Guy's, like I've said before: He's justified it in his mind, so nothing is going to change it. This is probably how he goes thru life. I can use this, let me take it, let me borrow it, I wasn't going to buy it anyway. I just need it for a while. I wonder how much he has that he didn't pay for. I guess he paid for his car because thats different.

actually i do code programs. not for a living yet as i just made my first program a week or two ago, but now i do know what it's like being on the other end and it still doesn't bother me. that's because i know that anyone who will take the time to search for a crack for my program probably wouldn't have bought it anyways. in fact i've given out a few serials for some people on a warez forum i goto because i know they won't buy it but would like to have it anyways. most software sales goto businesses, not people who have a normal job and just use the software as entertainment or as kind of a hobby, like me for example.

and since you all like making up scenarious how about this one: a new cd comes out that you want to buy, but you also want the new shirt for that artist too. well you've only got enough money for one or the other and they both cost about the same. so do you buy one of them and do without the other or do you download the cd and buy the shirt? well, that's what i did not too long ago cause i figure by buying the shirt instead i am promoting the artist like a walking advertisement and therefore the artist sells more copies of the cd. my name Vanilla Ice is taken from the artist and as most of you probably know he's a has-been joke that nobody likes, and i didn't liked him either... until i actually listened to the music one day. but not thinking i would like it a whole lot i downloaded the cd. now he's one of my favorite artists and i've bought his new cd as well as two shirts, i run a sorta-popular fansite, and i'm a member of the street team. my point is that when i don't buy something and it turns out to be worth it i make up for it. ther have been cds that i've downloaded weeks before they come out in stores and then later i delete the mp3s and buy the cd.

so say i'm wrong or whatever you want, i couldn't care less.

Vanilla Ice.

This is a heads-up.

Firstly, the 'promotion' of Warez use on this site is not acceptable, no matter what 'justification' you may think you have.

Either desist, or leave.

This site is by and for Artists, both skinning and wallpaper varieties, and we take copyright abuse and/or theft quite personally.

Kazaa, just like Napster, and all the others is predominantly being abused by the on-line Warez mentality who have absolutly no regard for, or are totally ignorant of, property theft issues and those pertaining to the unlawful reproduction and distribution of Private Property.

Consider this a polite warning...

alright, no problem. i'm not trying to promote anything or whatever i've just been trying to explain how i personally feel that there's nothing wrong with it under certain cirumstances, but if you all don't agree or if there's a rule about mentioning warez then i won't mention it anymore.

i'll say one more thing before i go and that's that it seems hypocritical to me for a site to outlaw the mentioning of warez when it benifits so much from it. i remember not too long ago the poll asked something about who has object desktop or windowblinds or something and i think around 10% of people admitted to having a pirated copy. and i guarantee you that at least 10% of the themes on this website are made with pirated software. i alone have five skins available now with total downloads nearing 8,000, plus another theme i had for desktop x which made it into the top 10 themes and was downloaded a few thousand times in the week or so that it was available (it was removed for breaking some rule). my themes were made with a pirated copy of a graphics program and i know lots of other themes on this site are too. so then you all have a subscription service which gives people access to these skins, and you all make money off of them, not to mention the ads at the top of the pages. stardock makes more money because with the skins made from pirated software because there are more skins and so more reasons for people to buy stardock products.

yeah i can imagine it is.

Er:

"No reasonable person will claim that piracy in which someone who might have purchased something chooses not is harmful."

I mean "chooses not to is NOT harmful"

Windowblinds is not a good example. There is a freely downloadable shareware version to try out and see if it will cause problems.

Money is usually a cop out of a reason that one pirates something. The same people who can afford to pay for a cable modem and go to the movies and buy Pizza suddenly can't claim poverty for paying $20 for a program.

3D Studio, however, does cost thousands of dollars. That gets to be a bit tougher of an argument since $1000 is beyond "incidental costs".

Regardless though, there is no moral acceptability about piracy whether you can afford it or not. If you pirate something, it's still stealing.

Vanilla...it's the equivalent of a 'joy-ride' in a car....not 'really' gonna 'take' it, just borrow it for a while to see how it goes, then I'll bring it back...no 'harm' done.
But....it's NOT 'yours' to take.
Me being an evil, cynical bastard, whenever I see a news report of someone crashing and burning in 'their' stolen car while out for a joy-ride, I cheer...but hope, too, that the owner of the car sues the joy-riders' parents for damages.
No 'compassion'? Perhaps not, but then, Crime and Punishment is a 'failed' industry....

alright then, i steal my software. i'm a thief. oh well.... those companies have a lot more money than i do so i don't feel bad about it.

paxx, don't forget that most of the high priced games need the cd to play it. It will load toma point but you still have to put the cd in to play. So it doesn't mater how many people pay, only one can play at a time.