Use of cracked programs

[freequo]

Hello to all,
I know that it isn't fer, nice, polite to use a cracked software. Some of us don't have other possibility or they want to see how the full version is working.
The question is, is it safe to use cracked software. By "safe" i'm thinking about global security, not the results. Can someone catch you for using a cracked software? If so, ho it's possible?
Best regards
freequo

[david-smith]

you can use windows firewall of 3rd party to disable all of the services and connectivity of program by filtering its services and dependent services to access internet or any-other servers. i think that program can not access internet anymore.
please take a look:

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another solution can be using those cracked programs in virtual machines which don't have the possibility to connect the internet.
i wish i could help you.
regards
smith

[LiviuM]

A small joke
That someone comes to your house or office and catches you in the act.
If that happens throw as fast as you can the computer out through the window. Or place the hdd in the microwave or in the toilet (a small one) and flush.
The most convenient way of escaping could be to use a ram hdd, unplug it from the power and all is forever gone.

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This way no prove except the well intentioned house or office neighbors, colleagues and friends that somehow will want to be fair at that precise moment and so help the authorities. Or the many cd's and memory sticks forgot in every possible hidden corner of a round house.
Mainly there will be evidence if not one will testify against you.
So the question is how to prevent that someone to come. You can't it's human nature to help the authorities to convict you.

The sad news
In some country's there's a law regarding privacy. It states that software will send only anonymous information regarding user only with user approval. And any information sent by software can't be used in court if it's obtained by breaking that law.
I remember someone saying that tekla for example adds some information regarding the license in the model. If other software does that than it's quite difficult to explain how you made those files, models. In general it's hard to explain how you managed to make something without using software. (solving 1000+ equations by hand, or making building drawings in paint).
And there's autocad that somehow (legal) manages to connect to autodesk and check your license. See Post #2 to block it.

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And this is how your best friend can help you and the authorities:

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Crappy software both tekla and autocad, so expensive so over-marketed. Long life to open source and free alternatives.

[freequo]

It is good to see that someone read this thread, and I appreciate replies. What david-smith wrote was worth knowing.
Regarding the last sentence, I've started to work with several open source programs. For text editing, here is Latex, for numerical analysis, FEAP, OpenSees and some other....
But what if you're using Mathematica or Matlab. Which are the open source alternatives for that ?
I think for what I've seen/read that blocking a software to connect to internet via host file is the most easiest way to be safe. Of course, virtual machine is even safer. Disabling the connection and that's it (good advice david-smith).
Best regards
freequo

[LiviuM]

Regarding Matlab,

Like I said here, there's octave:

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I first heard about it a few years ago when trying to make some time history:

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Regarding Mathematica, I find it high end stuff, you have to pay for it's simplicity. You want things easy pay for them, if not solve them the hard way.
Check this one, I don't use Matematica.

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Take this example, Matrix analysis of structure, in mathematica:

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vs. basic, c# ... and many other:

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Not to mention it can be done in vb script too.

I strongly believe cracked software should be used only if there's no other option. If the market (rivals) make you use it because they use cracked software too. You don't use it than you're off the marked, no clients.

And by using cracked software in fact you help those companies.
Think like this if I make a free alternative to tekla I have to convince both users of cracked and original tekla to use my product. Even if it's free, it's quite funny you know.

Free alternatives, like octave, should be the first choice not the high priced software.
It's not easy to use the free ones, but the price 4000$ instead of 10$ really makes the difference.
Moreover if you use the free ones, the open source/ free community can grow (10$ donation) and the "not easy" issue will fade away in time.

I'm seeing many using a 4000$ autocad to draw 3 lines. This is the ugliest thing I've ever seen. One was asking if I have adobe full editor, so he can reduce the size of his pdf's.
Wow people are incredible slothful, lazy, and everyone suffer because of that.

---

Forgot to mention virtual machines:
There's vmware everyone knows about it's quite expensive and there's oracle virtualbox free, open source.
Funny, to use cracked virtual machine in order to run cracked software.

