"Free" Software

Today in class, we discussed the implications of using software without paying for it. This can be done by downloading it illegally, stealing registration keys, or other means. So why do people use software that they did not pay for? The main train of thought is that if I can get a software without paying for it, then why wouldn't I? Or, another popular argument is "I don't think the software is worth that much." Basically, people want a service, and since it is "available" for free, it is hard to justify spending money on it. The reason I say available in quotations is because the means for attaining such software for free is generally illegal (finding websites that cater for this are very easy to find). I think that a better question to ask is: "If the software was not available for free, would you buy it?" If the answer is yes, then that would suggest that you think the software is worth the price. If the software's services are worth the price, then why wouldn't you purchase it to support the company? Software companies make money by selling their software to the customers. If people who would've bought the software choose, rather, to illegally download it, they are losing paying customers. In order to compensate for the lost sales, the company may have to increase the price of their services in order to keep the company up and running.


While this may seem like a way that would convince people to purchase the software they enjoy using, the temptation of getting it for free is just too great. This temptation is not only limited to software, but all sorts of copyright material such as music, movies, e-books, etc. In fact, a study done in 2008 showed that 95% of music downloaded was done so illegally. And now, with the convenience and speed of Bit Torrent applications, it doesn't seem like this percentage will decrease any time soon. Is this simply a paradigm shift in the way copyright material is distributed? Or do corporations and companies simply have to do a better job of protecting their content from pirates?