Thieves desparate to go straight myth.
Another article at The Register on software piracy, reminded me of a rant I've only ever briefly covered on this site. I am no economist but just how can this be true?
It is obvious to me that software, film and music thieves are providing a service to people who, in the main, would not be able to afford it. Call me flippant if you like but how do people who can't/won't buy at industry set prices miraculously find the dosh if piracy was impossible?
No, good citizens, this is management speak aimed unfairly and squarely at dumb shareholders. The reason my overpriced products gravy-train is not stuffing your pillows with dividends this quarter is those pesky pirates again. It has nothing to do with short term accounting policies that make more affordable pricing impossible and longer term mega-profits more likely - in an accountant's wet dreams.
The same is true for all other services and products out there. The companies that will still be household names in the future are the long-termists that drop their profit margins and consequently sell more. They are usually privately owned!
