I have mixed feelings about this issue. As someone who loves the Internet and computers I can see both sides of the problem.

Yes, developers deserve credit/compensation for well-written programs. I understand how difficult and time consuming software development can be, and the creativity it takes is impressive whether we're talking about games or word processors. For every frustrated computer user that tries in vain to accomplish a goal there is a programmer who comes up with a solution. That deserves reward and acknowledgment.

At the same time, I have a problem with the rampant greed of commercial industry including software development. Business today seems concerned with money and nothing more. Some worthy projects are never started because they aren't profitable. The concept of developing programs to help the world at large or add a bit of entertainment seems rare these days.
Most freeware from big companies, like adobe's flash player, have a marketing use.

I rely heavily on freeware. I have more respect for companies that make some of their software available for free than companies who want to gouge the consumer for every dime they possess. And in this Internet world where computer software is so sophisticated, how realistic is it to expect that any program can be completely protected? It's like the music industry--complete hypocrites. They want all kinds of radio time, songs put out on the airwaves across the world for anyone to hear yet cry when someone downloads it. You can't have it both ways. If it's free to listen to on a favorite station how can they complain when people make it free on their computers?

In my opinion, the entertainment and software industries need an overhaul in the way they do business. Compensation for excellent work is important, but another structure is needed to make sure that intellectual property isn't abused and that those who create it get their due. I'm not sure what that would be, but we need to rethink it in a non-capitalist way. Heck, I think the whole world could use a bit of that!

Just my

I forgot to address the free music thing.

It's not free on the radio. The radio plays what will draw the most listeners in order to get the most people to listen to their advertisments. Same goes for public TV.

You pay for your viewing/listening pleasure by enduring the advertisments and product placement.

This is why stations stick to specific kinds of music. They judge who will be listening and they choose their advertisments accordingly. A pop music station will play ads for things young people will want, classics stations play ads for the age range of their 'classic' pop music. And also why TV stations put certain things on at certain times - family shows at dinnertime, and food ads. Childrens shows before school and toy ads. Late at night, weird controversial shows, reruns etc. and escort service or dirty phone service ads.

Nothing in life is ever free.

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I've been reading this thread with much apprehension, especially since this is one topic that I really hate a lot. Add the fact that there is mention of "smashing heads"... But I just want to get my opinion in since I've observed that I'm pretty sure most, if not all of the people who have commented in this thread, including the poster, either come from the U.S. or Europe. No, I most definitely will not be replying to any responses to this, my reply. I feel too strongly about this matter to want to get inadvertently drawn into a flame war because of this. Besides, I would rather make my opinions known to the people who would matter in this issue, namely the companies themselves.

I'm not a gamer. I have better things to do with my time than play video games. As for computers, I'm not that technically savvy enough to know about all these softwares. But, frankly, I won't be hypocritical about it. When it comes to DVDs of films and specifically anime, I BUY PIRATES. See? I even put it in caps. I won't even bother to deny it. BUT...there's a reason for this.

You see, I live in the Philippines, a tiny archipelago in Southeast Asia where piracy is so damned rampant. One of the common misconceptions that ranters have is that the reason why people patronize pirates is because it's cheap. It's true, it IS cheap. BUT...what if pirates are the ONLY choices that you have?

I love anime, I love films. I collect them like crazy. And I know a lot of people who are the same as me. The problem is there are NO DISTRIBUTORS of the films and anime I love in this country or within the Asian region. I'm sure you'll say why not order from LEGAL distributors in the U.S.? Most legal distributors prefer international credit cards. I don't own one, and most of the Filipinos I know don't own such cards either. Then, just look at the cost. Ordering a DVD in the U.S. costs $25-30 and this excludes shipping. To an American, hey, $25 to 30 is no big deal. But to an average Filipino living on a shoestring budget, your $25-30 is equivalent to PhPeso 1,050 to 1,260, and that's enough to feed a family of five for 3 DAYS!

