amiga-news.de - What's all the fuzz about pirate copies?

28.Jan.2000
Sender known to editors What's all the fuzz about pirate copies?
This text shall and must be widely known. However, the author doesn't want to start petty wars with all hacker groups at once. For this reason the author asked to have the text published ANONYMOUS! As the author is known to us, we accept this exceptionally, if only for the reason that we want to help sensitizing all parties involved for this subject, and give food for thought.

Copies have been sent to: AMIGA.de, Haage & Partner, Vapor, Holger Kruse, and Andreas Kleinert.

«Maybe some people have wondered what the article of Andreas Kleinert was all about. There have been pirate copies all the time, so why so much fuzz about them? Because it's a matter of survival! Not every maker of software has the financial resources of a company with windows :-) Furthermore, in the recent couple of days, it wasn't about some small web site with 2 - 5 pirate copies. Last friday Andreas was informed about an FTP server whose directory structure contains round about 1500 lines, each line representing one pirate copy.

Whenever he puts an update into AmiNet, it takes only 2 days for the cracked version to emerge. In addition there are cracking programs for personal use, and key generators. If I just estimate 10 copies with a value of 10 Marks for each entry of this server, we would be at 150,000.- DM. But the damage caused may be estimated much higher. And this is no computer for Win95/98, with a little Amiga on the side. This is AMIGA with a little MAC on the side! What do you need that isn't available for free in AmiNet? What more is needed than FULLY USABLE trial versions? All in vain? It does look that way. But in vain is not bargain priced or free. In vain are the efforts of a maker who doesn't make a turnover anymore. Pirate copies of OS 3.5 (who copies CD ROMs via modem)???

There are various roads to the future: the cheap one, that one C= has shown us already, haven't they? The unified, new windows every two years? Or one that stays affordable, and where together you can feel as a community. Where you show STRENGTH in doing without some things, and buying the product with support. I won't denounce anyone because he uses a pirated copy from time to time. Everyone has to make that out with himself. And I won't reproach a HACKER who overcomes a complicated security system. But taking away the small earnings for in part excellent programs from every little shareware author, and intimidating the last companies that have enabled us to hold out until today, that's unfair and has nothing to do with a sporting hack. That's just ciminal! And who thinks there aren't any clever heads on the side of those concerned may anticipate getting a fitting answer some day.

In the appendix [may be ordered if needed] of this mail I publish the contents of the FTP server. The people who run it should know that we already know now who they are and not only since today. They had their fun and should quit, because too much fun often isn't good for you.

Just a quick word to the aggrieved companies and programmers: Don't take this as a reason for negative thinking and mourning of losses, but as a sign that the support of the usership still lives and will keep on living. Because the users need you as makers like you need them as customers. If concerned software makers answer in need of data, they will get them. Furthermore it would surely be helpful to place the text on Anti Piracy after translation and leave it there.»

Translation by Christian Busse. (Translation: mb)

[News message: 28. Jan. 2000, 08:00] [Comments: 0]
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