Also there is/was vmware's thinapp, to make cracked software portable using cracked tool

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And there are a lot of free alternatives, some work some don't (it's no easy):
Cameyo, Enigma Virtual Box, or less expensive like Xenocode.
Some even support x64 application which is/was not supported by thinapp.

[BennyP]

freequo said:

I know that it isn't fair, nice, polite to use a cracked software.

You are right and not only software but songs, movies etc... I don't use in my work pirated software but i like to install, to check and soon as posible to delete it from my computer. I supose the main reason is curiosity but legally i have a problem. Some facts i found using google.

When you purchase software, you do not become the owner of the copyright. Rather, you are purchasing the right to use the software under certain restrictions imposed by the copyright owner, typically the software publisher.

Most often, they state that you have the right to load the software onto a single computer and make one backup copy. If you copy, distribute or install the software in ways that the license prohibits, whether you are swapping disks with friends and coworkers or participating in widespread duplication, you are violating copyright law. Even if you only help someone else make unauthorized copies, you are still liable under copyright law.

Quite simply, to make or download unauthorized copies of software is to break the law, no matter how many copies are involved. Whether you are casually making a few copies for friends, loaning disks, distributing and/or downloading pirated software via the Internet, or buying a single software program and then installing it on 100 of a company’s personal computers, you are committing a copyright infringement.

It doesn’t matter if you are doing it to make money or not -you are exposing yourself to severe civil and potentially even criminal penalties. For example, those individuals using the Internet to sell or distribute pirated or counterfeit software programs through online auctions and “warez” sites may be criminally prosecuted, even if they do not profit from the illegal activity.

Many businesses, both large and small, face serious legal risks due to software piracy. Under the law, a company can be held liable for its employees’ actions. If an employee is installing unauthorized software copies on company computers or acquiring illegal software through the Internet, the company can be sued for copyright infringement, even if the company’s management was unaware of the employee’s actions.

Most commercially exploited proprietary software is developed in the United States and Europe.
Critics in developing countries see this as an indirect technology transfer tax on their country, preventing technological advancement. This is the leading reason developing countries refuse to accept or respect copyright laws. This idea is often applied to patent laws as well.
Traian Basescu, the president of Romania, stated that "piracy helped the young generation discover computers. It set off the development of the IT industry in Romania."

The debate about software piracy acceptance in developing countries still continues. In 2011, the Business Software Alliance announced that 83 percent of software deployed on PCs in Africa has been pirated (excluding South Africa).

Some comments of users 5 years ago in other site are true today too (in my opinion) The question was:

What is the punishment for illeagal software use?

Some answers:

1. Same penalty as listed in front of every DVD... Jail time and BIG fines for EVERY item pirated...

2. It's the very fact that it is all but impossible to catch and prosecute individual users who are employing pirated software that companies like Microsoft, among many others, go to such lengths to secure their programs - checking that the install disc is in the drive every time you go to run your game, requiring serials and connections with a central server.

3. Its called piracy and is punishable by law however the chances of you getting caught are slim to none. The software police (and there really are software police) are more concerned with protecting against big money thefts usually at large companies or school sites. You the little guy need not worry..but if you are still concerned, don't use the software on computers that are connected to the Internet. Sometimes codes are writtent into the software to automatically alert the person who produced the software in the first place.

For the right conclusion decide by yourself. I know some companies (design offices) fined by BSA (in general for using illegal copies of Autocad) but the last one i remember was at least 10 years ago. Looking at the huge number of sharing sites where almost every material is copyrighted and no one complain i suppose it's a hard work to catch someone. My impression is no one can stop the proliferation of cracked software as no one can stop the pornography or the spam mail.

[LiviuM]

Thank you BennyP for a nice post. From the legal point of view you made it all clear.
I guess this world is too twisted for this subject. Here are some few thoughts.

Autodesk and tekla company politics are very greedy, they are thief's too.
Why the same software, movie, music has different prices across the globe?
Because Autodesk says so.
What is the real price for it?
As much as Autodesk wishes.

