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IBM has done this forever. Its called soft licensing. (or at least that is what their term was) It not a free copy. If you use this and they have proof, you wo
by campnic 14y ago
IBM has done this forever. Its called soft licensing. (or at least that is what their term was)
It not a free copy. If you use this and they have proof, you would be sued for violating the licenses. Its the same as stealing. Just because they aren't locking you out doesn't mean you can use it.
- jamiequint 14y agoIt's not the same as stealing. When you steal something the person who formerly had it no longer has it. This term is commonly used inappropriately when talking about software and media licensing.
- campnic 14y agoWell, we can split hairs on language, but 'steal' - 'to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully'. This pretty much sums up the situation described by the article. Notice that I'm not making some philosophical point about software, I'm saying if the license to something says that you must have purchased it to use it, to use it without said license is to "appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stealing http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stealing
- daurnimator 14y ago"take" and "appropriate" imply that the original owner is no longer in possesion of the item.
- klodolph 14y ago"Take" has so many meanings it's ridiculous. It doesn't imply just one thing, it implies several. You take after your father. Did you take the test? She didn't take much time. He took quite a beating. I took a dump. We'll take a look at it. I'll take a stab at it. "Appropriate", the verb, is also flexible and also does not imply depriving someone of something. You can "appropriate" something when you create art, and you can be accused of "cultural appropriation", but in neither case is anyone deprived of what you appropriated. So shut up. The argument about semantics is shit and you should stop repeating it.
- wnight 14y agoNo, the people who use 'stealing' hoping for an easy emotional victory should stop trying to manipulate everyone endlessly. Stop using tainted words and simply make an argument. Quit naming, start describing.
- kibibu 14y agoAmerican Heritage Dictionary: To take (the property of another) without right or permission. Collins: to take (something) from someone, etc. without permission or unlawfully, esp in a secret manner Both of these trivially apply here.
- benologist 14y agoThat's a great observation. I wish people post it everywhere so that discussions can be about the word instead!
- dcminter 14y agoIt's tiresome but it's also legitimate given the (ab)use of the word. If unchallenged it becomes accepted usage. Much as it is tiresome but legitimate for trademark holders to challenge misuse of their marks lest they become generic.
- benologist 14y agoIs it? It seems like it's an argument used exclusively to derail conversations it's tangentially related to like the piracy equivalent of a grammar nazi.
- smackfu 14y agoOr Microsoft having a Home & Student version of Office that can't be used by businesses. Nothing technical stops them, except that it's no different from a pirate copy if you get audited by the software police.