Sharing is Caring

[Reno-s--Joker]

Okay, it's an undeniable fact that you can get the crack for any non-free software you can think of (well maybe not any, but the others usually don't matter) and download almost any song or movie or the like you want, for free, in these (relatively) new beginnings of the internet. This creates a huge problem in terms of money and copyright and crap for the companies and creators behind these things, so here I pose the question:

What does everyone think of the future of software and media on the internet?

My theory is that one of four things will happen:
1) A huge authority will crack down on illegal downloads and half the internet using population gets fined/jailed. 
2) In my utopian ideal, absolutely everything will become free.  Freewares will become so competitive that Commercial products will succumb to their influence, and we will become one big sharing happy family and the world will be grand. 
3) Buying things online will become so easy it's like going into a shop anyways, so fewer people will download illegally. Although this will not solve the problem and another solution will replace this one. 
4) Some amazing genius like Blizzard will develop an unbreakable code which only he knows how to break and which people would start blackmailing him to get the crack for. 

Debate away. 

[Starrodkirby86]

Buying items on the Internet is getting way more popular, especially because of the poor economy. When gas prices were extremely high, I know for a fact there were people who remained in their caverns homes buying products online instead of driving out to stores. It's also some of the only sources to get imported stuff, so as long as the otaku era in animation keeps going on, we know Online stores will prosper.

1) A huge authority will crack down on illegal downloads and half the internet using population gets fined/jailed.   
2) In my utopian ideal, absolutely everything will become free.    Freewares will become so competitive that Commercial products will succumb to their influence, and we will become one big sharing happy family and the world will be grand. 
3) Buying things online will become so easy it's like going into a shop anyways, so fewer people will download illegally. Although this will not solve the problem and another solution will replace this one.   
4) Some amazing genius like Blizzard will develop an unbreakable code which only he knows how to break and which people would start blackmailing him to get the crack for.   

1) If only the government decides to fund and care for that sort of things. If so, then there's definitely a few sites that will begin to close down from it. But it's not their fault, it's the violators' fault...In technicalities. But it's almost like deleting copyrighted material on Youtube. You try to delete, but they just keep coming.
2) Your utopia indeed. If only the world was that simple and nice.
3) Yeah. Definitely. (I don't have anything to put here really since my first explanation just said everything).
4) Some hacker WILL find the algorithm to break it. You can always try to create the perfect code, but there will always be someone breaking it. I mean, it's easier to break things than to create or fix them back, isn't it?

[winkio]

I think that programs will eventually become more internet dependent for functionality, thus making it easier for developers to control them.  If this does happen, all our computers will enetually be goverened by a online law-force network, which would be a bit awkward...

The other likely scenario is that legit developers race against crackers, each year turning out products with more elaborate encryption and dependency, each time extending the shelf life of their product before it is cracked.  In this case, developers would only expect to make money off of their product for a year or two, tops.

It is a very interesting phenomenon, though.

[Reno-s--Joker]

Buying items on the Internet is getting way more popular, especially because of the poor economy. When gas prices were extremely high, I know for a fact there were people who remained in their homes buying products online instead of driving out to stores. It's also some of the only sources to get imported stuff, so as long as the otaku era in animation keeps going on, we know Online stores will prosper.

Oh crap, and we'll all get fat like in Wall-E. XD I just saw some really cheap crap on eBay, and often companies do give discounts for buying online too (sans delivery cost >->). So I guess it is easier.

caverns

LOL. <3

If only the government decides to fund and care for that sort of things. If so, then there's definitely a few sites that will begin to close down from it. But it's not their fault, it's the violators' fault...In technicalities. But it's almost like deleting copyrighted material on Youtube. You try to delete, but they just keep coming.

It's definitely going to be a huge task if they ever do, which is why I doubt that it may happen (at least in the near future anyways). They'd be fighting such a losing battle. :|

I mean, it's easier to break things than to create or fix them back, isn't it?

Oh... always... D: Most certainly. That was another utopian suggestion from me. XD

all our computers will enetually be goverened by a online law-force network, which would be a bit awkward...

Ewww.... I am not looking forward to that. D:

The other likely scenario is that legit developers race against crackers, each year turning out products with more elaborate encryption and dependency, each time extending the shelf life of their product before it is cracked.  In this case, developers would only expect to make money off of their product for a year or two, tops.

I imagine this is what would be the most immediate solution to the issue. It might be happening now, I have no idea. Making elaborate law systems and whatnot in prevention of illegal activity might take years to structure and/or implement or whatever, so in the mean time I agree that this is a likely scenario.

