Protecting Software and Customers from Counterfeiters?

Oct

4th

Protecting Software and Customers from Counterfeiters?

Posted in Business, Online Marketing, Technology by Douglas Karr at 12:07 pm

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Cop Quite possibly some of the worst spin that I’ve ever read on Software Piracy!

Read Article: Microsoft’s Software Protection Platform. This is as bad as the Patriot Act! (AKA: We need to protect your freedom, and you’ll be a patriot if you give up some of your freedoms so we can protect your freedom…. huh?). Microsoft should have simply made this an internal memo:

Microsoft Profit Protection Platform: Keeping Software Expensive and Profits through the Roof!

I’m a firm believer that most people will only steal when they have to. Sure, there are many people that will steal for the heck of it – but I don’t think it’s a majority. I think I’m speaking for a lot of people when I say that Microsoft Software IS expensive. As well, I don’t ever have any expectation of ever getting support. And – I know that I have to depend on updates to keep the software running. And – I know that I have to purchase and install other software to protect my Microsoft software from malicious attacks.

The word ‘counterfeiting’ is not an accurate term. The software is not counterfeit… the boxes and the CDs might be… but the software is the actual Microsoft software. Fighting illegally copied and installed software does NOT protect software nor does it protect customers. Customers who love your product will always be willing to pay for that product. (I paid for XP and Office XP)

That’s incredibly ignorant and gutsy spin for Microsoft to put out a crap note like that. Is there anyone that believes this is an honest message? This is the problem with Marketing today, people don’t believe it because it is unbelievable.

William Meloney

Doug:

I had hoped that others would have joined the fray here... but alas... I have prepared a response of some length and have posted same at In Response to Doug Karr...

Regards,

- Papa

Douglas Karr

No apology necessary, William! I think we're closer to agreement than you might think.

I think the debate is worthy of discussion. Does piracy help a software company by distributing software efficiently? I'm sure it does for some.

Perhaps I am naive in thinking folks would pay because I pay for software. I must admit that I have utilized pirated software and then paid for it later as well. Sometimes the trial is very limited and I still wasn't sure if it was worth the money.

In my heart of hearts I believe that supply and demand control pricing. By circumventing and restricting that with controls that force a person to buy, I think you are asking for people to steal it instead.

How much is Windows worth? $400? $100? $10/mo? Why is it worth more money on a new computer (OEM) rather than an upgraded computer? I think the pricing structure is inherently flawed, and Microsoft winds up spending a LOT of money on Piracy rather than simply making their software more affordable.

Thanks for commenting!
Doug

William Meloney

"Iâ€™m a firm believer that most people will only steal when they have to."

I sooooo want to believe you. I so much so want to believe that the loaves of bread that are stolen only go the feed the hungry family of the thief. I so much so want that to be true...

But, in this day and age I believe that software, anybody's software, is seen through the smoked-glass spectacles of the early years of Microsoft's Windows 3.something... NOT that copying it was right(!!!) but rather that Microsoft didn't "seem to mind" the copying. (Wholly not true but that was the perception.)

I don't believe that Joe Average is capable of clearly distinguishing between the hard work of select programmers, trying to eek out a living, and the mega-business-monoliths that are just trying to exact a fair price for their product. As such there is little concern on Joe's part which software he or she "uses" in what ever legal or illegal fashion.

This is a matter of perception and a flawed one at that. We should pay for every program we use. I just don't believe that Joe Average maintains the same perception.

sorry...just my $0.02