Is bootlegging really so bad?

[Gary Huff]

[TImothy Auld] “I am quite curious as to whether you have ever registered any copyrights.”

The answer is “not yet”…but I fail to see what your point is. Do you think I am incapable of understanding that I could have my work infringed upon if I haven’t yet filed a copyright? Because I am very much aware of that. Do you believe the Gods of Copyright will curse my work forever if I’m not a hawk on copyright infringement issues? Not hardly.

I prefer to see things as they are, not take some hard stance on an issue that has many grey areas (how many hardliners here have probably unknowingly violated copyright?). Burying my head in the sand as to the reality of how copyright infringement can actually launch a career (Trey Parker and Matt Stone had their first South Park short copied and distributed on VHS, which ultimately landed them a show) and how, in the end, it’s not really so bad within certain contexts.

And Randy Ubilious, for all his work has been infringed, probably has way more cash at his disposal than most of us here, so I don’t think he’s suffered from having a work that was infringed…if I could be so successful with my work being infringed upon, I’d take that in a heartbeat.

[Brett Sherman]

It seems to me there are two arguments going on here.

One, is it okay to use software you have never purchased. I would say no, for paying work. Yes, if it’s a training exercise. Frankly, the 30 day window just doesn’t work for me. I end up using it for a couple hours, then get busy. The next time I sit down with the software, the 30 day window has expired. Now, FCP X was cheap enough I didn’t sweat purchasing it. And the one advantage of the CC is you’re not in for $2000 by the time you’ve really run it through its paces.

Two, is it okay to use a pirated copy or break the EULA when the software developer requires you to jump through onerous hoops to use their software. In this case I would say, yes.

There is no equivalent for the EULA for consumers. Essentially, consumers really have no way to demand rights. I think the notion of tying the licensing to a particular computer is wrong. You bought the software, the computer did not. You should be able to use it no matter where you are. You should be able to verify use on any computer with a simple log-in, so long as two (or other number) are not being used concurrently. If their server fails to respond it lets you open the program.

Do I like the CC licensing? Not really. But, I don’t think it would prevent me from going with Premiere if I chose to. I chose not to for other reasons. I do like Apple’s licensing much better. It offers me enough flexibility and 5 copies I can work with.

[Gary Huff]

[Brett Sherman] “Do I like the CC licensing? Not really. But, I don’t think it would prevent me from going with Premiere if I chose to. I chose not to for other reasons. I do like Apple’s licensing much better. It offers me enough flexibility and 5 copies I can work with.”

I like having two copies, but I could see three being a bit easier for me, though I doubt I’d ever run more than two at once, so if the deactivation/activation process for that becomes streamlined enough that you don’t have to think twice about it, then it wouldn’t be a problem for me. You absolutely need to be able to run it on two computers at once for the whole “render while continue working on another machine” deal.