Good arguments so far peoples... ^-^

[shdwlink1993]

1) A huge authority will crack down on illegal downloads and half the internet using population gets fined/jailed. 
2) In my utopian ideal, absolutely everything will become free.  Freewares will become so competitive that Commercial products will succumb to their influence, and we will become one big sharing happy family and the world will be grand. 
3) Buying things online will become so easy it's like going into a shop anyways, so fewer people will download illegally. Although this will not solve the problem and another solution will replace this one. 
4) Some amazing genius like Blizzard will develop an unbreakable code which only he knows how to break and which people would start blackmailing him to get the crack for. 

Debate away. 

1) Well, I probably wouldn't have to worry about that. The wonders of quitting while your ahead. I can just go back to using the library for a couple years. Wait for everything to blow over.
2) Best utopian ideal ever. Shame the big companies will never let it happen.
3) I've never been one for internet purchasing. Never seemed as... trustworthy as face-to-face, where you know that you aren't looking at a photoshopped image of some expensive game, and buy a pack of cigarettes and some dog crap.
4) Rule number I-Don't-Remember: Nothing is unbreakable. It's all a matter of time.

[Reno-s--Joker]

3) I've never been one for internet purchasing. Never seemed as... trustworthy as face-to-face, where you know that you aren't looking at a photoshopped image of some expensive game, and buy a pack of cigarettes and some dog crap. <_<

LOL AWESOME. <3 I mean, not awesome. That would be really crap... but so possible. Ugh. :X
And it's not like you can go back to the store and punch their face in with a lawsuit any time. :|

Rule number I-Don't-Remember

Probably in the top ten somewhere.... XD

^-^ Thanks for the good reply.

[Starrodkirby86]

On the matter of piracy for games, Electronic Arts has recently incorporated a new sort of security system for their games. This is because of the Internet Connection, but not only that, it's required to register the game on an Internet-able computer. They did this with Spore and Mass Effect...though there's some controversy with it. Not sure, I'm not well-informed of the matter.

It goes something like if the serial key for a certain game has been used for at least three times or so, EA's online security will notice it and cancel activation of the game from that serial key. I guess you can say it's progress.

[Reno-s--Joker]

On the matter of piracy for games, Electronic Arts has recently incorporated a new sort of security system for their games. This is because of the Internet Connection, but not only that, it's required to register the game on an Internet-able computer. They did this with Spore and Mass Effect...though there's some controversy with it. Not sure, I'm not well-informed of the matter.

It goes something like if the serial key for a certain game has been used for at least three times or so, EA's online security will notice it and cancel activation of the game from that serial key. I guess you can say it's progress.

I almost forgot about that. And Microsoft Office 07's annoying over-the-phone button pressing crap. But yeah, I can imagine the controversy with the Internet registration. :| I didn't ow my own internet until two years ago. 

Now I get to do something that my OCD has been bugging me to do. *power up*

[Starrodkirby86]

Now I get to do something that my OCD has been bugging me to do. *power up*

Is that to power me up to get into the big 100?

4) Rule number I-Don't-Remember: Nothing is unbreakable. It's all a matter of time.

I don't remember that rule number as well. It's certainly not in the rulebook of the Internet...But I know it's got to be some law.

I can't find the original source where I learned about the security put onto Spore and Mass Effect. All I'm reading now is that it's called a DRM system (Digital Rights Management) and it validates your game every ten days or so (Which means you must be playing the game online at the tenth day of checkup or something). It is definitely causing some controversy there.

[Reno-s--Joker]

Is that to power me up to get into the big 100? xD

Hell yes! And not to mention 100 is a nice, round number to look at.

DRM system (Digital Rights Management)

If I remember correctly than name signifies hell on cyber-earth. They implement it in mp3 players (with temporarily free music downloads) too, I'm pretty sure.

it validates your game every ten days or so (Which means you must be playing the game online at the tenth day of checkup or something)

= |FAIL|. D:
I sure hope everything doesn't end up like that. My anti-virus program's regular updates piss me off enough, and they are actually good for me.

[Starrodkirby86]

Is that to power me up to get into the big 100? xD

Hell yes! And not to mention 100 is a nice, round number to look at.

Aw...Thanks. <3 *Powered-Up for no apparent reason, despite the reason being obvious here*

Yes, I believe I do recall reading that they implemented the DRM thing on iTunes music. Apple has some DRM-free songs according to this news.