Let's take a look at U.S. shipping rates. Shipping plus tax costs just as much as the item you're ordering if you order stuff from the U.S. Double the costs I mentioned earlier and you could just see how big a financial burden it is.

Now, let's say we have a legal distributor within my region. Since I order manga from a Japanese distributor, I'll use this as an example. I originally placed an order for a manga with an American distributor. The title would've cost me $25, shipping is $16. But when I found this Japanese distributor, this same item is $12.50 and shipping is $10, so I immediately cancelled my order with the American distributor. Can you see the huge difference when you have a distributor WITHIN your area? To my frustration, however, when it comes to DVDs, the Japanese distributors in Asia sell them without English subtitles. You have to order...AGAIN...in the U.S.

Oh, I should mention something also. There are comic book stores here that supposedly sell LEGAL anime and music CDs. My goodness, for a person like me who is hankering for Originals, I bought their claims hook, line and sinker. I bought a "Yukikaze" anime DVD. It looks original. Nice packaging too. But when I played it, the grammar in the subtitles was so appalling. Guess what? It's a super expensive pirate from Hong Kong.

I am the official writer for the anime channel Animax, and as such, I've had contact with anime production companies. I've told them time and time again -- THE U.S. AND EUROPE ARE NOT THE ONLY MARKETS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. Anime, gaming, software companies complain about piracy. I've seen the Intellectual Property Office conduct raids in two streets here in Manila that sells pirated DVDs and music CDs. BUT these same companies ARE NOT doing anything about meeting the demand and coming up with affordable product costs for the regions, LIKE ASIA, where they are losing millions. I DO NOT want to say that they're greedy, jacking up licensing costs the way they are doing. However, if you meet the demand at reasonable costs, the more you will rack up profits. That's simple economics.

Thankfully, I'm glad that at least Gonzo Animation is taking some of my suggestions and have recently tied up with Sony Entertainment for anime distribution within Asia. AT LAST! But what about the other companies?

Sadly, I and many others like me are FORCED to buy pirates. We do WANT to buy originals. But as I said, what choice do we have? But I do have to say this. If there's anything that I hate the MOST is certain people saying that "only those who could afford it" should be able to enjoy games, anime, music, etc. That's a very snobbish view, like making yourself an emperor among the lowly peons. I'm pretty sure that many of these companies NEVER envisioned their products to be enjoyed solely by the affluent. I do hope these companies would realize that they would be able to profit more if they also keep in mind the purchasing powers of those in the middle and lower income brackets, from whom they are losing millions of dollars to pirates.

They want us to buy Original, then help us be able to buy Original!

Wow! I can see you two both feel very passionate about this and bring up very good points for debate on either side. I agree with both of you...I'm very middle of the road on this subject.

Rory, I think as all of us are Gatch fans and here in North America we are finally able (and oh so thankful!) to purchase our Gatch 1 eps in a language we can understand. We all feel for you. We know what it's like. I remember years ago being on the BotP ML and a sweet gal from Alabama took the time & expense (which she refused the $$$ order I sent her!! She said it was an Xmas pressie!) to make me some VHS tapes of both BotP & Gatch. She was the only one on that entire list that offered to share with another fan! I'm forever grateful to her!

I have no problem with bootlegging when 'Big Business' is too stupid or if there's not enough profit or whatever the reason is...to ignore an oportunity market.

I work retail....I don't have a business degree..but one of my duties is to perform price changes. Here in Canada with the value of our dollar going up, we were promised that costs of consumables would drop across the board. I've seen many prices on 'select' items go down ie blankets. That's great if you need a new blanket! But the loss of that profit is re-routed to other items being marked up in price.

Hell, any consumer can tell when they're being fucked around and gouged up the a$$ for necessities...IE GAS!!! Now that affects the prices of everything and it's only going up! Today I bought deodorant that used to cost me $2.27 CAD...for $3.29!!!!!

As for supporting criminals, possibly terrorist organisations, yes Guy, you're right. Personally, I do blame big business and our governments for allowing such gouging to happen.

