lameness

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

I think that you cross the somewhat fuzzy line when you use someone's song to embellish your work and then publish it online at a public site. Regardless of whether you are making money by doing so. Privately sharing CD's and downloaded songs amongst your friends should be Ok. That being said, there is a fairly large gray area especially in music.

Here again some basic respect in the form of asking first goes a long way in avoiding problems and embarrassment after the fact.

As for Ian's comment about software licenses. I purchased a license for the specific version (release) of the CAD software I use and it entitles me to use it for as long as I want. I do not own the code. Just the right to use it for its intended purpose. There is also a yearly maintenance fee which entitles me to upgrades (to the latest version) and technical support. I currently choose not to pay maintenance because I prefer to use the version I have and don't need technical support. If I wanted to upgrade then I would have to pay to renew my license for the later version.

As a CAE consultant, I often advised clients not to get the latest release simply because the new version was not better or had not been field tested long enough. Staying on the latest version can have a significant effect on productivity. The latest version may not be the best (in spite of what the salesman says) and can lead to significant costs of transferring legacy data and user training. Often times the cutting edge can be the bleeding edge.

It is certainly true that license fees can be high but that is the cost of doing business and the revenue allows the software company to continue to work on new and compelling stuff. Photoshop, for example, has come a long way because of this. So has 3D CAD software. License fees are like anything else. They are negotiable especially if you are talking a full blown CAD/CAM, Data management installation with hundreds of seats (users). Probably not so much if you are a single user.

Copyrights, intellectual property and software licenses share a common foundation but each is unique in it's own way. I am no expert on specifics of the laws. There is certainly room for change and improvement to the current system. And like all laws it is difficult to write in every possible scenario and set of circumstances that can come up.

That is why I believe it is best to deal with the decisions facing these issues with ethics, morality and a high regard (respect) for someone else's creative property.

Thanks for letting me share my views. Now enough of this, Let's get back to riding.
Hein

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Yeah Hein I understand what you guys are saying and that makes sense. My reasoning is just that they will never release to you, the best product possible, in fact, im sure in most cases that they purposely leave out features, or create bugs, just so you have a reason to download and pay for the new version, which they could have released in the first place. Its really all a scheme to make money, but thats America I guess.

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

just of curiosity, do all you software business theorists (inept and genek) have much experience in the software industry Rolling Eyes

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

forrest · Mon Dec 08, 08 1:02 am

I can enlighten you, but I'm not going to.

I love Blackalicious, but now I love him even less because his label is being lame. I won't be buying anymore of his music or any other artists on his label because of this.

forrest · Mon Dec 08, 08 1:06 am

BTW, It's only a matter of time before Pandora is shut down for leaking unlicensed MP3s across your computer... Hook InternetReadFile and you'll see what I mean, and you'll get a load of free music!

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

look up Moral Hazard

No, it's not a band. But would be a cool name for one.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Ive never written software, though I do know a little bit about it. Though I know for a fact the Im sure GeneK can tell you a lot about it.

But Gene I agree with you, let the users find the problems is definitely more cost efficient, but what im saying is how could a company, that is created solely to make a profit, release to you the best possible product, knowing that people will pay you a yearly ridiculous fee in order to get these updates. This is a perfect example of how our economy inhibits the ability to do honest business, and also eliminates the chance that you are getting the best product that technology can buy.

Another example of this is the iphone. Do you think that they didnt know how to make the 3g iphone the first release??? Im sure they did, but if you sell a million shitty iphones than come out with a better one a year later, you are going to be getting a lot of people buying this "better" iphone. You always gotta save something for the next one in order to get people to buy it.

This has gotten pretty far off the topic of music tho, but I just felt like I wanted to share my opinion.

Oh yeah and Stringer, Ive had a video taken down for the same reason, its kinda funny in a way when yours gets taken down out of the millions of videos on there. Prolly hundreds with that song.

forrest · Mon Dec 08, 08 10:29 am

Ian, in the case of the iPhone, it was probably that Apple didn't want to risk spending a bunch of money to implement 3G on the device until they saw that the device would be well accepted in the market place.

I think doing something like that is fine... Producing a product with a base set of features, and then bettering the product once you've gotten revenue from it. They also passed on revenue in terms of price of the device. The first iPhone was $600 and the 3G is $200. (I think.)

What I think is total shit is when software products are hacked together with little effort in terms of quality, and the software barely works outside the company specific test environment, and then they CHARGE you for support.

Most software companies won't hold back features they've already developed, as that will make the product more competitive. What they will do is hold back on implementing features that are planned to reduce their impact of their product failing in the market place.

Music should be free. Those RIAA f@#kers need to find a better business model instead of forcing illegitimate restrictions on us. They're shooting themselves in the foot.

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Dec 08, 08 11:05 am

Ian, if you resisted buying some techno equipment because a better one is on the way in a year or two I doubt you would have any techno equipment. products evolve and get better. Companies are not releasing shitty items and "saving the better technology" for next year Rolling Eyes

not exactly a profitable business plan.

Sounds like someone ran out and but an i-phone last year. LOL

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

latest leak from Apple!!!
the iphone, ipod, itunes, ibook are all obsolete now, and support will be phased out as of 1/1/11.
The products are all going to be replaced by the
Human i-Slave
The RRP cost is projected to be $153,214.00 per unit, with a yearly licensing fee of $31,459. But don't worry, legacy human models will be supported through 2010.

So start saving and prepare to export all your favourites, addressbooks, playlists, family tree, fingerprints, and non-fatal medical diseases to the
Human i-Slave.
Don't forget to back up your "junk" DNA, and please note Apple is changing its name to Human to reflect the change in product line.