By limiting! access to knowledge and technology I don't think humanity as a whole is gaining anything. People make differences developed countries vs undeveloped ones. This is ugly.

Wikipedia is one of the best things on the web. And it's free. Tell me of a commercial encyclopedia as large and clean and well done as wikipedia is. More important wikipedia is the product of many, for the benefit of many. While autocad is the product of few for the benefit of few. (Although they wish it were many, as much as there can be).

Wikipedia doesn't make the difference between developed countries and undeveloped ones, Octave neither. All it's free for everyone.
But Autodesk or Tekla, BSA do, they say South Africa 3000$/license, UK 4000$/license, ... country we don't want to sell there.

And more important wikipedia doesn't care if you use that information for making money or personal knowledge, or even if you give it to someone else.
Some licenses forbid reselling, in order to propagate the free price and product freedom.

In 2011, the Business Software Alliance announced that 83 percent of software deployed on PCs in Africa has been pirated (excluding South Africa).

Has BSA actually lost anything? Possible clients yes but real clients NO.
How can you loose something that doesn't exist.
Yes one well paid guy at BSA drew a chart in excel of possible profits and surprise the profits were lower. Very sad. So BSA is now putting pressure on governments because they want to sell more and more and make more and more money.

Maybe a young teenager in South Africa learning now from wikipedia by using pirated windows will become a professor in UK after a few years.
Please don't take this personal (South Africa or UK) it's just an example, no politics in my sentence.

I find open source and free stuff based on donations the answer to all this. If not possible at least help other rival companies develop their products. So we can have alternatives. ZWCad instead of Autocad.

Piracy is not the answer. Stealing is a crime and like violence leads to further violence.

Critics in developing countries see this as an indirect technology transfer tax on their country, preventing technological advancement. This is the leading reason developing countries refuse to accept or respect copyright laws. This idea is often applied to patent laws as well.

What about Archimedes, Greece or Archimedes relatives should ask money from everyone who wishes to read his words or use his "patents". You're a ship builder ok you pay for Archimedes work or else you can't build floating ships.
This whole copyright law is just a joke (that can get you in jail) that doesn't lead to progress. Human nature is to copy and while doing so improve the original design.

[faros3000]

...Autodesk and tekla company politics are very greedy, they are thief's too.
Why the same software, movie, music has different prices across the globe?
Because Autodesk says so.
What is the real price for it?
As much as Autodesk wishes.

Dear LiviuM,

I personally differ from your point of view, at least partially. If Autodesk has the right to fix a price for its products line it is because they invested huge efforts and money to develop that product and to keep that product as the industry standard. Simply as that. Long time ago, the founders of Autodesk where just engineers as you are now, but after a succesful idea and a bussiness concept they managed to grew the company to what it is nowadays. Same with Ashraff and Wilson in CSI (Etabs, Sap) and same with the researchers of Plaxis (I know those guys in those companies). So, why shouldn´t they use their ideas and hard work for making money? It is not that a government develop that software and then decided to exploit the public resources for making more money; again, it all started simply with ordinary guys.

Although I wish I knew how to program software, reality is that I know nothing about it. But when engineers in my office develop in-house software for our specific use, I go lengthy to warrant that no one outside my company uses that software. I have explicit contracts with our employees that forbid any use of any material (either drawings, specifications, software) that belongs to my company. If in doubt from an employee, for some sensitive information, I had sometimes choosen not to share particular information and better finished the project by myself. I know it sounds too agressive, but when we talk about bussiness, you bet I am not going to give any chance.

Why my attitude toward the office intelectual property? Because I have long experience dealing with theft of information. And it ranges from small things to big things; an example of the first case: long time ago I used some bussiness cards where I had the logo of one of the associations I belong to. Once, in a congress, I gave it to one colleague and, a few years later, I found again that engineer and then he gave me his bussiness card. And guess what? his bussiness card was exactly the same as mine few years back. He invested no time and no effort to develop that product, rather chose to still my intelectual work (those cards were designed by me, not by a graphic designer). Worst of it, I spend huge amounts of time and money to keep the prestige of my firm and myself, and then one guy suddenly wants to join the ride using that effort for its personal advantage? What on earth would give him the right to use my idea to sell/advertise engineering services? In my humble opinion, same case as Autodesk and Tekla products.