If I had a dime for everytime I heard..."It's nothing personal, it's just business..." I'd be filthy stinking rich! It's not 'personal' when I got laid off my full-time job, went to collect my unemployment insurance which I don't have a choice whether I want to pay into it or not, and then get told I make too much money with my part-time job ($500/month) which I took in the first place just to make ends meet, that I'm not elligable to collect! Again...

It's not 'personal' when the bank forcloses on your house. It's not 'personal' when you're evicted. It's not 'personal' when you have to go to the foodbank to eat. It's not 'personal' when your friend needs meds, you go to get it for her because she had to go on welfare and can't afford to buy gas, insurance etc.., and you then get treated like a piece of sh*t/junkie by the pharmacist with uber attitude, who seems to have a problem dispensing his legal narcotics, or providing 'service with a smile', even though you have all the proper documents!

White collar criminal? I see no difference, just a whole lotta grey! I think the government should legalize prostitution, gambling, drugs, whatever, tax the shit out of it and use that money to fund our social programs while helping the police crack down on criminals.

Right now on TV, Microsoft is trying to do a corporate takeover of Yahoo....Just how much more do they want to control? Remember it's nothing 'personal'...

Well on to other things...like planning what I'm going to be planting in my garden and buying from local farmers, so I can avoid big business 'prices' while trying to do my part in being green as possible.

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You all do realise that the reason the prices of things is going up is because fossil fuel is RUNNING OUT don't you?

This debate isn't about big business being bastards - I already said I boycott businesses that are particularly big and corrupt, hell we could make a WHOLE NEW TOPIC out of that.

This is about piracy and the fact that people choose to pirate when they could easily get originals. This is about the sales figures that indicate that console games, which take some fucking around to pirate, are massively outselling equal or better PC games which are so piss easy to pirate it's not funny.

PC gaming is a dying industry - when a company has to put the consumer second to piracy protection as with bioshock, just so they can make ends meet, there's something seriously fucking wrong.

None of the dead companies I mentioned were big fat corporations who could deal with a little piracy - they were all small fry, who NEEDED those sales. Which is one reason why they folded.

Now you tell me that there's a middle road for those guys. Tell me how horrible and corrupt they were for asking $30 - $100 for a game, and then going bankrupt because piracy decimated their profit.

Tell me there's a middle road for those starting out musicians who need every record sale they can get to be kept on by the label they fought so hard to get. Tell me there's a middle road for the software companies that are forced to jack up their prices because there are more people using pirated versions of their software than legit versions, so they can keep on going.

Go on, just try telling me that.

I have the opportunity to pirate, to steal, to do all kinds of petty criminal acts. I work in a fucking grocery store, and the LAW prevents us from stopping thieves we've caught unless we saw them put the stolen item into their bag. And then we're not allowed to detain them if they run for it. I could use that intimate knowledge of regulations to my advantage easily and live off stolen food, and spend all my money on vices like booze and smoking and illegal drugs.

But I don't.

Last I heard from our store manager, we lost $800, 000 worth of stock to petty thieves in the last financial 1/4, mostly in confectionary and makeup. The owners of our store chain were threatening to close the store down because it's too high risk to keep us there.

I could lose my shitty job which is just barely keeping me off the streets as it is, and because I'm a casual worker I don't get anything if they fire me. That's the whole point of casual, they can fire you at any time they like without a reason. And if I get fired and go apply for government support until I can get another job, I won't get it for a minumum of 8 weeks, and then only if I pass some kind of circumstances test they refuse to elaborate on, or unless I get a doctor to lie and tell them I was fired because I became temporarily disabled.

What happened to all those people in the bankrupted companies? What happened to all those musicians who failed, what happened to all those film companies that couldn't recover costs?

Try telling them about the 'middle ground'.

Edit; I thought I'd elaborate on our average thief and neighbourhood. I have only ever seen a homeless looking person once in this neighbourhood, and he was probably drunk because he was sleeping outside the pub. Every time I catch someone they are either an elderly greek (the kind that think think anyone but their own nationality is scum, there are a lot of them here. They refuse to learn english and sneer, sometimes spit at anyone who isn't greek.) a child that probably doesn't know any better, or someone who is without question a drug abuser.

