The Software Industry's Identity Crisis
Linked by David Adams on Tue 26th Oct 2004 16:30 UTC
Editorial The software industry is undergoing a gradual transformation, and consumer fatigue is at its root. The licensing model that has formed the basis for the modern software industry is facing challenges on many fronts, and the industry is scrambling to keep its footing. Where this period of change may lead software producers and consumers isn't quite clear, but some trends are emerging. Since the proliferation of the internet, unauthorized redistribution of digital goods has become rampant. But although software sharing probably won't kill the software industry, the reasoning behind it shares some pedigree with the customer revolt that promises to transform the way software is sold.
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RE: ...
by pj on Tue 26th Oct 2004 20:37 UTC

"In my opinion, downloading illegal music/software is stealing, no matter how you look at it. It's the fact that one can do it anonymously that makes it so attractive; if you would ask the person who illegally downloads his music to walk into a record store, and steal an album, he probably wouldn't do it-- even though it is the exact same thing. "

It's actually more like stealing the CD, burning a copy, and then repackaging it and putting it back on the shelf without anyone noticing. When you download, sure the record company loses money, but the store doesn't. For them, it's really no worse than if you had simply shopped at another store.