Pirated software

[Bridgy]

This new thread has been created by Baldrick after i requested that all off topic banter regarding the use of pirated or illegal software in my other VRD thread be removed as it was pointless and getting out of hand, and what was being said was diverting the thread towards a topic that i really don't like talking about, and it should never be allowed for discussion in any forum in my opinion, however others will no doubt disagree, including the poster below.

All off topic posts were removed from page 4 in my VRD Thread and placed in here, i have now removed my text from each of my posts because i do not want to continue arguing or debating with this member any more, as he seems to be very intent on not accepting my opinion, and seems intent on dragging this out as long as he can.

Cheers

[lordsmurf]

akin to theft

No. Infringement, yes. Theft, no. Vastly different concepts.

I for one am waiting to buy my new powerful Dell All in One desktop pc to replace my current laptop for editing work, and i don't really want to have to image my Windows drive from the laptop onto the new Dell pc in the hope that my VRD Pro will stay active, which i don't think it will because it still has to be re-activated on the new computer anyway.

That's really the crux of the argument here. In good faith, you bought software, with the intent to use it. However, it has become burdensome to use. The solution is not "buy something else", but rather "make this work as intended" (and indeed, as it once did).

I highly doubt new users will suddenly adopt it, given how it's a niche software for obsoleting video formats.

[Bridgy]

No longer relevant, i have removed all text from this post.

[lordsmurf]

Tell me how Software piracy and Theft are vastly different concepts, you always come into this thread disagreeing with everything being said about various topics, but you don't back yourself up with proof of what you are saying.

Theft physically takes the item, depriving the owner of its presence. Infringement does not take the item. Different concepts, handled vastly differently. Go ahead, call the cops right now, dial 911 (000 in Australia), see what they tell you. Both actions may (or may not) have consequences, but not in the same way.

By using pirated software, you are depriving the software developers of the revenue

You've never researched this, have you? Most developers disagree on abandonware/copyleft situation, including some very vocal big names in the industry. This is why the copyright system is failing us all. Too draconian in the name of profit, but in many cases no avenue for profit exists.

Rubbish, a lot of members of this forum, and other who are not, are still using VRD for it's intended purposes, regardless if you claim these video formats are obsolete or not.

Read what I wrote, precisely. I wrote "obsoleting", as in dying/failing formats. It's not gone yet, but it's headed there.

I pre-date digital video. I started in the analog-only video era. I've seen video formats/standard/codecs come and go. VRD handles MPEG and H.264/AVC (and apparently H.265/HVEC, but feedback on that feature was never good). MPEG is done. AVC is being phased out. HVEC may find itself still-born longer term, displaced by better.

I will still use it, you apparently will still use it. But it's not likely something that would have continued to exist must longer, without a business pivot. It's best days have been gone for at least a decade now.

But let's say the video landscape does not change.

VideoReDo is no NLE, not a replacement for Adobe Premiere, FCP, etc. And that's what the modern steamer/Youtuber generation needs and wants. The software was always somewhat unintuitive (like most other specialized non-NLE editors). Then there were freeware alternatives for most merge/cut operations.

the Illegal copy of VRD Pro, and i applaud them for doing so,

It amazes me how many people in this world fail to understand something, then cheer/vote against their own interests and beliefs as a result. It's not just politics, but literally everything. Sheeple.

[Bridgy]

All text has been deleted, not relevant any more.

[lordsmurf]

i know and believe in

What you "believe in" doesn't matter. This is about jargon, facts, reality.

By your logic, plagiarism is also "theft". But it is not legally defined as "theft" either. In fact, plagiarism has legal exclusion for "allowed theft", or "fair use", making it an oxymoron/nonsensical to be defined as "theft". Again, it may be morally wrong to you, and it may have consequences. But it's still not theft. That requires deprivation of the item.

And no, vague attempts to define deprivation as "unable to earn revenue" is not accepted. That's not legal deprivation either.

"Steal" and "theft" are English words that have multiple meanings, but not all meanings are always interchangeable. And some other languages lack this loose usage. (That also explains why, in their culture, infringement nor plagiarism has the same negative connotation.)

Feel free to cross reference this in legal textbooks.

you very clearly support and endorse the use of all pirated software so it seems.

Not at all. What I support is understanding facts, truth, history, science. Not misinformation.

I have no idea what you are talking abou

I missed this quip in your earlier reply. "Burdensome" is having to image your outdated OS into a VM, simply to run software that would otherwise have worked native to the OS.

But no, it had to use draconian "phone home" install procedures. And now, the defunct status of the company has rendered your legally licensed software uninstallable (and thus unusable). That is, without taking unusual burdensome steps. Assuming you didn't suffer a system crash, whereas such steps cannot be taken.

Such situations have legal exclusions, gray areas. It's not cut-and-dry "theft, theft, wee-wah wee-wah, call the interweb po-po!"

[Bridgy]

Those who wish to continue this pointless debate or banter with our friend lordsmurf can do so, i tried to bring this to an end in my VRD thread, but it was a total waste of time, discussions pertaining to pirated or illegal software has a personal side, as well as a Legal side, and it was the Legal aspects that i was trying to focus on, as an opinion is just that, it is not based on fact, legal or otherwise.

[lollo]

This new thread has been created by Baldrick after i requested that all off topic banter regarding the use of pirated or illegal software in my other VRD thread be removed as it was pointless and getting out of hand

Well done.