Most come in the drug abuse variety. They come in with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and stare wildly at invisible things, they smell, they're thin and dirty - they steal snacks and makeup (and they resell it at weekend markets). Then it's the elderly greeks that think their money is too good for us - they steal anything they can hide in their clothes or shopping jeeps. Then children, they steal snacks and toys.

Oh, and there are so many greeks here that most of the graffiti is in greek even though it's supposed to be an english speaking country. And I'm engaged to a greek, so don't try telling me I'm racist.

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Okay, so I was irritated with your first post which was unneccesarily vicious against me, as a person. Your second post just makes me laugh. You must be completely blind to yourself.

I'm not scoffing at you being an anime fan. I like anime myself, for christs sake I'm a member in a Gatchaman forum. Why would I scoff at you for liking anime?

What I was doing was trying to point out how much of a jerk you were being - you could have said 'games aren't my cup of tea', but no, you went all out and said 'I have better things to do with my time than play video games'. That is very blatantly an attack on me, seeing as my entire post is about games and gaming.

I could go on to point out more, but I really can't be bothered. You know what you were doing, and anyone reading should be able to feel the hostility of your post.

Now, your recent post - you like to do things productive? And you imply anime is more productive than videogames. Just wtf kind of logic are you using to think that? They are essentially the same thing! Two different forms of entertainment. Both are used to escape reality, both are used for enjoyment, both are hobbies, etc.

'Course, seeing as I feel like being a jerk back to you right now, I'll point out that scientific studies show that when you're watching a movie or TV show your brain is less active than when it's SLEEPING. With games because you're taking an active role, your brain is still as active as when it's awake, if not more so. Also, games can teach puzzle solving skills, hand eye coordination, help increase the attention span of people with ADD, and I could go on and on.

I really don't remember when I said or implied you watched anime 24/7, let alone thought it to myself at all. Your question 'do you know me well enough to know exactly what I do in my spare time?' - DO YOU KNOW THAT ABOUT ME? HUH? I know I sure didn't post my weekly schedule. If this is what you meant by productive, then your agument is illogical - what you do with your time when you're not playing games or watching anime has nothing to do with how productive it is to play/watch games/anime.

Oh, and how do you know that I'm not being active against piracy? I trawl ebay all the time reporting pirated goods. I tried asking the police if there were any way I could help them fight against piracy as a civilian. I tried contacting a few companies to ask how I could help them.

And finally, do you know why big business won't release stuff in your country? BECAUSE IT IS SATURATED IN BOOTLEGS. A COMPANY CANNOT VIABLY COMPETE WITH THE PRICE OF BOOTLEGS. The cost of the production of an anime, the cost of employing all the staff involved, the cost of dubbing, subtitling, the cost of copyrighting, trademarking, and defending those things and then manufacturing the DVDs to a reasonable level of quality is far greater than the simple production cost of a low quality DVD and a shitty case.

Why don't you try kicking the bootleggers out so there's actually a place for the anime companies instead of freely giving your money to bootleggers because the anime companies haven't risked attempting to fight them yet?

My complaint is against people making a MORAL CHOICE between illegally downloading and legally purchasing. The whole 'why won't they release it in my country' thing is a huge topic in itself and deserves it's own thread. Hell, I'd post in it. There's plenty of stuff (yes, mostly games, but also anime and foreign movies) that never gets over here, or when it does get here it's so heavily censored or so poorly translated it's not even worth pirating. I'm forced to import a lot of stuff because of that - and I hate it.

But hey, you don't care what I have to say and probably aren't reading anymore.

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Piracy.... mmm I live in Australia Guy and Rory, so you know most of tourists will come home with a hand full or more of DVD's from Asia...

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quote:

Originally posted by kimiko I recently saw a hybrid that runs on Canola oil....smells like your cooking french fries though....

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