There was an article about EA removing or waiving the DRM limitation on Spore for a little. I wonder if it's a curse or a blessing...I mean, is it really helping against the piracy matter?

[Reno-s--Joker]

^-^ Pleasure.

I just googled it:

Thanks to DRM, Spore is possibly the Most Pirated Game Ever ...
Spore, rated as the most anticipated game of the year, was played down by the DRM, as they encouraged thousands to download copies illegally.

Spore DRM could kill PC gaming | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com
But the DRM built into Spore by EA changes all that and threatens PC gaming as we .... Spore DRM is unreasonable, but won't kill PC gaming

Gaming Steve: Maxis Responds to the Spore DRM Controversy
I have been buying games legitimately for years, but the Spore DRM is .... The current Spore DRM is ENCOURAGING people to go to the pirate sites who would ...

Spore: Class Action Lawsuit Arises Over Spore DRM
24 Sep 2008 ... Whenever you find large numbers of unhappy people you're bound to find a lawyer (lol )

Now, I dunno how legit these sites are, but it sounds like a bad reaction to me. :| So bad even the big EA has to succumb to save it's name, I guess. In the business world I'd think sales are more important than the general moral good of society and whatnot. :S

However, iTunes' DRM I haven't heard so much bad stuff about. For some reason I think people are less unhappy to pay 99c for a song or whatever.

4) Rule number I-Don't-Remember: Nothing is unbreakable. It's all a matter of time. Tongue

And that reminds me, some people really like the challenge of stubborn programs. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it shdwlink who cracked Windows at a young age...? *is jealous* That's hardcore. <3

[Blizzard]

The "perfect code" is called like the because it's impossible to create.
Everything can be disassembled and reverse engineered. As shdw said, it's just a matter of time.

[fugibo]

Unless it's all hard-coded by M$ into your processor! You'd have to reimplement the entire circuitry, and not even Linus Torvalds is up to that.

everything was free

Commonly known by the two names "open-source software" or "D00D, COMUNSM!!!!! WE CQN SNIG BEASTS OF ENGLAND THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER THE INTERNATIONALE ALL DYA LNG!!!! LAWLZ!!!!!! WUR SO 13337!!!!!!"

[Reno-s--Joker]

@Blizzard:

I mean, it's easier to break things than to create or fix them back, isn't it?

Oh... always... D: Most certainly. That was another utopian suggestion from me. XD

Or rather dystopian. :| Indeed, if something couldn't be destroyed, how could it have been created? Ah, but useless as it is, it doesn't hurt to dream.... XD

@Wcw: Are you serious? I thought I couldn't hate them enough... D:
And lol - I think I like the first name better. ^-^

Thanks for the input! <3

[Starrodkirby86]

everything was free

Commonly known by the two names "open-source software" or "D00D, COMUNSM!!!!! WE CQN SNIG BEASTS OF ENGLAND THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER THE INTERNATIONALE ALL DYA LNG!!!! LAWLZ!!!!!! WUR SO 13337!!!!!!"

Oh yeah, definitely with the second name. I hear it all the time.

Open-Source Software and Freeware are kind of different though...no? I mean, isn't Open-Source software things where you can get the source code and optimize yourself? And Freeware is more like, "It's free to have this, no purchase", but they don't give you any code to edit...Though it's not like I'm knowing what you're comparing to with everything was free anyway. :x

[fugibo]

Open source is just better than freeware. Mainly because of the fact that people will be looking at the code, so the devs have to actually put effort into it to avoid looking like 'tards

That, and when nerds/hackers get their hands on some code...

EDIT: PS
btw, the second is refering to Soviet Russia. I'm calling America and Utopian societies Communist :/

[Reno-s--Joker]

Open source is just better than freeware. Mainly because of the fact that people will be looking at the code, so the devs have to actually put effort into it to avoid looking like 'tards Tongue

I also think that people who suggest improvements to programs can take a look at the code and get educated before they make freaky suggestions. D:
And people who make their stuff open source are obviously proud of their (good) work.
Open source, to me, epitomises one part of the 'sharing' in the debate's topic (... 'caring' is for illegal stuff <3)

[shdwlink1993]

And people who make their stuff open source are obviously proud of their (good) work.

So... Blizzard isn't proud of DREAM. And Microsoft isn't proud of anything they've ever made.

[Reno-s--Joker]

So... Blizzard isn't proud of DREAM.

Aww.... why not? I haven't seen anything else like it. <3

And Microsoft isn't proud of anything they've ever made.

Lol, they're open source? D:
Anyways. HEAR HEAR.