joel@decwrl.UUCP (Joel McCormack) (03/27/85)
Dear Dr. Vax:
Suggestion #1: learn how to read. Suggestion # 2: learn how to write.
I never blamed software pirates for putting Volition out of business.
(Volition still is in business. It is bankrupt, but that was caused by
infighting among stockholders, not by external business practices.)
We had a lot of customers who not only BOUGHT our "overpriced" software, but
wrote or called to tell us how much they liked it. Lowering our prices
brought in more money and orders; I was simply making the point that more
orders does not mean more profit. And profit margins at $70 a copy are
pretty slim. I also stated that I should worry about my prices in terms of
honest buyers, but should not have to worry about thiefs when setting prices.
Being intimately aquainted with copyright law and its relevance to
computers, I never stated you have no right to back up software. (Actually,
depending on how you purchased your software, you really might not have such
a right.) Volition did not "license" your use of an object copy, it sold
the copy and included a little notice of your rights under copyright law.
This included making backups, and selling your copy (in which case you
should either also transfer ownership of the backups, or destroy them.)
In any case, however, you have no right to own or backup any stolen software.
(By the way, I talk good shit AND am a good programmer. What a combo!)
Lots of people still in business charge very high prices. The value of the
software to the purchaser is what counts: if an honest purchaser sees that a
$2000 piece of software will save him $4000 in a year, he is likely to buy a
copy. It doesn't really matter if it took the programmer 45 (very productive)
minutes or 3 years to write the program. If it is the only thing available,
and cost-effective, it makes sense to buy it.
You stated you have 500 disks of software, most of which is stolen. How
badly would you be hurt if I came and stole it back, and magically prevented
you from replacing it? Would you do without ALL of it? Would you get other
programs that perform a similar function?
There are plenty of stupid things I will admit to, but bringing down
Volition is not one of them. Neither did I blame pirates. I simply said
there is no moral justification whatsoever for pirating. You have yet to
tell me convincingly why I should change that position.
And why should I listen to someone who will rant and rave for a page, yet
not even give their name? If you are doing nothing wrong, why not admit who
you are?
- Joel
P.S. to the world.
I have gotten several private responses about software piracy, and will
summarize them when the flow seems to stop. The general feeling, aside from
the anonymous "DOCTOR VAX" is that piracy is indeed illegal, immoral, and
has resulted in companies and products disappearing (or not appearing).
I have been replying to people privately; Dr. Vax would get the same
treatment but for lack of a valid signature.
--
- Joel McCormack {ihnp4 decvax ucbvax allegra}!decwrl!joel
joel@decwrl.arpa