brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) (03/27/84)
While it's true that many bootleg copies are in the hands of people who wouldn't want to pay the full price for the program, don't think that there is no harm done. It may be true that the kid in a club who stole VisiCalc would never buy it, but that's not true about the many games he has stolen. And that's where a great deal of the piracy goes on. Even with business software, it is common for companies with several computers to buy blank disks and one copy of a program. If that isn't theft, what is? Some of the software I sell is not copy protected, and it gets stolen a lot by people who would buy it otherwise. People just don't have the proper attitude. There's even a local priest who is well known as a software thief! Now, for those who think software is overpriced, remember that the micro software industry is a massive growth industry, an in spite of large profit margins, many companies go under. Notably if they underprice their stuff. Look at JRT Pascal for example. It's a lot more expensive marketing software than you think. Companies like Lotus and Spinnaker spend millions in as little as a month advertising software. And don't forget support. If you sell a book, you don't have to support it after the fact. In 1980, when i worked for VisiCorp/Personal Software, the rule was one support person cost $100,000 a year minimum to keep up. On top of this there's the general costs of running a business, and worrying about your R&D for the next product. Read the latest infoworld if you doubt. Cases like Lotus are rare. How some of you can suggest a program with a small market should sell for $40, I don't know. Nobody could ever survive that way -- Brad Templeton - Waterloo, Ontario (519) 886-7304
jpm@bnl.UUCP (John McNamee) (03/29/84)
In regard to the people who have more than one machine and buy only one copy: Sincle CPU licenses are bullshit being thrust on computer owners. It doesn't cost software house ABC any more to support that program when it runs on two machines compared to when it only runs on one. The only reason for single CPU licences is greed. They may be legal, and I may be forced to sign one, but I'll be damned if I abide by it. There is no way I'm going to spend my money for another copy of a program to run on a machine in the next room.