Quote:
Originally Posted by NVash
See thats the main problem Im having here. We can agree to disagree that piracy is wrong. Let me put out an example where I would argue its right.
- You check out a book from the library. Its great, you enjoy it but dont finish it in time and end up returning it.
- You buy that e-book. Its a LIT file that runs perfectly on your computer because Word is licensed and everything is good.
- Said computer crashes. You get a new one in which Word is no longer licensed. Because of that you cannot read said e-book. You do not have the $400 or so dollars to purchase Microsoft Office so it looks like that e-book is trash now. Good old DRM, aint it great?
Tell me, what would you do? From your strong moral stance Id assume youd go purchase this e-book somewhere else or just buy the actual paperback. Problem is not everyone has that kind of money. You already paid once and weve established how exorbitant the prices are. You want to go out and pay that again for the same book, knock yourself out. Im pretty sure most people wont and would either give up the book, go back to the library or try to find it somewhere for dirt cheap if not free.
I know, same old argument.
I counter with you have the same old argument as well. The same tired argument. To you the publishers can do whatever they want whenever they want because its their right. Good enough, okay. But what about us? Do we not speak with our money? Can we not say that we think their practices are unfair and make no sense most of the time? I guess none of that matters, they make the rules and we can only deal with it and give them our money. Cant say I agree with that philosophy.
And you still havent answered. So what if the pirates are wrong. Who cares about that anymore? Why not try to stop the very reason they are pirates to begin with? I know some will pirate no matter what, but some things brought up are very good points. The only answer Im seeing is 'They have the right to do whatever they want'. So then the people dont have the right to decide to not purchase the same book over and over again because of some stupid DRM? People dont have the right to decide to not purchase e-books at all because the prices are crazy and just pick them up at the library or somewhere for cheap? I dont know, seems youre more than willing to call out the pirates and even resort to name calling but cant at least admit that the publishers are wrong as well. Thats quite a double standard you have there.
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What double standard? I've stated many times I do not approve of DRM. I've also stated many times I do not buy books with DRM. That is tacit approval of what is, at best, a despicable practice.
If people are foolish enough to buy a book with DRM, then find they are unable to read it later because they changed readers, the DRM scheme is abandoned by the publisher, or whatever, they are out of luck. They could try appealing to the publisher but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for positive results. However, that would not exonerate piracy. Two wrongs do not make a right.
If you do not like DRM or you cannot afford a book, don't buy it. Neither excuses stealing. Not being able to read a certain book is not a matter of life and death, especially when there are plenty of legal alternatives. Your argument is just another lame rationalization. I almost wish I was back in college again. My Psych classes would have had a field day with the rationalizations I've seen on these forums.