[Erwin]

Originally Posted by Ocean

If a person pirates your application - but would not have been able to afford it even if they didn't pirate it - what money have you lost?

Most people who copy software or download illegal music files can afford to pay for the software. Just because they don't want to pay for it and probably will not pay for it, doesn't mean that they cannot afford it. They just prefer to save money and spend it on something else.

Pirating software or music is stealing and is against the law. It's also morally wrong. You can justify it however you want.

And if by doing so, they are able to spread the word that you have an application that's really good - aren't they giving you free advertising?

I think most programmers and musicians prefer to get paid for their work rather than get free advertising. As would a baker, doctor, truck driver etc. Just because the work of a programmer or a musician is easily copied does not make it right to steal their work.

And if by word of mouth from this user who pirated your software, other users come across it and purchase it from you - isn't that money you gained that you otherwise might not have had (since without the word-of-mouth from the pirater in question, they wouldn't have even known that your software existed)?

Again, your logic is flawed since you are trying to justify the theft of intellectual property by saying that it advertises the original product. Why would anyone pay for the original product if they can get it for free? For example, if I can buy a fake Rolex watch for less price and it's just as good, why pay for a real one? Let alone if I can get if for free.

How does this harm them? (This scenario specifically) It doesn't. It's done them good and put money in their bank.

No, you are stealing money from them by stealing their product/ intellectual property. You are stealing their money by stealing the time and effort they put into the product. You are using their product without their permission and consent.

Try to justify it however you want.

Remember, I didn't say that *all* piracy was good. I just said that good things can come about as well as bad.

Just because good things can come out of a bad thing does not justify the bad thing. Most bad things have good things in them - so what?

Most people who promote piracy are the end-users - most software developers, musicians and holders of intellectual property do not support the theft of intellectual property and breaches of copyright because they are the ones who suffer - not the end-users.

Anyway, we all choose to live our lives the way we want. You choose how to live yours, and I will mine. I'm just putting forth the argument that piracy is not as "great" as you make it out to be.