Post by: sandyman on July 19, 2006, 07:26:55 AM
On June 19, Bill Gates, Microsoft's founder and one of the key defenders of the old 20th-century style of software development (where private companies develop proprietary software for personal gain), admitted in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he watches pirated videos....When The Journal pointed out to Mr Gates that the material he was watching was stolen, Mr Gates said, "Stolen's a strong word. It's copyrighted content that the owner hasn't paid for."
Post by: gunug on July 19, 2006, 07:36:27 AM
Post by: Gregg on July 19, 2006, 07:46:46 AM
sto·len, (stln) v. tr.
To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
Post by: kbeartx on July 19, 2006, 12:04:30 PM
QUOTE(Gregg @ Jul 19 2006, 06:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
sto·len, (stln) v. tr.
To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
Sorry to quibble, but that's the definition for steal
Stolen is an adjective, meaning 'taken dishonestly'
- KB
Post by: Gregg on July 19, 2006, 12:17:59 PM
Post by: Frances144 on July 19, 2006, 12:33:01 PM
"He who opts for a thick ear, cannot complain when he gets one!"
F
Post by: Mrious_be on July 19, 2006, 01:22:17 PM
How serious can you be taken when taking aim at companies who sell pirated software and make you loose money.
All i can say, if this is true than it's really pathetic... sorry.
Post by: Jack W on July 19, 2006, 01:37:09 PM
Headline: "Microsoft sues area retailers" Article follows:
Microsoft Corp. is suing three area computer retailers, alleging copyright and trademark infringement.
The civil cases filed last week in US. District Court for Northem Ohio are against Belka Inc. of Akron, J&G Computers of Akron and Mainstream Computers of Stow.
Penalties for software piracy can be as much as $150,000 for each copyright violation and $1 million for each instance of trademark infringement, according to a Microsoft press release.
Kamo Avanessian, owner of Belka Inc., denied the allegations. “We don’t recall selling anything illegal, because everything we are selling is licensed,” he said. “The license stickers say we are buying Microsoft, and those stickers are on everything we load Windows on.”
Avanessian said he received a warning letter from Microsoft some months ago and thought he had cleared up what he described as a misunderstanding. “I think that this is not only a misunderstanding, this is misjudgment on their part”’ he said. “I need to hire a lawyer, pay the money for that and defend myself.”
John Majka of Mainstream Computers said he might be the victim of employee misconduct. “It’s hard to find employees that will do what you ask them to,” he said. “So they do what they will do, and they loaded software illegally, and what can you do but fire them?” Majka said he also received a warning letter and talked to his three employees. “I said we can’t do this,” he said. “If anybody is doing this it’s got to stop now. And now this came about and I am not sure why.” Majka said most of the computers he sells are used and trade on eBay or from his Web site.
Both Majka and Avanessian complained that Microsoft sells Windows and other products at cut rates to Dell and other big manufacturers, making it hard for small players like them to compete. “The cheapest license that I can buy for Windows XP Home is somewhere around $80,” said Avanessian. “The cheapest computer Dell dumps on the market is $299 with Windows loaded on it, and that’s impossible. It is impossible to sell it for that price and not be losing money.”
Microsoft contends it is coming to the defense of small computer retailers. “We are really trying to make sure that (the small retailer) channel is clean, and that things are not risky just because they are small,” said Mary Jo Schrade, senior attorney with Microsoft Corp. in Redmond, Wash. She said Microsoft discovered many of the examples of software piracy by having secret shoppers buy computers and send them to the company for analysis. She described piracy as a fraud on consumers. “One of the important things from our standpoint is we want you as a consumer to know that wherever you go, to know that you are getting legitimate software,” she said.
J&G Computers could not be reached for comment.
Post by: gunug on July 19, 2006, 02:14:17 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_of_Silicon_Valley
Post by: krissel on July 21, 2006, 01:44:59 AM
QUOTE
Mossberg: Talk about YouTube. What do you think about that? Why aren't you doing something like that?
Gates: If we did YouTube, we'd be in a lot of trouble. First of all, people would say, "How do you make money?" Second, they'd say, what about all that copyright violation taking place up there. It's a neat site. I saw a bunch of old Harlem Globetrotters movies up there the other night, it's great.
Swisher: You watch physics lectures and Harlem Globetrotters?
Gates: This social-networking thing takes you to crazy places.
Swisher: But those were stolen, correct?
Gates: Stolen's a strong word. It's copyrighted content that the owner wasn't paid for. So yes.
Gates: If we did YouTube, we'd be in a lot of trouble. First of all, people would say, "How do you make money?" Second, they'd say, what about all that copyright violation taking place up there. It's a neat site. I saw a bunch of old Harlem Globetrotters movies up there the other night, it's great.
Swisher: You watch physics lectures and Harlem Globetrotters?
Gates: This social-networking thing takes you to crazy places.
Swisher: But those were stolen, correct?
Gates: Stolen's a strong word. It's copyrighted content that the owner wasn't paid for. So yes.
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/06/bill-ga...ng-pirated.html
He did finally admit that they were stolen but it was a long way there...
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 21, 2006, 08:39:33 PM
The guilty never believe they are in the beginning. Only a few ever admit they are in the end.
I have never respected Mr. Gates for his business morals. His personal ones I know not, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for now. On the other hand the interview was speaking about his personal activities...
Post by: Gregg on July 22, 2006, 11:02:55 AM
Post by: weldiger on July 23, 2006, 09:22:53 PM
When you give lots of money - it doesn't seem to matter how you got it.
