AVICII AND OTHER DJS PRODUCE HITS USING PIRATED SOFTWARE

[deastman]

Right. If Lennard is okay with it, more power to him. However, I do think that we, collectively, as a large community of users and developers, need to draw a line in the sand and say that using illegal software is not acceptable under any circumstances. I've seen all the excuses- installing the crack because they don't want to deal with copy protection, cracked copies "running faster", etc. The response has to be that no, there is no legal way to excuse this conduct. Illegal is illegal.

Also, all the eye rolling about this being a bad influence on the younger generation- the kids who see this today and believe it to be acceptable are going to grow up and become the stars of tomorrow. I'd we don't want to see them doing the same thing in the future, we have to put a stop to it today. Also, the moment you become a famous, popular, successful producer or musician or DJ, you also become a public figure with a social obligation to use your platform in an ethical manner. We are all individuals, but we are also members of a society, and that comes with certain responsibilities.

[Compyfox]

In fact Lennar Digital (as dumb as they are) states: 'it's not a problem when you use cracked software - as long as you do actually want to promote us and buy the software WHEN you actually DID promote us!'

So in short, they actually do admit to use "warez" as free promotion. (maybe ? instead of . - whatever you prefer)

I mean, it's one thing to use Warez as a form of demoing something that can otherwise not be demoed (which can be considered "grey zone" - and it was a huge thing prior to modern sharing communities and nowadays available video demonstrations). I'm sure you're already heard of the comment "if you like it, support the developers - if not, then delete".

But I am asking myself what statement is the thinner line to walk.

The first statement is IMO clearly more like "use the tool, rave about it and maybe pay us - we don't care", while the latter is more like "don't be a d*ck - support the developers for their work". And at this point, it is no secret anymore that some companies (at least those that can afford it) even wait for such an occurrence.

It is some form of free promotion after all, a certificate that they did something right. Albeit a form with a two edged blade.


I've seen similar in the audio distribution realm:
One party is saying "sharing is illegal and is only adding to money loss" (the "industry" in general), while some artists only got popular in the first place due to sharing (Linkin Park's early days come to mind). Again - it is viral marketing with all attached thrills. Once more, a two edged blade.



Then again - what do I know. I'm just an AE with a (moderate) low income.

[xNiMiNx]

So as long as we buy a copy, we are free to use pirated versions, to bypass copy protections, limitations, unlock extra skins and features?

If that isnt what im supposed to take away from all this, then i guess the only other thing left is that copy protections, crappy installers, and other limitations are for the peons only.

I guess the one other thing would be that even when paid for, some installers, copy protections, limitations are SO F'ING annoying, that the pro's will risk getting a virus in their studios to bypass them. In short, the retail product isnt good enough for a pro studio, need a warez'd version to get up to pro level. I think this last one would be more directed to dev's than for something for me to take away from it though.

[Compyfox]

Interesting thinking, xNiMiNx.

And I can at least agree on that with certain forms of CP. Namely Call and Response, or really intrusive License Manager systems. If the company goes poof - you're lost in the ocean.

[Numanoid]

In fact Lennar Digital (as dumb as they are) states: 'it's not a problem when you use cracked software - as long as you do actually want to promote us and buy the software WHEN you actually DID promote us!'

So in short, they actually do admit to use "warez" as free promotion.

Wow

So I want to promote LD. and get free Sylenth.

So the way to go is to use a cracked version of Sylenth1 and make a youtube video using it, and Bob's yer uncle

[She Changed Her Mind]

'We are all individuals, but we are also members of a society, and that comes with certain responsibilities.'

We are not a society, we pretend to have a society. There's nothing real in it. My 2c.

For if we were a community, we didn't need any superstition whatsoever. Animals won't need no superstition, even if they would want some.
We are human, that is something else. A species.

We can talk to each other, but in most cases we won't. Which says an awful lot of our behaviour as beings as it comes to our noses; little further than that.

For most of us are such pretenders that we would not even be aware of our pretentions. It has become a habit since ages. Since birth. Simple as that. So in fact it is a ritual, not a 'society'. Everything will conform to this ritual.. little wonder. If your eyes are not up your arse. That is.

And if we are not sure about birth itself than we can start to mutilate our babies just to make them 'understand'.
Mentally... that is. Just as easy and 'tolerated'. Ever so called: 'freedom of religion'. A contradiction, btw. That's another topic, however.

Normal, as in: 'norm' *snaps finger*

'So I want to promote LD. and get free Sylenth.'
First you'll have to be 'wanted'. To be 'hungry..'. Get the picture?

