So how does this equate to when my son was at a major college when I went to visit his dorm-and everyone was running a pirated copy of ms windows, along with a particular piece of high end software for a particular sector that was also pirated and when I questioned him about it he said-ah Dad everyone does it-what is the big deal? Were not some of the worst crimes of the 20th century commited with the same attitude?

They don't equate because they are completely different topics. What you said above is stealing software and is illegal. I'm talking about buying a LEGAL copy but using an ILLEGAL copy of the exact same software. And on top of that, the publisher of the software knows about it and is ok. This is demonstrating that piracy doesn't equal to money lost on a 1:1 scale (where as in the real world it does). Adobe makes money on the legal copy, and looks the other way on the illegal copy. Their lost on this particular studio: ZeroCessna makes money on a 172 sold, but if you steal another one to use. Their lost: A new Cessna 172So to summarize, the line between stealing software vs real-world goods is not Black and White. It's very very grey.-feng

They don't equate because they are completely different topics. What you said above is stealing software and is illegal. I'm talking about buying a LEGAL copy but using an ILLEGAL copy of the exact same software. And on top of that, the publisher of the software knows about it and is ok. This is demonstrating that piracy doesn't equal to money lost on a 1:1 scale (where as in the real world it does). Adobe makes money on the legal copy, and looks the other way on the illegal copy. Their lost on this particular studio: 0Cessna makes money on a 172 sold, but if you steal another one to use. Their lost: A new Cessna 172So to summarize, the line between stealing software vs real-world goods is not Black and White. It's very very grey.-feng

Well Feng-I also am in the media business. I've made 41 recordings (actually more like 300+ if you take all into account). Every one that is pirated is lost income to me-but I guess in the big picture it doesn't matter. When I run out of money I'll just take someone else's airplane when I need a flying fix...after all I deserve it.

Well Feng-I also am in the media business. I've made 41 recordings (actually more like 300+ if you take all into account). Every one that is pirated is lost income to me-but I guess in the big picture it doesn't matter. When I run out of money I'll just take someone else's airplane when I need a flying fix...after all I deserve it.

man, do you read what people actually type? You keep replying with complete different thing. I never once mention software studios DONT loose money...So if i BOUGHT your 41 recordings, but keep them in their CD case at home, and use MP3s i've downloaded to listen...have you lost money on it?-feng

man, do you read what people actually type? You keep replying with complete different thing. I never once mention software studios DONT loose money...So if i BOUGHT your 41 recordings, but keep them in their CD case at home, and use MP3s i've downloaded to listen...have you lost money on it?-feng

You are right-I read morality..I know not fashionable today.carry on...Your quote not mine.."I'm talking about buying a LEGAL copy but using an ILLEGAL copy of the exact same software"

You are right-I read morality..I know not fashionable today.carry on...Your quote not mine.."I'm talking about buying a LEGAL copy but using an ILLEGAL copy of the exact same software"

Geof, what he is referring to is using a copy that has the copy protection bypassed so that it doesn't cause havoc when something changes on the system. This is not so much piracy, as it is a workaround. The idea isn't to have one computer use a legal copy, and another computer use an illegal one, the idea is to buy a copy, however use a cracked illegal copy on the computer rather than the real one. This is done to prevent copy protection from causing issues with workflow when something changes computer wise.The idea can be equated to this, buying a game, however using a NOCD crack to not have to have the disc in drive while you play it.

Geof, what he is referring to is using a copy that has the copy protection bypassed so that it doesn't cause havoc when something changes on the system. This is not so much piracy, as it is a workaround. The idea isn't to have one computer use a legal copy, and another computer use an illegal one, the idea is to buy a copy, however use a cracked illegal copy on the computer rather than the real one. This is done to prevent copy protection from causing issues with workflow when something changes computer wise.

Sounds great-I'll still be taking my airplane when your workaround takes income from me.You will of course understand I am sure...

Sounds great-I'll still be taking my airplane when your workaround takes income from me.You will of course understand I am sure...

