Views on cracked/pirated software

Let's put all legal issues aside for this thread since that would be an easy response to this thread

Me being an ex-hacker I would love to know some Jedi views on cracked/pirated software.
Should all software be available for free ?
Should we be forced to support the developers by paying for their software ?
Should we be able to use software for free and support the developers by donations ?

All responses are welcome and I would love to get some oppinions

Personally I think all software should be free to use by anyone.
I am aware of all the hard work that goes into developing great software and the amount of time and effort that goes into it, but we create softwaer to be used, so why limit the amount of people using it by asking money for it ?

JS wrote: Personally I think all software should be free to use by anyone.
I am aware of all the hard work that goes into developing great software and the amount of time and effort that goes into it, but we create softwaer to be used, so why limit the amount of people using it by asking money for it ?

Because people have to make a living. You are not entitled to the product of another's labor for free nor can a person live without an income so what do you suggest people do? Find a job they like less to support themselves?
Further, you are not forced to support the developer. You are just not entitled to their work. Your logic could be applied to anythign ever made. Everything we use was designed to be used or consumed so should we all just take what we want? How are we going to fund new development and research? In fact how would anything ever get made or done?

Ask for donations ?
Create free and paid versions ?

I understand completely where you are coming from but if you really love what you do you won't mind doing it for free. That won't bring food to the table but there are alternatives to just asking a bizare amount of money for something that could be dirt cheap ?

I do mind what I love doing for free when it's for someone else's use but my own.

Show me a society where everyone has their needs and requirements paid for and I will show you a society where I can provide my livelihood to you for donations only.

Until then, you pay so I can live to keep providing you with what you're paying for. That's the way capitalism (or even the world really) works.

Very epic response, I can't really argue against that

[Edit]
Not that I'm trying to argue or change opinions though :laugh:
Nor am I a supporter of cracked software. If I was in a position where I needed the money I would also ask money for the software I write

JS wrote: Ask for donations ?
Create free and paid versions ?

I understand completely where you are coming from but if you really love what you do you won't mind doing it for free. That won't bring food to the table but there are alternatives to just asking a bizare amount of money for something that could be dirt cheap ?

Again why should I pay for anything by your standard of logic? Why should anything ever cost anything as it's all meant to be used? And if nothing is to be paid for who is going to have money to donate? Further, I do not do any work for free, unless my needs are met first which means SOMEONE has to pay me. So again how will that happen? Bizarre amount of money? Do you realize the hours of labor, testing, and research that go into a new product? That is what you are paying for. Plus you are paying for the next product they create so it can get made.
No one owes you a product or service for free. Why do you feel entitled to it at a cost they are not willing to give it for? Never mind for free.

No one owes you a product or service for free.

Very true, but generosity could go a long way.

I know exacly what goes into developing new products and I spent a year and a half developing a system for the campus I'm studying at to improve the way students access their study material and so forth. I ended up giving it to them for free knowing that I helped countless students with their studies and access to knowledge. They were not entitled to get it for free and I was not entitled to do it for them. I just wanted to make my life easier and in the process I could just as well make everyone's life easier.

I completely understand that some things can't be free or everyting can't be free but that doesn't mean nothing should be free. If you could change the lives of at least one pearson does that not make it worth while to make some aspect of it free ?
Why should people be limited to what they are able to do just because they can't afford it ? Some are lazy yes but some people can't get the funds others do, and I can't see why they should be excluded

[Edit]
You can't always be a hero but that doesn't mean you should never be a hero

I get healthcare and education for "free", but I pay over a third of my income in taxes for that.


I guess the government could up my taxes to 66% and give me a "free" computer and music subscription,
but at some point someone has to pay ME for me to pay the taxes for the whole system to work in the first place....


For what it is worth, I work in Logistics, the costs and resources involved in supplying a physical item (lets say your underpants) is fairly well understood by me. The costs of coding and distributing software, not so much - but lets say they are similar. If you don't want to pay for your underpants to be delivered (even so far as the store you go to to buy them) - buy a boat and sail to china, I'll let them know to leave your purchase out the front of the factory. You can save all the retail and freight markups


The rest of my reply comes from ol' Heath


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYMnAUGFuG0

Why should people be limited to what they are able to do just because they can't afford it ? Some are lazy yes but some people can't get the funds others do, and I can't see why they should be excluded

Going back to the start of my post - I (generously?) donate a fairly significant portion of my income to my fellow countrymen so that they can live in (relative) comfort and health, with access to hospitals, schools, a pension if they are unable to work due to age or infirmity.

That's what I call inclusion and supporting people with opportunity.

After those basic "rights" are met, if they want to play Call of Duty or stream the latest Ke$ha music video - it really is a "them" problem.

JS wrote:

No one owes you a product or service for free.

Very true, but generosity could go a long way.

I know exacly what goes into developing new products and I spent a year and a half developing a system for the campus I'm studying at to improve the way students access their study material and so forth. I ended up giving it to them for free knowing that I helped countless students with their studies and access to knowledge. They were not entitled to get it for free and I was not entitled to do it for them. I just wanted to make my life easier and in the process I could just as well make everyone's life easier.

I completely understand that some things can't be free or everyting can't be free but that doesn't mean nothing should be free. If you could change the lives of at least one pearson does that not make it worth while to make some aspect of it free ?
Why should people be limited to what they are able to do just because they can't afford it ? Some are lazy yes but some people can't get the funds others do, and I can't see why they should be excluded

[Edit]
You can't always be a hero but that doesn't mean you should never be a hero

If someone wants to make it free sure fine they can go ahead. That is not what you said however. What you said is it should ALL be free. Meaning no one should be making money on it and that is just not going to happen. developers need to make a living and no one is going to put thousands of hours from dozens of people into a product if they cant recoup some sort of living off of that effort. Or sometimes they do it but only if the product is funded somehow ensuring that they are not going to be homeless when its all said and done. But they only are able to do that with funding from somewhere else generally through other products in the same field. Bill Gates donates millions to charity because he makes money off of his product. Without that income, he could not have developed all he has nor do the charity work he has.
Further, if you know what goes into these products and admit that no one is entitled to them for free then you answer why people should be limited in what they are able to do. I am not able to travel the world as I want because travel is not free, I am not able to have the best camping and hunting equipment I want because it is not free, in short, there are many ways I am limited in what I can do because things are not free. That is just the way of the world. You want something, you earn it or hope someone is kind enough to give it to you. Most software has a freeware variant of some sort out there you just need to put the effort into finding it.