https://us-stage.norton.com/blog/malware/accidentally-pirating-software

Unintentionally pirating software is an easy mistake to make, but with a little knowledge and vigilance, it’s also an easy mistake to avoid.

lmfao

@piku accidentially not pirating software is a surprisingly common mistake

@piku yeah, you should avoid it by doing it intentionally

@piku lmao what

when we were younger our father outright showed us how to pirate software

@piku

Sometimes, it’s as simple as […] sharing a program with a friend

YOU FUCKS. IT’S CALLED SHAREWARE

@sodiboo @piku lol they even mention shareware later on in the article, in a sentence that feels even more crazy

Additionally, there’s a type of software called “shareware” – which is essentially try before you buy – that you cannot share with other people.

Don’t copy that shareware!

@cuddlebug @piku wait what the fuck. oh huh. shareware is a terrible name. I always assumed it meant “software that you buy once but you can share freely, but if you get it from the original developer you gotta pay”. so if your friend has the software they can share it, but if you have no friends, then it’s not free.

and I guess that’s just literally wrong huh. Minecraft 3d shareware edition makes a lot more sense now

@sodiboo @piku @cuddlebug no it’s meant to be shared around, norton is just lying

generally shareware software is limited in some way (asking you to register for money, having extra functionality after buying, whatever), but letting you share the shareware version around to other people

the point ofc is benefitting word of mouth marketing by literally allowing people to just copy that floppy and hand it to a friend

@sodiboo @cuddlebug @piku so like you are almost certainly familiar with doom right?

released as shareware, you could play the first episode as a demo, had to buy the second two which were not shareware

@sodiboo @piku yea shareware in the traditional sense were more like demo versions you could freely copy to share with friends, then you could order the full game by sending money by mail or something. then download from BBSes or the web when that became a thing, before demos would be more commonly distributed directly from the developer (when bandwidth for centralised download servers became more plentiful I guess). I don’t know what the modern definition of it would be? it feels like it has lost its original meaning

@sodiboo @piku i mean, this part is also just wrong, at least in my jurisdiction (germany).
in the same way that i am allowed to borrow out a board game to a friend, i am allowed to borrow out software to a friend. This was very easy with physical disks, but has not really been enforced with digital only software

@4censord @piku

at least in my jurisdiction (germany).

yeah I noticed this part too. a subtle trick they’re pulling in this article is calling it “piracy” at all and then fearmongering about legal repercussions.

usually, software piracy just means copyright infringement. in most jurisdictions, it is actually perfectly legal to consume pirated works; it is the unauthorized sharing which infringes on the copyright. it’s in the name damnit.

but they use the wrong name for it. and call it software piracy. and define it slightly more strictly than copyright infringement. and then they pretend like their version of software piracy is illegal. and to be clear, yes, copyright infringement (which piracy is usually synonymous with) is in fact illegal, but the way they describe piracy is Simply Not That. as such, their version of piracy isn’t a crime. but they pretend like it is.

there’s a reason why stuff like r/Piracy doesn’t get taken down: IT’S LITERALLY NOT ILLEGAL. but there’s also a reason why stuff like The Pirate Bay does get taken down: IT’S LITERALLY ILLEGAL.

though, downloading pirated works is almost always against the policy of internet providers and they can give you shit for doing it. but like, you won’t end up in jail.

also THE INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS NOT APPLICABLE WORLDWIDE. DO NOT USE AS LEGAL ADVICE. THE INTENTION IS TO SHIT ON NORTON. I AM NOT A LAWYER

I wish people knew what they were doing so they could do it more effectively. When looking up how to remove Amazon DRM, I found several videos of women talking about how to get library books onto a Kindle. By removing DRM… they spoke about it like it was just what you do and not to worry about it, just delete it when you're done and hit return. Very little awareness of it being piracy. Knowing it was and how to effectively rip DRM could have helped a lot of people when Amazon discontinued the download-to-PC function. I had my Mum ask me and found a simple way, but for others who may have had thousands, I just hope they were able to work it out.

@cuddlebug @piku @sodiboo you know what would have been funny? if norton commander was shareware too

apparently not, but later file managers similar to it are