Have you used pirated sample libraries?

[nozoku]

One Polish software dealer said once to me: "You're the only person I know in POland who thinks that way and what importand is : DO THAT"

lol - you're not the only one. witamy w klubie (welcome to the club)

I've found that it's not really the question of money, but the feel of power. "I can buy the simpler version, but I can steel the full-blown one". there was time that it was almost imposible to buy legal stuff in Poland. 10-15 years ago when I tried to buy some small program it was almost imposible to send money abroad, it was something like $15, but in here it was like my half year of pocket money and in the end they said they won't send it to Poland.

many things changed since then. but the people are still living in past times mentally. "soft is expensive", "it's hard to pay for it", and so on so on. we have some lame laws conserning software, but it's really a minor problem.

I cannot afford the stuff I want. I cannot afford even the stuff I NEED and I'm living from video editing and music writing. but still I find ways to buy the smaller version of things I need, because I feel that people that make these libraries/programs have full right to get paid. I know I would want to get paid if I was in their shoes.

[SeanHannifin]

That's what I do, but IMO the older version of any software, including sample libraries, should become freeware after one or more new versions have come out.

To make an example, Finale 2003 or Photoshop 4 should be free, to me, now.

If I were a developer, it would be quite discouraging to have older versions of my software become freeware... what do you think a majority of people would do? They would just wait for a new version to come out so that they could have the old version for free. What would be the point of continuing to develop updates if I can't take the old versions off the market?

[Bela D Media]

I know that the base of this discussion is more geared toward if you have used pirated samples or software but there is bigger picture. Please do not feel that all developers are insensitive to the starving artist with limited founds. Garritan’s entire philology is to help the student musician. GPO is a milestone in that regard.

I’m off to ride my horse. Please send a search party if I am not back in 4 hours. LOL

[Aziraphal]

Stealing is wrong, we all agree. Good customer support is the way to discourage piracy, Gary is a shining star in that field, and not the nasty dongles.

But there could be more questions for the poll, as this one is rather narrow-set.

For instance:

1) Have you ever used pirated software (any software used for audio production)

2) Do you use pirated software to get the feel of the product and never release anything you haven't paid for

3) You are under a deadline, your legitimately bought software breaks down, the customer support refuses to help; Do you resort to a pirated copy of the same product to meet the deadline?

4) .. can't think of anything, our 6-week old is practicing his vocal technique, BBL

Cheers Matt

[qccowboy]

actually, I misread the poll, and voted that I HAD used, but no longer did, pirated samples.. not realizing "sample libraries" not "pirated software".

so remove one vote from the poll under that category and add one to "never".

I have in the past used hacked versions of a few programs, which I subsequantly removed from my computer, or just bought. There have been times I'd have liked to try certain programs but they had no demo versions, or demos that were so severely limited that they were basically unusable.

I don't believe in having a hacked version of a program that I intend on using day-in and day-out (like Finale or GPO). These are my bread-winners, so it's my duty to pay for them. Anything else that I "could" use a hacked version of, I usually find a freeware alternative for.

[wst3ae]

Stealing is wrong, we all agree. <snip>
3) You are under a deadline, your legitimately bought software breaks down, the customer support refuses to help; Do you resort to a pirated copy of the same product to meet the deadline?

An excellent example of finding grey in the old black and white world. I'm on the fence on this one... that is really tough, and oddly enough the point was driven home last night as I was rebuilding, and generally cleaning up my main DAW.

NI copy protection policies are a nightmare! So are MakeMusic's! And the interaction between the two is enough to drive an Irishman to drink!!!

I'll call both companies tomorrow, and I expect I'll get it all straightened out, or at least I hope I will. From past experience MakeMusic is quite reasonable, I've never had to deal with NI before.

One thing that struck me last night... the last time I did a complete, from the ground up installation was probably a couple of years ago, and it took me the better part of a day. That's a lot of time, but being careful provided me with an image that has survived for over two years!

This time around the only things that are new are the fresh installations of newer versions, for the most part. I don't think the original image included GPO or JABB, but those are probably the only new tools. And I expect, based on last night, that this is going to take me at least two full days!

UGH!

Piracy is bad! Copy Protection in it's current state for most products is bad! Two bads do not make a good!!!

[Inkfingers]

That's what I do, but IMO the older version of any software, including sample libraries, should become freeware after one or more new versions have come out.

To make an example, Finale 2003 or Photoshop 4 should be free, to me, now.

This logic is completely ridiculous. Would you expect car manufacturers to release outdated models for free? Of course not!

And as Sean said, if this were the policy, there would be absolutely no impetus for innovation, which would make the whole system fall apart anyway.

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[lukpcn]

witamy w klubie (welcome to the club)

Super... wreszcie z kimś można pogadać w normalnym języku

Masz jakąś stronke www może ???

[Pingu]

An excellent example of finding grey in the old black and white world. I'm on the fence on this one... that is really tough,

I've ceased being on the fence about this one. Don't get me wrong, I believe in total honesty. I would certainly never use a pirated version of something I haven't bought, but being treated like a thief just for acitivating my legit software has started to really tick me off.

For instance I recently phone Sibelius to acitvate my copy on a second machine. The license agreement clearly states that you're allowed it on two machines, but, when the guy at the other end of the phone realised that the serial number was for the copy I had already activated once he got all shirty about it. Eventually he did give me another activation code, but I'm not confident that I would ever get another. If, for instance, I had to rebuild my laptop, and the system ID changed, then I'm fairly sure that the friendly people at Sibelius would assume I was trying to activate a third machine, given the level of suspicion they operate at.

So I would quite happily use the crack that's out there, with the activation code generator (Hey, I am aware of these things. I'm a high school teacher with pupils who assume that I want to be offered stuff.)...if I thought it was safe....
...Many users of pirated software seem to believe that, whilst the pirates are dishonest in their behaviour towards software developers, for some reason they will be completely honest towards the community they then share with. I find this unlikely. I think someone who is dishonest is just plain dishonest, and the chances of picking up spyware, or worse, by installing pirated software are high. So, if I can't activate Sibelius next time I rebuild a machine, I'll probably just do without it, rather than take the risk.

[Aziraphal]

And as Sean said, if this were the policy, there would be absolutely no impetus for innovation, which would make the whole system fall apart anyway.

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I disagree here. I believe the old versions would make the users drool for the improvements and features of the new. And the "serious" users would surely buy the latest versions to have all the power available, so the "impetus for innovation" is as strong as ever. But the decision is up to the individual company. With all the opensource software out there, the developers need all the promotion they can get.

Personally, I'm so very grateful for old releases of software (like Propellerheads Rebirth or TrueSpace 3.2)

By the way, why is EVERYBODY comparing software to cars???

a) you can't kill anybody while operating software drunk (except maybe traffic control)
b) you don't have to buy a new car every 3 years to keep with the highway releases
c) you can't accidentally reformat your car (not without a steam roller)
d) (EDIT--) I forgot the most important one: Pirated cars would not be stolen , as cars get stolen in the physical sense, but duplicated with some Star-Trek like replicator gun.
d) ... where's Styxx where you need him? think of your own points

Cheers Matt