(DON'T WORRY - we don't plan on using the information in this
question in any way other than for feedback regarding the site,
so please answer honestly. thanks. :) )
1. If you own a computer, do you have pirated software on your hard drive? Do you only have a few pirated programs, or are most/all of your applications copies? Have you ever copied software for a friend?
2. If you had the money to pay for all the software you need, would you pay for it, knowing you probably won't be caught for having the pirated software anyway?
3. Does the software industry overcharge for software? If so,
how much do you think programs should cost?
4. Should certain programs (and subsequently, certain ways of
solving programming tasks, or certain algorithms) be patented,
or are copyrights protecting intellectual property rights enough?
5. Should the software industry focus more on catching people in the act (and publicizing those criminals) or on educating people about the drawbacks of pirating software?
6. The David LaMacchia case brings up the issue of whether or not a systems operator (sysop) of a bulletin board service (BBS) or other networked service offering content and files to the public should be responsible for the content they offer, when ostensibly, all a sysop does is make sure the system is up and running. Do you think sysops should be responsible for the content on their systems? How do you think the Communications Decency Act might affect sysops of BBS's or systems with content stored on them that is now considered 'indecent'?
7. Considering the statistic that 85% of pirating occurs overseas, do you think that the United States should concentrate more on the overseas law-breaking and less on American cases of piracy? Have you ever seen the software industry rally against piracy outside of the computergeek community? (If you don't follow the exciting world of the computergeek community, have you encounted any anti-piracy messages at all before perusing this site?)
8. Have you ever encountered a copy-protection device on a computer program? If so, do you think they are successful tools to curb piracy or simply nuisances? Can you think of any copy-protection devices not discussed here, or do you have an idea for one that you think might work?
7. The GNU Project would allow computer programmers to update software and code new innovations as much and as often as they see fit. Their idea of communally maintained software is the complete antithesis of the way the current software industry operates. Do you think this way of writing and distributing software will succeed in our consumerist, capitalist society? Should the current software industry have any reason to fear the GNU Project?