Think of it in these terms:The company has 20 computers, they buy 20 copies of photoshop, however they put 20 cracked copies of photoshop on the computers, instead of the 20 real ones. This is done to prevent DRM from going haywire when you change the hardware out. This has nothing to do at all with using a legal copy on one machine, and a illegal copy on the other, this has to do with preventing DRM from hindering workflow by preventing use of software when hardware changes.Think of it like this, it's like buying a copy of a game that has a CD in drive requirement, however using a NOCD crack on that computer to bypass the need to put the disc in the drive. That way, the disc stays in the case, and the game still runs. Technically it's illegal, however you aren't actually doing anything wrong because you only have the program installed on 1 computer, you aren't sharing it, you only bypassed the need to put the disc in the drive in your computer. The disc then remains on the shelf in the case while you play, rather than having to constantly put the disc in to play.

Think of it in these terms:The company has 20 computers, they buy 20 copies of photoshop, however they put 20 cracked copies of photoshop on the computers, instead of the 20 real ones. This is done to prevent DRM from going haywire when you change the hardware out. This has nothing to do at all with using a legal copy on one machine, and a illegal copy on the other, this has to do with preventing DRM from hindering workflow by preventing use of software when hardware changes.Think of it like this, it's like buying a copy of a game that has a CD in drive requirement, however using a NOCD crack on that computer to bypass the need to put the disc in the drive. That way, the disc stays in the case, and the game still runs. Technically it's illegal, however you aren't actually doing anything wrong because you only have the program installed on 1 computer, you aren't sharing it, you only bypassed the need to put the disc in the drive in your computer. The disc then remains on the shelf in the case while you play, rather than having to constantly put the disc in to play.

Peter-I can't stop thinking about your statement above:"Most people, except the most diehard simmers, can't justify a PMDG product at the prices they sell them for on their site, as with most FS addons. That's why people pirate them as much. The best ones get pirated because the best ones are way overpriced. "That says it all..

Peter-I can't stop thinking about your statement above:"Most people, except the most diehard simmers, can't justify a PMDG product at the prices they sell them for on their site, as with most FS addons. That's why people pirate them as much. The best ones get pirated because the best ones are way overpriced. "That says it all..

What I was saying in that statement was this, the common person will not be able to justify that price of the program. Sadly, due to the way society is today, people will just download the program not thinking that it's illegal because of the fact that they are wanting to use it, but they feel that they would be ripped off buying it, so they decide to steal it because they believe that the company should not be charging as much as it does. Tell me something Geof, do you remember when VHS tapes came out. My mother actually told me a story about when they first came out, I feel I should share it with you.When VHS tapes came out in the early to mid 80s, a VHS tape of a movie would cost around 60 - 100 dollars. A single episode of Star Trek would cost 30 dollars. People could not justify the cost, because they felt that they were being ripped off. Because of this, piracy was through the roof. The movie studios were going crazy wondering why people kept pirating their movies. People would make bootlegs and give them away or sell them at a fraction of the cost. Once VHS tapes hit the 20 or so dollar mark, people would buy them legally. The reason for this was simple, people could not validate the cost to content ratio.The payware developers are in a similar situation right now. You see a single add-on aircraft being charged for at 80 dollars. 80 dollars is a lot of money for a piece of entertainment software, let alone an add-on for one. Because of this, people can not validate the cost ratio of buying verses stealing, and they figure "oh well it's not like it's worth that much money anyway, and it's not like they aren't ripping us off by selling it for that much" so they decide to steal it. This does not justify piracy, stealing, or greed in any way, however the moral of the story is this, when people feel ripped off by a company, they will rip them off back. Piracy and stealing are wrong no matter how you look at it, however greed is just as wrong. People will decide that the developer is being greedy by charging 80 or so dollars for a add-on aircraft, because of this, they will feel ripped off, so they will rip off the developer back out of spite.Piracy and stealing are in no way justifiable, however nether is greed. The developers of payware are having the same issue the movie studios had back in the early 80s. They are greedy with prices of a piece of software, so they are retaliated against by those who feel like they are being ripped off, so they feel they should rip the developers off back.