Well, this is just my opinion anyway. I don´t expect all of you think as I do, and the other way around.

On the other hand, putting product/services/ideas rights aside, it comes the reality of money and everyday needs:

For example, I think that a very big number of civilea users are students, and a number of the remaining are either proffesional or practicing engineers in developing countries. As for students, I think the problem can be solved by using educational software; it is my idea that the problem comes because they use an educational version and suddenly they decide they want that software, in full functionality, "just in case" if they need it in the "future".

As for engineers in developing countries, I think here´s the real problem. How much you can afford (and are willing) to spend when you are strugglng with getting paid and at the same time you have to satisfy your own needs (family food, kids school, house rent, and others)? No easy answer to that.

Since 2009 I have been doing my best to upgrade every single license of every single software I use, and to buy new one on the ground of both client needs and services expansion; so, just last month I decided to invest in MIDAS Gen 2012, but the quotation including taxes goes up to 14,500 USD. I think for a big number of engineers here that price leads you to think weather you buy that one, or find another ways. And by another ways you know what I mean. In my case, probably I simply will continue to use the software I use today (not MIDAS), and wait for a better time...

As Dell Brett would say: my 2 cents!

[LiviuM]

Dear faros3000,

Thank you for your point of view, this is a forum, it's Free Discussion everyone is more than welcome, and I believe each can learn from the other. I tried to make this post short but like I said the world is twisted, I don't think there are enough words. Please don't take a thing personal or insulting it is my pleasure to write these words. And obviously completely disagree and still be my friends.

Those of you working it the "industry" using licensed software are just forgetting something very simple. You don't buy the license it's your clients that buy the license. No clients, no software, no business. Your place is just to transfer the license money from one to the other.

Very greedy not because they are making money. But because of the way they do it. Let me explain a little.

When I evaluate a product I'm thinking of it's true value. Take a pair of shoes.
Those can be expensive or cheap doesn't matter. But it matters what they are, what they are made of, how were those made and so, the quality and many more.
On the market you'll find shoes which should be never bought or shoes that are not being bought.
Mainly when someone makes a product if it's for his/her passion and not for money, the product will most likely become a good one. Simply because that guy got involved and tried to do as much as he could. I mean by that to look nice, to be comfortable, to keep you warm and so.
Some even think on how to reduce the cost, not to make money but to make them cheap to as many as possible.
Now the price of the product could be high or low depending on technology or time spent or materials or....
For (many in the past, few in the present) products you can understand the price, or at least "know what you pay for".

The bad thing is that some, in fact many, sellers on the market, by many means, take advantage of the clients, and instead of focusing their efforts on the product they try to fool the client or kill the competition. Or simply take advantage of their product uniqueness by setting a high unjustified price. They even get organized in groups of so called business man (thief's), sit at a round table and set a price for a specific market. The so called cartels.

