Why Software Piracy is Good for Microsoft 522
jcphil writes "Salon has an article that explains why Microsoft has toned down its anti-piracy actions in China and other developing markets. The answer is simple: due to the network effect, the more users you have, the greater your strength in the marketplace. And it doesn't matter if their Windows is pirated or not. So, in effect, software piracy in countries like China helps Microsoft to compete with Linux." Meanwhile, the RIAA doesn't feel the same logic applies to record sales in the U.S., and has started an ad campaign to convince the public that sharing music hurts artists.
Microsoft Ads? (Score:1, Funny)
Beggar. (Score:5, Funny)
I won't put linux on my machine! Pinky Swear!
Note: I'll just put FreeBSD on instead.
Microsoft has always done this (Score:5, Funny)
"They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade."
1.) Get user's addicted to our software
2.) ????
3.) Profit!!!
Please think of the starving artists! (Score:4, Funny)
Come on, does the RIAA really expect me to take a PSA from Britney Spears or bling blingin' Nelly when it comes to theft of music? Are they trying to make us feel bad for these people who get paid truckloads of money and have no talent? Maybe they should show me a non-RIAA artist who lives out of their car and plays dumpy clubs instead.
NOTE TO RIAA: GET A CLUE.
Re:in other news.... (Score:3, Funny)
I can see it now! (Score:5, Funny)
The voice over says "When you pirate music, you steal money out of artists pockets. Now, how is this poor man going to afford his presidential suite, hookers, and 3 day liquor and heroin binges?"
Then a black screen with white text comes up:
"Help the Fella, Don't Gnutella."
Re:Groan (Score:5, Funny)
Or, to sum it up, Microsoft won't bother alienating their market until they've got a market to alienate. ;-)
Re:Microsoft Ads? (Score:2, Funny)
Well, I thought Slashdot went for a nose dive this early morning, but I think the servers were just being a little naughty. This was around 2am or 3am...
Slashdot in a Microsoft party [sconnolly.com] and maybe they really need people to buy those Penguin Computing racks [sconnolly.com]!!!!
I understand some servers could die, but this was just a bit flimzy! And of course I had to take 2 snapshots of the Slashdot website for it.
Re:Please think of the starving artists! (Score:3, Funny)
Linking to an Onion article on
not really suprising (Score:5, Funny)
Pavarotti is quoted to have said "Downloading music is wrong, because it's virtual. You're not getting the real thing. You're using technology to circumvent actually paying for it; you're taking the easy way out... Lip-synching a concert however, is perfectly okay; there's nothing wrong with that, the audience can't tell anyway,
Elton John on the matter: "Um, I really really need you're money since I'm WAY in debt, no, I didn't get screwed by my label, at least I don't think so, I was kinda high all the time."
"Elton, you spent $40,000 a month on flowers."
"They were pretty..."
disclaimer: don't know if it was exactly $40k, but it was some insane amount like that.
Re:Groan (Score:5, Funny)
Don't knock us Broos fans until you've heard his early stuff.
This reminds me.... (Score:2, Funny)
Mmmm maybe microsoft has more evil tactics we may ever think of?
Can't wait for the commericals (Score:5, Funny)
With any luck, the anti-music-piracy commericals will be as much a scream as those "Today I killed a judge (because I bought drugs)" drug-terrorism ones:
GMD
RIAA's ad vs. the Onion's (Score:2, Funny)
R
Re:Microsoft has always done this (Score:5, Funny)
"Here, kid... the first sample's free!"
JUST SAY NO!!!!
Brought to you by the Coalition for a Drug^H^H^H^HMicrosoft Free America
Intersting (Score:5, Funny)
Too true. Stop the insanity.
I like to think of Microsoft as Crack Dealers. (Score:2, Funny)
Britney (Score:3, Funny)
"I go to lot's of overseas places, like Canada"
"My love for New York is indefinite."
"Where the hell is Australia anyway?"
(paraphrase)"I covered 'I love rock and roll' because I'm a big Pat Benatar fan"
"Downloading music is like stealing a CD"
Does the RIAA really want those quotes associated with one another? To late now I guess.
Re:Groan (Score:4, Funny)
Britney Spears Hasn't Lost a Cent Because of Me (Score:4, Funny)
Re:True only to a point. (Score:3, Funny)
"Someday, you kids! Someday!"
- Hilary Rosen after six beers and a Palladium conference.
Uh...no (Score:4, Funny)
I'm so torn (Score:3, Funny)
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Re:Groan (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Groan (Score:2, Funny)
Didn't you watch Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure?