Viewing Thread:
"Piracy - as good as legal?"

I won't go into a big essay about this, but to me, Piracy seems to be so casual, it might as well be bloody legal! We have a big-ish Computer Fair come to the local Sports Centre every Month. Among all the expected computer-related traders, there are up to 4-5 stands selling nothing but pirate movies and games. These fairs are not exactly invitation-only, so any old copper could stroll in and see this in action. It's unbelievable!

Even worse than that, is the large number of Car boot sales areound the area every Sunday. You are guaranteed to find at least 5 stands at each of these CBSales. This is crazy. Why this lot haven't been nicked yet is beyond me :D

These pirates even have copies of movies not even out here, like Hellboy!

Is this the case where you live? Either these pirates are incredibly jammy, or there is a huge piracy ring going on that is making it hard for cops to place arrests.

It's fooked up. No wonder the Movie Industry is on the downward direction...

Heh :D

ßulle†† wrote:
> Makes you wonder if the Half Life 2 source code wasn't hacked and
> leaked - more 'distributed' by employees themselves...

That's who I got it off.................

[edit] Sorry, misread that. I don't know anyone in valve. I did get it off someone working for a major UK games company. :D

So who wants Troy on DVD for a fiver?

"and find out how you can claim your Crimestoppers reward anonymously....."

Hell, if I knew of any, I'd shop them and spend me reward!

Last case of market store piracy I'm aware of was when someone was selling Jurassic Park videos either before or during it's cinema release here. The cops were onto them straight away. Since then I don't think I've seen any pirates apart from Pirates of the Caribbean. Also I don't go to car boot sales much anymore. I'm sure in the bigger towns and cities such things are very common.

Makes you wonder if the Half Life 2 source code wasn't hacked and leaked - more 'distributed' by employees themselves...

Just like to say, that when I first got into pc computing one of the guys I got software off was a friend of my fathers (both are coppers).

He ran a huge NE piracy ring in his spare time.

Also, I know people in the games industy. They are the biggest pirates of the lot. Once a new title arrives into the building, its straight onto the burner.

ßulle†† wrote:

>
> That's the extreme, who's to say it won't go that far?

It wont go that far. Musicians enjoy making music and will continue to do so even if the music industry goes to pot. Just look on the net at the amount of amature and unsigned bands who make music for fun rather than money. Its the record companies who want the money not the musicians. There will always be people making music and there will be some way of distribution.

This may not aply to films in the same way due to the huge budgets but they also make billions in proffit so i cant see that industry colapsing either.

I don't think the prates would care!!! They'll just move onto something else illegal to buy their beer.

There are loads of computerfairs and markets round mine that sell pirate DVD's, games and CD's. I've always wondered why the police dont just arrest them. They probably want the ring leader tho, rather than the guy in the market who is selling the stuff.