__/ [ 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 £5.25 UKP for 20 cigarettes, it costs me nearly £3000.00
>> 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...
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