The Piracy Debate Thread

**Ben Jeremy** · 01-09-2011,01:41 PM

This should be made a sticky, but consider it a place to unload salvos in either direction... pirates, privateers, and the guard. Shiver your timbers and all that, LOL.

Too often, threads have been hijacked with the same arguments both ways. Most devolve into calling each other poopyheads and the reasoning comes down to "because".

There are reasonable arguments on both sides, but let's set some logical, if not obvious, ground rules regarding "piracy":

Backups are not piracy. They are backups. This assumes you own the game in question - not rent, borrow, but OWN. In many countries this is a recognized right of the owner, but big media (games, apps, movies, records, etc...) has tried to redefine it as a matter of "licensing" where they control the media you use, and how it's used. Murky waters, to be sure, but piracy? No way.

Emulation is a mixed bag, but some will lean to one extreme or the other on this.

Affordability - perhaps a legitimate argument... there is a reasoned belief that a game you would not otherwise buy is probably not really "pirated" - it's rather esoteric, and again, it boils down to the most basic definition of your morals.

There are others, but I will let the mudslinging and poopflinging commence shortly. Just one more thing:

A precisely lawful society is a stressed society. Citizens need to "bend" or even "break" laws at times to relieve the pressure. In some cases, this is speeding (which may overlap "reckless" driving, but 98% of the time, is not) - people speed, even if it's only 5mph over, just to enjoy some sort of rebellion against the authorities. this works at a subconscious level. Like sneaking a peak at our father's *******s as children, or smoking a cigarette behind the school. We know it's "wrong" and even against our own moral code, to some degree, but we do it anyway. we even rebel against our own moral authority.

It's fine to take a stand against piracy yourself, but unless you are perfectly moral in every way - you don't smoke int he company or others, you don't do pot, you don't speed, and obey all traffic laws perfectly - then you have no grounds to attack others for minor transgressions that do not explicitly harm others.

Keep that in mind, and be open to new ideas.

**Braindrain** · 01-09-2011,01:53 PM

Affordability - perhaps a legitimate argument... there is a reasoned belief that a game you would not otherwise buy is probably not really "pirated" - it's rather esoteric, and again, it boils down to the most basic definition of your morals.

Just stating facts. Affordability is not a legal argument for piracy. If I can't afford that Hermes handbag for my gf/wife, it doesn't give me the right to manufacture a copy of it.

It's an excuse, but that's about it.

**ploppy** · 01-09-2011,02:34 PM

From a Viewpoint of a guy who was born in a rich country with unlimited access to education and high standards maybe its not an argument. But yes there are others who
are working their asses off every day and earn just enough to live. Even in so called rich countrys its part of the capitalism.

@Ben Jeremy its a pleasure to read your posts, keep it up man

**Braindrain** · 01-09-2011,02:49 PM

Read my lips: It's not a legal argument.

I can throw in a personal argument for anything I want: I want a Ferrari but can't afford one. Ergo, Ferraris should be priced like a Hyundai.

**~Nemesis~** · 01-09-2011,03:00 PM

I don't think that this debate needs to be talked about. Piracy is piracy its always going to be around, and to discuss the topic of piracy in here well its no ones business if someone does piracy or not. Its not anyone's business what goes on in my home behind closed doors. That goes for anything even the way I choose to raise my kids. No one needs to know, also goes for big brother government.

Anyways back on topic Piracy yes its bad, and if you do it you do it. Don't be going around telling everyone, and complaining that GeoHot doesn't support Piracy. I appreciate the work GeoHot does, even with the Iphone. Anyway great job with the jailbreak guys, can't wait to see what is in store with the PS3 guess we'll just have to wait and see....

**tonybologna** · 01-09-2011,03:03 PM

I thought there was already a thread specifically about this subject? I can't seem to locate it now!

**Ben Jeremy** · 01-09-2011,03:07 PM

Originally Posted by tonybologna

I thought there was already a thread specifically about this subject? I can't seem to locate it now!

Heh.. yes, just about every news event features the debate.

It's unavoidable. My thought was if the mods make this a sticky, we can keep the other threads on topic and leave the discussion in a single place.

This NEEDS to be a sticky.

I'll leave this popular image here, not as a personal viewpoint, but to further discussion:

**tonybologna** · 01-09-2011,03:12 PM

Heh.. yes, just about every news event features the debate.

No, I was talking about a specific thread and not all the piracy debate from the news threads. I guess it got removed or may had a different thread title that I can't seem to find.

**ken_oh** · 01-09-2011,03:13 PM

why did you make another thread? what about this one that you previously created ? http://psx-scene.com/forums/f118/emu...-piracy-75081/ plus there aare many others with this same topic

**Thatdude888** · 01-09-2011,03:14 PM

http://psx-scene.com/forums/f118/ope...cussion-74905/ (Open managers in CFW poll and discussion)

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