Going back to Tekla and Autocad.
Maybe one can explain to me why:
- Tekla hasn't changed it's engine since version 13. The same issues are there related to weight estimation, solid cuts especially pipes?
- Tekla has realeased a lot of versions but each new one had a new button most of them usefulness but at the same time they still don't have a button for saving in a previous version?
- Each new version of tekla has new bugs some are pretty obvious that I can't imagine how they missed them during bug testing?
- Tekla hasn't implemented Tabbed Document View it's still with that awful hard to use MDI.
- Each new version of Autocad requires a new computer each year for the same task. Why I'm getting new buttons like that 3d useless cube and the poorly bad implemented office ribbon menu.
- For it's price why I'm getting errors and so I loose work although I use licensed updated version. I'm talking about many computers simple drawings. Not one computer and complicated drawing.
- Both products share complicated license schemes. I don't get it how that happened. Take autocad for example, you can use it in another country under certain conditions, or else the license is not valid.
- Where's the "you get what you paid for"?
- To keep up with new version each year you'll have to buy subscription, to get a decent upgrade price. But this translates into become our client and never escape.
- Tekla has a price of 19000$.
- Where's the middle application for drawing like 4 lines on an old computer.
- Few days ago I installed trueview just to convert some new version files. The setup takes like 2GB hard disk space to install. The software takes in the end 580MB. Sorry but this is crapp, for 30 buttons or so. There were days when a pc game including voice, sounds, music, textures, intro movie, ending movie, 3d models, menus, application logic and many more simply fit into this amount of space quite well.
- And sorry if I open in autocad a dxf generated by myself which has like 4320 3dfaces and 4320 lines switch to realistic it ends up with an error, on fast computer, on which my simple 4 pages application can render that without problem.
- There's so much to say on what to expect and what you actually get. Where is the innovation from the old beginning days?

Why greedy, because they control patents for just anything. And by doing so you simply can't invent anything, you'll end up with a process, and business will be lost. Have a better look at Autodesk it owns now so many companies, it's getting bigger and bigger.

Read here more:

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Here are some funny/sad patents

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If still not convinced, it's because they target a market, make a business plan, and incomes are higher that expenses.
This really is the truth or else they would have perished from the first days, weeks, year after publishing their products.
Now if you accept the idea that they have a market and make profit. You can accept the idea that they don't need to sell on other markets.
So why all the noise BSA and all that? Sincerely I don't like them and I don't want them on my market, but still I'm forced to play the game with them.
Let me explain a little bit more if they extend the market obviously the price could be lower, but it's quite the opposite many have higher prices on developing (poor) countries markets. Moreover if they extend the market they can in fact improve the product and I'm not seeing it just fancy buttons here and there and a new Please buy our product review.

Let's talk a little about Sap or Etabs.
I can't say much it's on the border, not very expensive, not really cheap, they had a lot of improvements. The solvers Advanced and Multi threading are really fast, it explains a new version. The OpenGL and DirectX graphics are total failures. I guess they should focus on what they know best the solver and leave the interface for others to develop.
I wish they had the option to transfer model from one to the other it's quite hilarious that after so many years this option isn't there. I want to see in sap piers and spandrels or sap's solver in etabs. This is the same hilarious etabs is so great for wall structures but analyzing shell structure is so damn slow in etabs. The graphics is quite the same in both software small improvements here and there. I wish sap had multiple mass source option, and I'm waiting for a true automesh since long ago.

Going back to the subject.
I dislike the words developed and developing countries. Mainly because there is no such thing.
These word should be replaced by financial poor or rich at this moment. When talking about development there are so many sides like money, influence, culture, history, quality of people, way of life, happiness, illusion, army, technology, pollution, IQ, targets...
And who has the right to judge which is which? What good is there if people have money but live in illusion? Or if those money are stained with others blood or sweat. Let's not get into details.

In other words BSA says there are rich markets where it's products are bought and poor markets where those are cracked and used for free. OK so?

In my opinion this is a problem with many shapes, keep in mind there's a local and a global market too.

First let's say I want to do/sell engineering, I have great ideas but I need software to bring them to life.
Why I need software? Simply because rivals use software, I could draw them on a piece of paper by the way, if needed. And I'm not selling BSA products, I'm selling my ideas. And let's say I have access on the local market of a poor country only.
So I decide to buy software, like everyone does in the rich country, but wait I can't add it's price to my design price. Why?

Because:
- rivals use cracked software and I end up with a high design price (which by the way could be possibly cheaper than the rich country design price)
- clients don't afford a design done with an expensive software.

Don't forget as complicated software gets the more money are spent learning it. The so called learning, student, versions available in some schools are just selling solutions. And not always available global. This leads to increasing the price a little bit more for training.

