Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft

IvanV · Mar 4, 2011, 01:39 PM

It's an interesting view, considering that it comes from a guy who not just makes money from sales, but also develops his games on his own and thus probably has very personal feelings about them. Also, the fact that he was able to be commercially successful (enough that he has recently expanded his business by hiring additional staff) makes me feel that he might know what he's talking about. Particular points I agree with:

1 pirated copy != 1 lost sale;
pirate == potential customer;
there are significant factors other than piracy that can negatively affect sales.

Full interview: Persson: 'Piracy is not theft' | Games Industry | MCV

comp_ali · Mar 4, 2011, 05:58 PM

I agree to some extent , for example I played JC2 , RA3 before buying them. When I found they were on sale I bought both despite I finished RA3 a couple of times. Other games (Especially which doesn't have a demo) that I didn't try, I won't buy even if they were on sale. It is a double edged weapon. Needless to say, some games that has stupid DRM, I give up on them even if they were good.

Judas · Mar 4, 2011, 06:03 PM

i pirated minecraft because the free version was... well... boring and dull and limited..

i wanted to see what could actually be done and see how it worked...

Surfice it to say... while atm it's not my cup o tea... i applaud that guys works.. it's quite simple yet complex in it's own way.. and the graphics and work done is amazing..

Brilliant idea.. and it runs great too...

Even for it's relatively low resolution design.. it's graphically pleasing...

But he never lost a sale.... he never had one to begin with.. he only had a potential sale that after "trying" it out... didn't care for it... and since people want to try things out before taking it..... without full fledge time periods to trial.... there will never be sales made... because those that are going to pay for it.. will pay for it irreguardless..

blibbax · Mar 5, 2011, 08:39 PM

Finally, someone talking sense. This isn't exactly how I see piracy, but it is how I see the future of the games industry. Hopefully others are paying attention.

Matth · Mar 5, 2011, 11:49 PM

Once upon a time, you bought software in a box, you got a disk, you got a printed manual, you had something you could actually hold onto for what you'd bought - if you pirated, on the other hand, you had a copy of the disk, a handwritten label, a low quality photocopy of the manual.

Now, all you have to show for spending a considerable sum of money, is the "magic number" that makes it go - maybe the answer to piracy is bringing back reasons to value ownership - online content is one thing of course, as that can easily be blocked to users with pirate keys.

Judas · Mar 8, 2011, 04:40 PM

things got shitty the moment that they started focusing on giving you a license to play the game.... not that you ever actually owned it ever.

Sarentack · Mar 14, 2011, 07:02 PM

IMO Pirating goes both ways as good and bad.

new games though, games on consoles, I would be against pirating. I never would condone it.

But then you start getting into older games, anime, shows, windows OSs, thats what I turn a blind eye to for several reasons.

Windows OS being the main one because its stupid to pay $100+ for a OS that should not even be priced in the first place, one in which you keep upgrading every 4-5 years, MS aint losing money from piraters I guarantee you that. These OSs at a certain point is a requirement to. Especially when their was a transition from Windows 3.1 to 95/98 and from 95/98 to XP.

Then you start getting into old games, anime, shows, you had people pirating these constantly, but its because for several reasons,

#1 You paying fortunes for them if you can find them because they come in box sets usually.

#2 you cant even find them anymore to buy.

#3 They wont air them on TV, take Onepiece for example, where is it???? Naruto???? high ratings galore when aired and you never see them anymore except Shippuuden on a channel few get.

At this point I dont even think its pirating.

I never played Minecraft, but the author is right technically.

Due to the copyright act of 1976, pirating is not a theft unless piraters make money off of it.

IvanV · Mar 14, 2011, 08:33 PM

I can't agree with the opinion that Windows should be free, making it is a huge job requiring enormous amounts of man-hours and money. And upgrading is not mandatory, new hardware and software remain supported on older versions years after the new one is published and during all that time MS keeps making patches.

As for artwork that can no longer be legally obtained, I agree and I think that, depending on the country, laws actually make exceptions for such cases (books that haven't had a new edition in X years and things like that).

Mar 5, 2011, 08:39 PM	#4
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,224 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft Finally, someone talking sense. This isn't exactly how I see piracy, but it is how I see the future of the games industry. Hopefully others are paying attention. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Mar 5, 2011, 11:49 PM	#5
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Re: Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft Once upon a time, you bought software in a box, you got a disk, you got a printed manual, you had something you could actually hold onto for what you'd bought - if you pirated, on the other hand, you had a copy of the disk, a handwritten label, a low quality photocopy of the manual. Now, all you have to show for spending a considerable sum of money, is the "magic number" that makes it go - maybe the answer to piracy is bringing back reasons to value ownership - online content is one thing of course, as that can easily be blocked to users with pirate keys. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Mar 14, 2011, 07:02 PM	#7
Sarentack HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Re: Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft IMO Pirating goes both ways as good and bad. new games though, games on consoles, I would be against pirating. I never would condone it. But then you start getting into older games, anime, shows, windows OSs, thats what I turn a blind eye to for several reasons. Windows OS being the main one because its stupid to pay $100+ for a OS that should not even be priced in the first place, one in which you keep upgrading every 4-5 years, MS aint losing money from piraters I guarantee you that. These OSs at a certain point is a requirement to. Especially when their was a transition from Windows 3.1 to 95/98 and from 95/98 to XP. Then you start getting into old games, anime, shows, you had people pirating these constantly, but its because for several reasons, #1 You paying fortunes for them if you can find them because they come in box sets usually. #2 you cant even find them anymore to buy. #3 They wont air them on TV, take Onepiece for example, where is it???? Naruto???? high ratings galore when aired and you never see them anymore except Shippuuden on a channel few get. At this point I dont even think its pirating. I never played Minecraft, but the author is right technically. Due to the copyright act of 1976, pirating is not a theft unless piraters make money off of it.

Mar 14, 2011, 08:33 PM	Thread Starter #8
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,912 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft I can't agree with the opinion that Windows should be free, making it is a huge job requiring enormous amounts of man-hours and money. And upgrading is not mandatory, new hardware and software remain supported on older versions years after the new one is published and during all that time MS keeps making patches. As for artwork that can no longer be legally obtained, I agree and I think that, depending on the country, laws actually make exceptions for such cases (books that haven't had a new edition in X years and things like that). __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 4, 2011, 01:39 PM	#1
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,912 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft It's an interesting view, considering that it comes from a guy who not just makes money from sales, but also develops his games on his own and thus probably has very personal feelings about them. Also, the fact that he was able to be commercially successful (enough that he has recently expanded his business by hiring additional staff) makes me feel that he might know what he's talking about. Particular points I agree with: 1 pirated copy != 1 lost sale; pirate == potential customer; there are significant factors other than piracy that can negatively affect sales. Full interview: Persson: 'Piracy is not theft' \| Games Industry \| MCV __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 4, 2011, 05:58 PM	#2
comp_ali Sniper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Egypt Posts: 10,469 Rep Power: 339 System Specs	Re: Minecraft Author: Piracy is not Theft I agree to some extent , for example I played JC2 , RA3 before buying them. When I found they were on sale I bought both despite I finished RA3 a couple of times. Other games (Especially which doesn't have a demo) that I didn't try, I won't buy even if they were on sale. It is a double edged weapon. Needless to say, some games that has stupid DRM, I give up on them even if they were good. __________________