🚀 go-pugleaf

>  Do you know what I  would  tell  you  and  your  son  in  such  a
>  situation?  That  you  could  probably have just as many pairs of
>  shoes had you recognized that this situation  you  describe  does
>  indeed  most  strongly  encourage  to  switch  from  charging for
>  copyrights to charging for  support.  If  the  number  of  people
>  calling  for  support is already three times the number of people
>  who bought that software, imagine how many more must  already  be
>  out  there,  illegally  using  it and not daring to call you. And
>  then, imagine how that number could yet be increased by  actually
>  allowing  people  to  freely  copy  that  stuff,  i.e.  making it
>  copylefted. Now, an increased percentage of people from  an  user
>  base  of  increased size call your hotline, and the wires of your
>  phone will glow so brightly you even can  spare  light  bulbs  in
>  your  house  :-).  Charging for calling the hotline will probably
>  turn out to be a real gold mine, and would  certainly  help  your
>  son  and  you  much  more than reasoning how well you would do if
>  there were no software pirates.

Copying someone's software for your personal use is WRONG! No IFs ANDs 
or BUTs. You can justify it to yourself all you want but it is WRONG.
Additionally it is also ILLEGAL. 

Yes software piracy exists on all platforms. Do you think there would
be as many MSDOS machines sold if people did not have access to a lot
of very good and very expensive software they can steal from work. I know
of a group of ten people that got together and bought a single update
to WORD PERFECT for WINDOWS because where we work is not going to
get it and they wanted it. They were very happy when we got WORD
PERFECT and they spent a lot of time at the copy machines making copies 
of the manual. I'm pretty sure that the copyright notice that came with 
that upgrade specified that it was to be used on only one computer.

As I have stated before, software piracy happens at about the same
rate on all computers. The real problem is if there is not a large
enough user base the developer will not be able to support him/herself.
Then the problem of lack of sales, not just piracy will cause developer 
to drop platforms as not cost effective. However if those pirated
copies were purchased copies things could be different.

The only way you will get the creatans that steal software, and expect
to get full support, to pay for that support is to install 900 numnbers.
And guess who will be the first to complain about those 900 numbers?

Charging for support is not the answer, the answer is paying for what
you use. Try not paying that electric or telephone bill, then tell those
companies they should give away their product and only charge for support.
See how long your phone stays connected and your lights stay on.

Brian, WS1S
Bell Northern Research
Research Triangle Park, NC