[deastman]

Interesting thinking, xNiMiNx.

And I can at least agree on that with certain forms of CP. Namely Call and Response, or really intrusive License Manager systems. If the company goes poof - you're lost in the ocean.

If you don't like the copy protection, don't use the product. Anything else is simply an excuse to justify illegal conduct.

[T-CM11]

If you don't like the copy protection, don't use the product. Anything else is simply an excuse to justify illegal conduct.

And "illegal conduct" is by definition "wrong"?

[Compyfox]

If you don't like the copy protection, don't use the product. Anything else is simply an excuse to justify illegal conduct.

See, and this is where the problems set in.

What if you like the product, and therefore go with the copy protection. You support the company for x months or x years (doesn't matter when you joined), and suddenly the company goes out of business or does a hit and run.

How many times has that happened in recent years? Several times. Most notably with Kjaerhus Audio, not counting deceased developers or companies deciding "well, we sell out company and stomp in our plugins" (Abbey Road, anyone?).

But this goes away from the main topic at hand. Unless you bring in the argument "is it okay to use cracked versions in this case, to continue using your tools?", which definitely is an ethical question.

[deastman]

'We are all individuals, but we are also members of a society, and that comes with certain responsibilities.'

We are not a society, we pretend to have a society. There's nothing real in it. My 2c.

Do you live around other humans? Do you use roads? Plumbing? Electricity? Do you visit the doctor? Did you go to school? Do you benefit in any way from the existence of law enforcement?

You are a member of a society, whether you like to admit it or not. We were all born into this pre-existing system. You may not agree with the decisions being made by others on your behalf, but that doesn't mean the system doesn't exist. As a member of society, you have obligations. For example, you have the obligation not to go on a murderous rampage just because you might feel like doing so. And if you choose to do it anyway, other members of the society in which you exist will exact an appropriate penalty from you. Societies have laws which govern acceptable conduct. Software piracy has been deemed unacceptable. Likewise, public figures have an obligation to consider the ways in which they use the platform that they have been given by society.

[deastman]

If you don't like the copy protection, don't use the product. Anything else is simply an excuse to justify illegal conduct.

See, and this is where the problems set in.

What if you like the product, and therefore go with the copy protection. You support the company for x months or x years (doesn't matter when you joined), and suddenly the company goes out of business or does a hit and run.

How many times has that happened in recent years? Several times. Most notably with Kjaerhus Audio, not counting deceased developers or companies deciding "well, we sell out company and stomp in our plugins" (Abbey Road, anyone?).

But this goes away from the main topic at hand. Unless you bring in the argument "is it okay to use cracked versions in this case, to continue using your tools?", which definitely is an ethical question.

What if they go out of business and you can't access your purchased software? The answer is simple: bad things sometimes happen in life. Maybe you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. Maybe the developer shouldn't have chosen that protection scheme. Maybe its a real shame that things don't always work out the way we plan. Entropy is a bitch.

[T-CM11]

You are a member of a society, whether you like to admit it or not. We were all born into this pre-existing system. You may not agree with the decisions being made by others on your behalf, but that doesn't mean the system doesn't exist. As a member of society, you have obligations. For example, you have the obligation not to go on a murderous rampage just because you might feel like doing so. And if you choose to do it anyway, other members of the society in which you exist will exact an appropriate penalty from you. Societies have laws which govern acceptable conduct. Software piracy has been deemed unacceptable. Likewise, public figures have an obligation to consider the ways in which they use the platform that they have been given by society.

- Many societies condone certain forms of "murderous rampage".
- The obligation of public figures you mention is vague and contextless. Probably just your personal opinion then.

[T-CM11]

What if they go out of business and you can't access your purchased software? The answer is simple: bad things sometimes happen in life. Maybe you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. Maybe the developer shouldn't have chosen that protection scheme. Maybe its a real shame that things don't always work out the way we plan. Entropy is a bitch.

What if you pirate software and don't buy it? The answer is simple: bad things sometimes happen in life. Maybe nobody should become a software developer. Maybe it's a real shame that things don't always work out the way we plan. Entropy is a bitch.

[RunBeerRun]

I used to download from Youtube, and I miss it, I do care about the law, but not the stars. They're well off.

[Compyfox]

The answer is simple: bad things sometimes happen in life. Maybe you shouldn't have bought it in the first place.

And this is the thing - I did. I supported the developer. And from one day to another, I can't use the tools I paid for anymore due to reasons.

This is a bit different than the "why should I pay for this" and the "warez work better than regular releases" topics.