It's hard to have an educated discussion when the other side don't want to understand the subject matter.Look, none of us are saying pirating software is good or should be legalized. In fact, i hate it when people pirate my stuff. But i'm also smart enough to recognize that pointing a finger and blaming them isn't going to solve anything. Just because you think "pirating is illegal" doesn't mean people will stop. Pirating will always exist, but as developers, there are smart ways to try and solve it - and it starts with intelligent discussion not blame. I've written some real-world examples of how pirating effects studios to try and stir up some interesting conversations. If the only reply is "i don't care, i hate pirating" then there's no point.I'm trying to share some insight knowledge since i deal with this stuff all day. Anyways, i'm too busy running my game studios and making profits from them (despite the pirating..hehe)....so i'll end it here :)-feng

It's hard to have an educated discussion when the other side don't want to understand the subject matter.Look, none of us are saying pirating software is good or should be legalized. In fact, i hate it when people pirate my stuff. But i'm also smart enough to recognize that pointing a finger and blaming them isn't going to solve anything. Just because you think "pirating is illegal" doesn't mean people will stop. Pirating will always exist, but as developers, there are smart ways to try and solve it - and it starts with intelligent discussion not blame. I've written some real-world examples of how pirating effects studios to try and stir up some interesting conversations. If the only reply is "i don't care, i hate pirating" then there's no point.I'm trying to share some insight knowledge since i deal with this stuff all day. Anyways, i'm too busy running my game studios and making profits from them (despite the pirating..hehe)....so i'll end it here :)-feng

That's because there is no in between (or there shouldn't be) , it's wrong and it's illegal!!

That's because there is no in between (or there shouldn't be) , it's wrong and it's illegal!!

*facepalm*We aren't talking about an in between though, we are talking about ways to prevent it in the first place...

Every one that is pirated is lost income to me.

With all due respect but this must be one of the most arrogant, mis-informed and narrow-minded remarks I have read in some time. How on earth can you just assume that every single pirated copy of your song equals a lost sale!? Not even U2 could make such a claim with a straight face, and hence they don't.Sure, a certain % of pirated copies are indeed lost sales but I would bet that overall this is less than 10% worth. On the other hand how many hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of people WHO WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE HEARD OF YOUR SONGS are now listening to them? How many of them may in fact buy your CD or mp3 or whatever one day? How many hundreds of thousands of dollars would it cost you in marketing to get your product name out to so many people?You keep going on about just one aspect of piracy like a broken record and yet you totally fail to see or understand the other side of the coin.

With all due respect but this must be one of the most arrogant, mis-informed and narrow-minded remarks I have read in some time. How on earth can you just assume that every single pirated copy of your song equals a lost sale!? Not even U2 could make such a claim with a straight face, and hence they don't.Sure, a certain % of pirated copies are indeed lost sales but I would bet that overall this is less than 10% worth. On the other hand how many hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of people WHO WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE HEARD OF YOUR SONGS are now listening to them? How many of them may in fact buy your CD or mp3 or whatever one day? How many hundreds of thousands of dollars would it cost you in marketing to get your product name out to so many people?You keep going on about just one aspect of piracy like a broken record and yet you totally fail to see or understand the other side of the coin.

While I agree with you most pirated music/software doesn't necessarily equate to a lost sale, as most who pirate, wouldn't have bought the product if they had to pay for it anyway. The argument that they'll steal from you today so they can buy from you tomorrow is just fantasy, and just another feeble way to try to rationalize their illegal behavior. Pirating is stealing whether you would buy the product otherwise or not. There is no moral or legal justification for it. Try and use that defense in front of a judge, and see how far you get!

With all due respect but this must be one of the most arrogant, mis-informed and narrow-minded remarks I have read in some time. How on earth can you just assume that every single pirated copy of your song equals a lost sale!? Not even U2 could make such a claim with a straight face, and hence they don't.Sure, a certain % of pirated copies are indeed lost sales but I would bet that overall this is less than 10% worth. On the other hand how many hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of people WHO WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE HEARD OF YOUR SONGS are now listening to them? How many of them may in fact buy your CD or mp3 or whatever one day? How many hundreds of thousands of dollars would it cost you in marketing to get your product name out to so many people?You keep going on about just one aspect of piracy like a broken record and yet you totally fail to see or understand the other side of the coin.

I can make that statement because I have witnessed it directly in lost income.10% by your estimation for a little guy like me is a substantial amount of money, and I have felt it. I am not U2, Microsoft but more in the league of the people that make flight sim add ons.As for arrogant and narrow minded.... I guess it depends on your frame of reference.