It was on Tuesday 18 July 2006 2:28 pm, that Roy Schestowitz apparently said:
> __/ [ Jim ] on Tuesday 18 July 2006 11:17 \__
>
>> [H]omer wrote:
>>
>>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>>>> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6095240.html
>>>>
>>>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>>> | Microsoft said Tuesday it had filed 26 lawsuits that allege
>>>> | computer dealers sold illegal software, the latest move in the
>>>> | software giant's effort to crack down on intellectual property
>>>> | piracy.
>>>> `----
>>>>
>>>> Also see:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-micropiracy9apr09,0,414067.stor...
>>>>
>>>> ,----[ How Piracy Opens Doors for Windows ]
>>>> | Bill Gates may not be entirely dismayed by software thieves. They
>>>> | seed the world market and make Microsoft a standard.
>>>> `----
>>>
>>> Anti-piracy measures kind of remind me of the situation (in the UK)
>>> with the tobacco industry.
>>>
>>> On the one hand, the government is "cracking down" on smoking, by
>>> making it more and more difficult to find anywhere outside your own
>>> home that you can smoke - smoking in public places is pretty much
>>> banned across the board. In fact, even smoking in your own home is
>>> becoming difficult - there is now a directive that prohibits you to
>>> smoke in your own home prior to the arrival of health or social
>>> department visitors, such as doctors or other healthcare workers. I
>>> would imagine that policy extends (or will shortly extend) to other
>>> civil servants too. Smoking is also becoming (even more) prohibitively
>>> expensive; at Â5.25 UKP for 20 cigarettes, it costs me nearly Â3000.00
>>> per year to feed my 30/day habit.
>>>
>>> On the other hand, tax from the sale of tobacco products earns the UK
>>> treasury something approaching 10 billion UKP per annum (projection
>>> based on figures from tax year 2004/2005).
>>>
>>> This is a dilemma indeed: improve the health of the nation, but lose
>>> 10 billion in revenue per annum.
>>>
>>> Microsoft seems to be facing a similar dilemma: crack down on piracy,
>>> but potentially lose a userbase of millions of pirate users. Under
>>> these circumstances, there is no immediate correlation between loss of
>>> pirate users and loss of revenue, but there is considerable loss of
>>> mindshare, and loss of future potential for market share and sales.
>>>
>>> Even the loss of pirate users impacts sales within the "Windows"
>>> industry, since those who pirate the OS and other (perhaps) expensive
>>> commercial software, may often purchase legitimate copies of other
>>> (less expensive) applications (such as Anti-virus + annual
>>> subscription), or receive legitimately purchased software gifts (PC
>>> games at Christmas).
>>>
>>> Corporate licensing is a different animal, and has perhaps a greater
>>> potential for disaster. Juggling Microsoft's licenses is a headache
>>> many companies would prefer to not have to endure, particularly when
>>> abusive Microsoft sales reps call with threats of licensing audits
>>> (witness case reported here some weeks ago).
>>>
>>> So I welcome any and all anti-piracy measures that Microsoft (or other
>>> commercial software vendors) may take; they are fighting a losing
>>> battle that only FOSS can win.
>>>
>>
>> of course, it won't just impact their licensing revenues - CBT and
>> callcentre support for MS-Windows is also gonna suffer.
>> I'm laughing my arse off because I've already jumped the sinking ship.
>> My only hope is that the wreck lands next to the SCO one.
>> Hey PJ! Here's another cartoon idea for ya! :)
>
> 10-15 minutes with The GIMP:
>
> http://www.schestowitz.com/Amusement/images/sco_sinking_ship.jpg
>
> Could be better given more time...
LMAO! Very good. :)
--
Disk full - remove Windows?
Y - Yes!
F - FFS YES!
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