Isn’t software piracy a form of "Open Source”?

“Open Source” is not the right term to use here, I know, but what I’m getting at is the same kind of philosophy applies. A cracker cracks software. He then either make the cracked software available for free over P2P (see the analogy?) or he tell others how he did it on some devious crack site… Almost like a Freshmeat for piracy, but with tons of pr0n pop-ups and malicious code… The cracker himself does not always benefit hugely from it other than having commercial software for free…

This article got some valid points! http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free The impact of piracy is far more damaging to the FSF and the Open Source community than what is realised! (Thanks Capdog on muti!)

If you start scrutinizing Microsoft Windows licences, you’ll see that there is ACTUALLY very, VERY little legal copies out in the market! I remeber a couple of years ago when I was working as a sys-admin, they nailed one of our customers due to the fact that some hardware components was replaced and Windows re-installed without re-purchasing a new licence. The fact that Microsoft does not cannot control it, actually is to their advantage! Talk about “guerilla marketing”… Hows that for a strategy!

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Tags: piracy, windows, microsoft, opensource, software

4 Comments to "Isn’t software piracy a form of "Open Source”?"

• capdog said: On 08/17/2007 at 11:26 am

  Haha, thanks to Digg!

• reva said: On 08/25/2007 at 8:37 am

  Great blog. I really liked it. I have also created a lens in same niche. This is my first time , hope u guys like it. Here’s a brief intro: There are a clear indication that DVD decrypter programs are used in a bad manner such as making illegal copies of movies for sale. But are you aware that there are actually legal situations that allow you to create copies of the movies you own on DVD? With most movies costing close to$20 each it is quite easy to see why people look for anything they canto help reduce replacement costs. For more details: http://www.squidoo.com/DVD-Decrypter-Programs/

• Isn’t software piracy a form of "Open S… — P2P information said: On 08/26/2007 at 9:39 am

  [...] the cracked software available for free over P2P (see the analogy?) or he tell others source: Isnt software piracy a form of “Open S…, [...]

• Charl van Niekerk said: On 08/26/2007 at 8:44 pm

  Open sourcerers believe that all should be legally free and open. Pirates believe all should be free, illegally if necessary. I think that’s really the only difference.

Spit it out!

Filed in: Business, Open Source by: Stii