[jonathan03]

I am creating a survey for school about software piracy. I am not trying to start any trobule. All of the questions are meant to be unbiased. The survey is only 10 multiple choice questions and a fill-in is optional. It doesn't not ask for your name and it is totally anonymous.Please ask if any of the questions seem confusing. Please only take the survey once.



The survey is at http://enginecontrol.dyn.ee/survey/survey.asp



Thank you very much for the help.

[Vladd44]

survey isnt even taking into consideration ideas that arent limited to the current traditional views.

Try the EFF to see the broader picture johnathan, the truth is the whole copyright idea is outdated. The free flow of information, whether its programs, video, music or any other type of data that can be expressed in 1 or 0 will flow unimpeded.

The genie is out of the bottle, no way of stuffing it back in now.

[Keyboard Cowboy]

The current anti-software methods only slows down the n00bs with a CD Burner and a Internet Connection.

[chrönik04]

The survey looks as though it was written in the late 80's. like vladd said, as of this point in time there is really no way to stop the information from flowing. "Is the presence of a standard product key enough to stop software piracy?" its ******* questions like this.. serials/keys didn't stop anyone in earily 90's on bulletin boards and it certainly won't stop an 8yr old w/internet access now.

[jonathan03]

I know of the current situation of software piracy but this is a school assignment. I have to get the data to backup my facts. Somone thinks it is acceptable for me to describe things from my own experiences. From reading different articles, it is obvious what most of the questions in the survey are. I know its kind of lame if your experienced with computers, but its what I have to do. Also, my teacher knows barely anything about computers so I have to keep it simple.

The only soultion in the survey that I read about that was kind of interesting was that software devolpers will sell all of their products online. To install the software, you go to the developers web site where a script will install the software. This is different from downloading an install file. The install contains the files for all operating systems, but the script on the manufactuer's web site will only copy the needed files. It will also add the needed registry keys and setup the file types (i.e. doc for word files). This ofcourse would require a fast internet connection - probably T1 or T3. The software developers could keep better track of who downloaded the files by the IP address and the key entered directly into their web site (with no bypass for phone registration). I don't know that this will ever happen but it is the best solution that I could think of. Maybe some type of ASP or Java script could do it. Microsoft seems to be leading to something like this, but is far from it. The Windows updates are no longer just an install file that you download. The process is becoming more automated. Sure you can get the Windows XP CD fairly easily but they seem to be making an every so tiny step with the updates.

If you guys have any other questions you would like to see in there please post them. I can add a question at any time - the survey records the number of people who have answered each question, not just how many times the submit button was clicked. I was trying to make the questions simple and easy to understand so everyone can answer them. But I will put a few in that don't have to do with the assignment. Just post some more interesting questions and I will add them.

[Apokalipse]

that's be a good solution, but:
*changing/hidden IP's
*generating, or using someone else's key
*hacking into the server

if they are behind a proxy, you don't know their real IP
also, it is completely possible for someone to change their IP
people do, when they disconnect and reconnect their dial-up connection
people with cable can unplug their modem, and when they plug it back in it is normally changed - unless static, which it usually doesn't have to be

if you generate, or use someone elses key the person can usually get the software
- although a way around generating a key is to host all keys issued on the server, so any newly generated key will not be on the list, and won't work

then, someone might be able to hack into the server and copy one or more key, or just copy the installation files th their hard drive

unfortunately for the software developers, there is nearly always a way around everything

- but it would keep out a lot of noob's

I usually don't bother, and try and find a freeware equivalent

[nak-1]

.. but are people really going to want an unkown third party installing software onto there machines in a non-transparent process? There are lots of people out there already who masquerade as an 'officaial' wedsite of banks or companies in order to steal conidential information, this way they can steal that information and then put all sorts of nasty things direct into your machine.

The only way to reduce piracy is to reduce the motivation to buy cracked software.

Take the microsoft products for instance. To my mind most of the features are never going to be used outside of a corporate/business environment and that means that most of the package is completely useless for most home users. Big business/corporations are unlikely to pirate software as they need the support that comes with full versions to make sure that their computers, whose use is directly linked to their profitability, don't crash all the time. Home users don't want a word processor with all the capabilities of word and will probably never touch excell or access, so why should they pay extorionate prices for them. Yet these programs come with their pre-built machines and so that is all they're going to be exposed to. Then the machine advertises this completely bloated software to them the next time an uneeded upgrade comes along and some of them are going to think, why should I pay all this money, I've seen enough websites offering these things for free, lets see if I can get it for free.

There is no dis-incentive because it's increadibly unlikely that you are going to be caught. Even if they did catch everyone who pirated software, no company would have enough money to persue all the claims.

The only way you will stop software piracy is not to charge for it. Nobody is going to ask themselves the question 'Can I get this without having to pay for it?' if its not going to cost them anything.

[Apokalipse]

There is no dis-incentive because it's increadibly unlikely that you are going to be caught. Even if they did catch everyone who pirated software, no company would have enough money to persue all the claims.

I think the company would fine everyone for profit

[mrdinkel]

To be honest, all anti-piracy measures do are slowdown the productivity of those using their software. I know of freeware applications that are completely unobtrusive to the End-User. For example, SciTE is a multi-use programmers software. It checks synatex, and all that, and lets you actually get your work done.

[Apokalipse]

I think Freeware is underestimated my most people
"It's freeware so it will not be very good"
sometimes it's quite the opposite, as my freeware antivirus program actually detects more viruses than Norton does!freeware is usually designed for one specific purpose, and because the author usually doesn't waste time making all these extra "features" - which are really designed so it will sell - is very good at what it does