sell it as if they've invented it


 

offline impakt from where we do not speak of! on 2006-02-20 06:34 [#01845202]
Points: 5764 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



I don't feel bad for using pirated software when I don't
earn anything from it except more knowledge.

As a matter of fact it's the use of pirated software that
has gotten me so interested in music that I use all my money
on building my own studio.


 

offline impakt from where we do not speak of! on 2006-02-20 06:35 [#01845203]
Points: 5764 Status: Lurker | Followup to impakt: #01845202 | Show recordbag



Ok, I admit I feel REALLY bad for using a pirated copy of
ABL, REALLY BAD.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-20 07:38 [#01845231]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker



I think nr.1 is the least bullshitty and probably most
honest one.


Too expensive? A luxury (hobby) item is too expensive? Then
you need to reprioritize your luxuries. Cut down on beer,
movies, take-out, CDs and vinyl for a few months, then
you'll be able to afford it. (I don't mean you personally,
qrterhans)

I never would pirate software, because then A) I would
never use it (as I wouldn't be able to motivate myself,
though if I invest money, I make myself)


There is a lot of truth to that. Hard-won pleasures are
savored to a much greater degree than what just happens to
fall into your lap.

Maybe the ease of access to intellectual property on the
interweb makes people lazy, greedy and spiritually flabby.

Maybe having free unlimited access to every piece of
software, music and video ever created makes you less able
to appreciate any of it.


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-20 07:56 [#01845239]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to fleetmouse: #01845231



I bet you don't.. otherwise I'd have to inform Armericar
that there's an interesting little country just up to the
north that they'd might want to trample all over... hells
yeah.

anyway, cuddly threats aside, the second thing about people
becoming complacent and oversaturated by all the stuff they
can pull for "free" from the web might be correct, it is
beside the point you're trying to make.


 

online big from lsg on 2006-02-20 08:03 [#01845240]
Points: 23729 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



my opinion:
pirates look all cool with the eyepatches and hooks and pegs
and stuff, but they're not all that nice!


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-20 08:13 [#01845245]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator



bip nailed it. peeps got pwned!


Attached picture

 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2006-02-20 08:17 [#01845250]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



Where's the proper zilty pirate?


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-20 08:21 [#01845251]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to giginger: #01845250



that's Sean's department! yarr!


 

offline giginger from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2006-02-20 08:24 [#01845256]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01845251 | Show recordbag



Exarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrctly.


 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-20 08:26 [#01845260]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator







Attached picture

 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2006-02-20 08:49 [#01845275]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



Google ads for this page:

Buy Adobe CS2 Prem. £725

As to my analogy to guitars, I wasn't saying that made it
right, I was merely pointing out that if you could pirate
guitars like software, 80%+ of amateurs would pirate
guitars. I wanted to point out the medium is the only thing
that changes people's actions; it's not like amateur rockers
are inherently moral, whereas IDM nerds are mercenary
bastards.

I'd say the people who view piracy is, "It's never justified
and always costs the company money" are the ones "with a
huge gap in logic and a basic understanding of economics."
Painting it that black and white is a vast
over-simplification.
When I was 17 I had a pirate copy of Autocad. I used it for
D.T. A-level. My school couldn't afford a legit copy,
neither could I. An anti-piracy hardliner would say, "well
then, tough titty, you can't use it." I think that's
the illogical POV. Who exactly did my illegal use of it
hurt? I used it for 6 months for a school project, which had
no financial worth. After that time, I deleted it. 2 years
later, I still remembered enough of it to start helping a
mate (Architectural student) who was looking at various CAD
packages. He got into it and has subsequently bought it. So,
my piracy indirectly resulted in a legitimate purchase of a
copy.

Here's a key point with software: A wide, skilled userbase
(whether or not they're legally licenced) are a huge asset.
Part of the reason everyone uses Microsoft stuff is that
when things go wrong/they don't know how to do something,
they can easily find out/ask someone. All the people who
have pirated Reason are still a benefit to the
Propellerheads for the help they give other (licenced)
users.

I'm not saying "Piracy if fine", far from it (as the
original thread shows). For the record, some of my software
is legit. I just think it's a lot more complex than, "Piracy
is always wrong", too.

Drunken Mastah's point re: porn is a valid one. Piracy of
that is rife and, bizarrely, not seen as immo


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2006-02-20 08:50 [#01845276]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Ceri JC: #01845275 | Show recordbag



... not seen as immoral.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-20 09:09 [#01845284]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01845239



anyway, cuddly threats aside, the second thing about
people becoming complacent and oversaturated by all the
stuff they can pull for "free" from the web might be
correct, it is beside the point you're trying to make.


Not at all. Lower perceived value and massive oversupply
surely have an effect on people's willingness to pay for IP.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-20 09:10 [#01845285]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01845276



Here's the thing, ey? Porn creators and distributors do
nothing to protect their products with DRM and never go
after individual pirates, yet they still make money.

What software developers must do is create a glans driven
business plan.



 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-20 09:15 [#01845289]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01845275



BTW everything you say about the indirect benefits of piracy
is true in some ways and I've made those arguments myself.

But why is it getting harder for me to buy music and
software that I want? When a retailer tells me they're not
carrying NI products anymore because the distributor
won't fill the ridiculously tiny amount of orders for NI
software because of piracy, I see a cause and effect
relationship and the "indirect benefits of piracy" argument
sort of breaks down, doesn't it?



 

offline qrter from the future, and it works (Netherlands, The) on 2006-02-20 09:16 [#01845290]
Points: 47414 Status: Moderator | Followup to fleetmouse: #01845284



so you're saying because they don't have to pay for it they
don't want to pay for it?


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2006-02-20 09:19 [#01845293]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01845184 | Show recordbag



no, you silly billy. read it again.

I'm saying food and shelter are of a higher importance, so I
prioritize spending money on that over software for music.
however, not making music isn't an option either, and I
while I can't live without food or shelter, I
can make music without buying the software. if
I wasn't a poor student, I'd pay for the software, but I
just can't afford it. It's basically the same excuse anyone
would use for stealing something.


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-20 09:22 [#01845295]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to qrter: #01845290



I think arf summed it up nicely - it creates a bizarre
attitude of entitlement.


 

offline r40f from qrters tea party on 2006-02-20 09:23 [#01845297]
Points: 14210 Status: Regular | Followup to Ceri JC: #01845275



the argument you're making still seems to come down to,
"come ooonnnn..."

it doesn't matter at all whether you have made money using
the software or how long you used it. what matters is
whether adobe made the money or not from the copy you were
supposed to have bought. it is black and white in money
terms. it's high school economics: you pay for an apple or
you steal an apple. if you steal the apple, the guy selling
the apple lost the money he was supposed to earn on an
apple. it is no different than the selling of intellectual
property, it is just that you see it as, "well i didn't
waste the packaging, so no harm done" - absolutely not.

then you say it is an issue of personal responsibility to
buy it later on? well, i am sure that company x would have
liked you to buy the product in time for them to further
develop it or whatever. do you wait until the business
tanks before you get around to buying it? or can you even
find it in the stores (fleetmouse's example)?


 

offline fleetmouse from Horny for Truth on 2006-02-20 09:23 [#01845298]
Points: 18042 Status: Lurker | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01845293



however, not making music isn't an option either

Sure it is. Lots of people don't make music.


 


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