And so I end up with two options forget about engineering and play fare, moral, legal whatever or use the cracked version.

Obviously I have to use the latest cracked version or else I loose because the rivals use it, funny you know, the each year new version.

To keep the story going let's say I use cracked. So what?
I simply spoil the market. If a design company from a rich country wishes to sell on the local (cracked) market it has no chance. OK then no software on this market no outside competition what can be wrong in that?

There will be another greedy company from the rich country that will hire me to design using cracked software for the rich country, because I'm cheap, cheaper than it's employees, cheaper because I use cracked software. And so the global market gets spoiled too. Remember the Tekla copyright story link I provided few posts above? BSA will eventually stop selling licenses in the rich countries too. And so everyone looses.

Now if BSA has success and nobody can use cracked software on this local poor market. I a beginner low on funds have very little chance to do some design. Because of patents, because I can't get enough projects to buy software as fast as they change versions, and many more...
But mainly because the global huge outside design company will eat all the projects.

Is this OK? I don't think so, I believe the more have access to information and a way to express themselves the more everyone will get.
I trust the feeling that true innovation is not driven by money but it's driven by chance, opportunity, and passion.

There's nothing wrong in making money but business that started well has become enemy of innovation because of one man's greed.

Piracy, and using of stolen, cracked software is not the way. It leads to further loose of resources, an infinite circle. Cracker vs. developer. Stimulating free and open source exchange of ideas, software, work of art is the way. Donating money for it is the way.
Choosing open source or free software or even alternative software instead of highly marketed software seems the way. Contributing without expectations to the world should be the way, ideas and emotions too.
But open source it's not really open and some of it has a large company behind.

The business card:

Let's say you invent a new steel splice one that is safer, not cheaper or whatever just safer. One employ or colleague will decide to copy it and improve it without your approval. What will it be, will you allow that? What can you do hire a lawyer how much money can you invest in a lawsuit that has small chances of win because of a small change in design? Have you payed the steel inventor or the bolts inventor, the basic elements that were the base of your design?
No going back to your example did you invented logos or business cards? Was your idea to place on a business card a logo, or phone number or email address? I know it's sounds strange but this is it you heard that some use business cards and even saw one so you decided to copy the idea and maybe have more clients, because others do the same. Do you think you were the first with that idea no check first all the patents related to business cards, you might have even copied without knowing:

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Stealing is an old human habit and not even human it's part of nature, it can be found in animal life too.
Some build doors to keep the house warm, they add locks to keep the thief out. But the thief breaks the lock so a new lock is designed, and a new breaking technique is discovered and so one. You may call it innovation in both cases.
The cracker vs protection or thief, vs lock designer is called arms race it's in nature too, makes part of evolution

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Copying is the same an old human habit and like stealing it simply can't be stopped. Not by contracts and not by secrecy. Trust me you can do whatever you want but once an idea comes out of your mouth be sure someone will use, adapt, change, improve it for his or other interest. Until the day we can control other people thoughts the only ideas that stay yours are those that never leave your head or useless to everyone else.
I don't know about you but I can say that my work is like 1% mine while 99% is some other people and those 99% split into another other 99%. Take Sap2000 for instance how much of it is actually the work of it's authors? If sap uses a modified Jordan equation system solver, and Jordan modified Gauss method and Gauss modified an old Chinese guy method from sometime BC. Than is sap genuine? While reviewing 3-4 years ago Midas Civil or Gen can't remember which one but it looked way much alike Sap2000.
If I look at software Lusas, AxisVM, Sap2000, Midas, Advace Design, Robot more or less they all share the same design options. Like the Microsoft - Apple, all copy one from the other.

Here some engineering funny article about copy and invention:

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Here some info on how to copy natures copying technique

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Copying is part of evolution like humans do animals do and more important the whole nature does it with each individual, a copy of it's parents. A better or worse each individual decides although he/she shouldn't.
I guess it's called incremental innovation.

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If you'll go deep in history of Microsoft or any other successful company many in fact have stolen others ideas. They took advantage of laws or opportunity or...

