Re: Warez - A Rebuttal's rebuttal

["Ken M" <wgold@mecasw.com>]

Before this thread dies -- one more point to consider about "warezing" in
general.

Warezing is simply another word for a mass distribution paradigm that is
only recently being understood by the marketplace.  Those who are beginning
to understand it give out their products in slightly crippled - but
functional - version that entices the user to want to buy it without 
forcing
them to find a warezed version.  By electing to make available a freely
distributable, nearly fully featured, version of their software - the
company shortcuts 90% of the pirate scene by making it easier to get their
copy than to search the sites looking for a rip/warezed version.

These new companies of the new digital millenia understand that the more
computers their software resides on, the more chance they have of touching
on the "select few" who are willing to buy their software in the first
place.  The unlimited distribution mechanism of the internet actually gives
companies and software writers the ability to earn MORE by undercutting
their expensive over the counter, shrink-wrap and ship methods which reach
very few people in comparison.

As an analogy - let's use Stephen King's new novella which did not appear 
in
print.  He decided to only distribute it over the Internet in segments.  He
also made note that if enough people did not purchase the first 
installment,
there would be no follow-up installments.  On the first day of it's 
release,
it was everywhere - all over the warez scene and on everyone's computer.  
It
was distributed everywhere instantly by everybody.  The point?  Even though
it was pirated more than any other book in history, he also made more in
sales on that first volume than he made on all other books he ever wrote
because the people who cared payed for it.  Think it through, chew on it.
Taste the flavor of the new paradigm. THAT is the power of the internet
distribution methodology. THAT is the truth of the future staring at us in
the face which must be embraced.

The same goes for music - MP3's and the like.  Give it away easily in a
slightly denatured format (22k for instance), and let those who care enough
pay for it.  Give incentives (cover art, extra tracks, hidden trick PC
stuff, 44k high-fidelity sound vs 22k MP3's).  Put YOUR copies of the MP3's
in the warez scene.. Put YOUR copies on Napster and on MP3.com.. Make YOUR
versions with YOUR copyright in tact (and a link to your web site to buy 
the
real thing) available to the world.  Make it easier to get your versions
than looking for one in the warez scene, and then those who care will pay,
those who don't will end up deleting it anyway.

The fact is that there will ALWAYS be those who won't pay for it no matter
WHAT scheme you come up with to protect your "interests".  It is simply
impossible to control the distribution of anything digital with a
far-reaching digital network like the Internet.  Instead of fighting the
tidal wave, grab a surf board and enjoy the ride.  For the first time in 
the
history of mankind, the world is at our fingertips and I'll be damned if 
I'm
not going to have my work be everywhere, all the time, and still profit 
from
it.

Good luck to you all.

Ken Melms
Programmer/Musician/Internet Guru