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We sell boxed software (a 'virtual' box) in my main business. To combat piracy, among lots of other reasons, we also offer an open source edition. We sell pri

by lux 18y ago

We sell boxed software (a 'virtual' box) in my main business. To combat piracy, among lots of other reasons, we also offer an open source edition. We sell primarily to businesses, but I know some businesses have pirated our commercial version in the past. One local company we found out about recently was pirating our stuff for years and reselling it to his clients, but we only found out when they went out of business and all these companies with technically illegal copies of our software needed help. I could have asked them to fork over some cash, but I think that would have been more wrong. Forcing an extra fee when someone is in a bind is definitely wrong. So we helped those we could. In the end I don't worry about whether piracy is wrong (I think our copyright laws need serious reform anyway), and while I do pay for lots of software, I don't bother worrying about it for myself. It's a loss of potential money, but not of real money you ever saw. So it's not the same as actually stealing money from me. I also never bothered to put license key verification into the software either, not worth the effort. If I did that, it says I don't trust anyone, and it would only be wasting effort which is actually costing me something. It comes down to focusing on preventing piracy or focusing on moving your business forward. Easy decision there.

edw519 18y ago
"If I did that, it says I don't trust anyone" So you don't have locks on your home either?
- deleted 18y ago
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- lux 18y ago
  Software and physical goods are not the same thing, the loss of a "copy" of software doesn't make the original disappear too like stealing a physical item does. Also, personal and company goods are different as well, since one uses them for profit and the other does not. In my company I assume most users will use the open source version, I assume a few will trickle into the commercial side. Of those, some might pirate, but I don't focus on those. I focus on making money and building a better product and providing value for paying customers. We've been around for over 7 years now, so it seems to be working too. But yes, I do lock my door. Mainly because I work from home, so it's also my office. But many people up here in Canada actually don't bother locking their doors, and society doesn't seem to be too badly off because of it :)

by lux 18y ago

edw519 18y ago

"If I did that, it says I don't trust anyone" So you don't have locks on your home either?

deleted 18y ago
[deleted]
lux 18y ago
Software and physical goods are not the same thing, the loss of a "copy" of software doesn't make the original disappear too like stealing a physical item does. Also, personal and company goods are different as well, since one uses them for profit and the other does not. In my company I assume most users will use the open source version, I assume a few will trickle into the commercial side. Of those, some might pirate, but I don't focus on those. I focus on making money and building a better product and providing value for paying customers. We've been around for over 7 years now, so it seems to be working too. But yes, I do lock my door. Mainly because I work from home, so it's also my office. But many people up here in Canada actually don't bother locking their doors, and society doesn't seem to be too badly off because of it :)