Say NO To PIRACY

Subject: Say NO To PIRACY 2008-06-15, 23:02

Dear Friends & Members

I am sure at some stage we all are guilty of using Pirated Software.
There has been so much reported and discussed about this in recent
years that it has got me thinking ---- Do We Really Need Pirated
Software?
The conclusion I have come to is NO!

Let us first of all examine briefly what Piracy is all about?

I found this on Autodesk site and it sums up the matter quite excellently in the first 4 points, which are reproduced below:

1. What is software "piracy?"

Software "piracy" is the unauthorized possession and/or use of
software. It is a crime no different from shoplifting software from
store shelves. Purchasers of software do not actually own the software.
What they own is the right to use the software according to the terms
of the publisher’s license. Purchasers agree to abide by the terms of
the license, which typically limits copying privileges to a single copy
for backup purposes.

All legal software is supplied with a license. This applies whether the
software is acquired for use on one machine, for networking across a
number of machines, or if it is pre-installed as part of a system. The
license is designed to protect the rights of software developers and is
enforced by copyright laws.

Piracy may take many forms, including:

* unauthorized copying of software programs purchased
legitimately, also known as "end-user" piracy. This can occur when the
number of PCs installed with the software exceeds the licenses that an
individual or company has purchased;
* gaining illegal access to protected software, also known as "cracking"; and
* reproducing and/or distributing counterfeit or unauthorized software,
often over the counter, or sold, bartered, or shared by individuals on
the Internet; and software programs pre-installed by vendors who sell
computers without providing the accompanying software license.

2. What is the difference between criminal and civil software piracy?

The majority of software piracy is committed by small and medium-sized
businesses with no clear policy about proper software use. Business
owners who are not legal with the number of seats used within their
firm are subject to significant civil penalties.

Criminal copyright infringers include counterfeiters burning copies of
software for sale on auction sites; individuals and organizations that
create and distribute counterfeit CD-ROMs, which in some cases are
mass-produced in government-sanctioned factories around the world; and
“hard disk loaders”—those who sell computers loaded with illegally
copied software programs as a purchase incentive.
3. What are the penalties for software piracy?

The criminal penalties range from fines to jail terms or both. Civil
penalties may reach as high as $150,000 for each infringing work. For
commercial piracy, the government can also criminally prosecute you for
copyright infringement, and if convicted, you can be fined up to
$250,000, or sentenced to jail for up to five years, or both.

4. What are the risks associated with using pirated software?

The following are some of the risks associated with using pirated software:

* Pirated software often lacks the important elements,
documentation, and comes with no warranty protection or upgrade options;
* Counterfeit disks may be infected with viruses that will damage your
hard drive or cripple your network, without the benefit of technical
support;
* Copying or using illegally copied software puts your company at risk for copyright infringement;
* Pirated software that is not functional, or that contains viruses, wastes company resources, and drives up IT costs;
* May lead to civil penalties and criminal prosecution;
* Negative PR about your company could result from the allegation.

So what do you feel? Do we need this
aggravation? Is it necessary to take a guilt trip everytime a Pirated
Software is installed?

I don't think so! Especially not today when there are all sorts of
COMPLETELY FREE & OPEN SOURCE Softwares available that does the job
equally well if sometimes not better than the Cracked Pirated Version.

I HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED TO START THIS THREAD WHERE I WILL POST ALL
TYPES OF FREE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE SO THAT YOU DEAR USER NEVER HAVE TO
BURDEN YOUR PC OR YOUR CONSCIENCE WITH PIRATED SOFTWARE OR GUILT.

Subject: Re: Say NO To PIRACY 2008-06-15, 23:02

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT POST ANY SORT OF CRACKED OR PAID SOFTWARE IN HERE AS IT IS AGAINST THE FORUM RULES AND MAY LEAD TO A PERMANENT BAN FROM THIS WONDERFUL SITE

THIS THREAD HAS BEEN CLEARED BY ADMIN