I don't care if someone makes a copy of my work. Or if he/she makes more money than I do with it.
In fact I'm happy because my idea was better than some guy could come with.
And there's more the idea never came in order to make more money.
The goal was to solve a problem if money comes it's OK if not the same.
So I have no issues to share my own work with others because I know that I made it and I can improve it if needed.
Sometime I deal with students I share them my latest thoughts about anything although they will work for a rival. Why that because I hope the overall quality of design will improve and because nobody can take away from me my own proven to myself abilities.

Regarding business
I had to design a structural system. While doing so I copied from others, changed, improved... The company I work for decided to make a patent out of it. They used it with a client. The client went to others to copy my design. And so after a while I received from another new possible client my design copied by those others, with the request to improve it. And so I did, I actually improved my first patented design and so my company gained a new client. Those who copied it are out of business now, they spent time to copy while I spent it to innovate, improve it.
I call it my design because a company can't own one invention truly just legally although not even legally, even if some wished they did.

If still in doubt please read this text, and more important look at his face, there's a smile there do you think because of money or his contribution to world engineering?
Ashraf Habibullah

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Imagine how many resources are spent for the arms-race between cracker and protection, thief and lock builder, lawyers, marketing strategy, business strategy, commercials...
All making a step away from the perfect shoe heading to nothing that has patent and it's called shoe and you can't afford it.

In a world driven only by money there's no free smile, no teachers, no books, no friends, no compassion, no love, no free will, just money. The question is would you like to live in that world?
If not keep the open source and free exchange of your work and your ideas, there will be thief's but a smile too. Some have the courage you know.
And there are clients, real ones, that will come back because they truly appreciate your work.

My best regards, and my 5 cents.

[faros3000]

Hi LiviuM,

Just now I am reading your very long reply; I was out of my country for a structural congress by the days you wrote it, so I completely missed it.

Well, I definitely can´t see your point, but I guess every one is touched by his/her own history/culture/experience. Your reply is so long that I´m afraid I missed a lot of things, but needles to say, for what I could pick up I completely disagree. Anyway, thankfully we are not bussiness partners so don´t have to face a fiercy discussion in the field!!!

If I judge the thanks your reply received as agreement of those fellows with your way of seeing this whole thing, I am seriously wondering myself why some guys I personally respect the most think that way (as Benny and Dell Brett, among others...). But probably just 5-7 years ago I thought the same; not sure, but jut probably...

A very few comments:

So I decide to buy software, like everyone does in the rich country, but wait I can't add it's price to my design price. Why?
Because:
- rivals use cracked software and I end up with a high design price (which by the way could be possibly cheaper than the rich country design price)
- clients don't afford a design done with an expensive software.

Don´t go wrong. You can add the software price to your design cost. Believe me: I started my bussiness from scratch with no money at all, but just my education, my passion for things, and my vision. Now my clients are 90% international companies, mostly based outside from where I live, and they pay, and pay well.

I wrote in my previous mail that buying MIDAS Gen would wait; well, let me tell you that I just bought it: the complete software with all the full six advanced modules. And the maintenance agreement is 15% the cost of the software for a year, which will be around 1500.00 USD/year.

I have trouble handling your "client theory", but if I concede, big clients will afford and be willing to pay you for using advanced (expensive?) software. And again, I am telling this from first hand experience.

...And so I end up with two options forget about engineering and play fare, moral, legal whatever or use the cracked version.

Obviously I have to use the latest cracked version or else I loose because the rivals use it, funny you know, the each year new version.

From my point of view It is not obvious that you have to use cracked software. This goes in line with my above answer, and just will add: think big, act big, and eventually, everything around your bussinees will be big.

My best regards, and my 5 cents.

Don´t be soo greedy, as you are refering to the software developers/sellers!!! First I offered my 2 cents, then you come with 5 cents?

Well, this was my full euro!!! (... and still have a 500€ bill in my pocket) :-D

Best regards dear friend.