Need some piracy advice....

[ThatGuy]

First of all, dick move.

Secondly, the chances of him being prosecuted or even fined for this are very slim.

Thirdly, even if he IS fined, he won't learn the lesson that you're trying to teach him. He'll just think you're a dick.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

**sigh**

I love how 90% of the people on this thread have either
A) completely missed the point or
B) Chosen to use this thread as a platform for their opinions.

OP: someone above (on page 3) suggested making your friend's next birthday or christmas present a legal copy of Skyrim. That's actually pretty sneaky - particularly if you break the seal so he can't return it.

Otherwise, another person (also on page 3) actually provided you with the link of where to report your friend.

You've got your info. Choose one option.

I personally do not care which you choose. I'm not going to soap box (like so many people have) about my opinions about piracy/copyright law or the value of friendship. No one in this thread knows you or your friend - they don't know your situation. Other than the two posters I mentioned above, ignore them all and make your own decision.

 

[Kattaroten]

I am just upset that people think I enjoy the thought, I really don't but I did'nt think the reaction would be so... Nasty, I used to think the Escapist was a place were fellow posters would understand your point of view. I guess not, thanks for the feedback anyway.

This kinda pisses me off, there were lots of people that I'm very sure understood your point of view, they just, like me, didn't agree with it for a number of reasons. That's a big difference... Anyways! Guys, I think he's left the thread

 

[Yopaz]

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I am sure if you send an email to either the publisher who has recently sued over the name Scrolls or Bethesda legal department you may be in luck. If the legal team shrugs it off. I am sure the publishers will send their legal team on your friend.

Well, in the lawsuit concerning Scrolls the law actually forced them to do a lawsuit so it's not really something that could be avoided unless they wanted to lose their trademark. That does not make them a big angry sue-happy company.

OT: I would advice you to drop the matter. He pirated a game, but it's not like he's hurting anyone in this case. If he pays for the game money goes to the publisher, not the developer. The game has sold well enough to be called a financial success. It's still wrong to pirate it, but getting him in trouble is close to impossible and if you accomplish you have most likely ruined his life. Because you know, going to court against a massive company's legal team will cost you a lot. Do you really want to screw over your friend that much?

 

[Tanakh]

Clearly, actively stealing money from others is comparable to pirating 6 GBs of data. I mean, who couldnt see it? Its pretty much the same thing, right?

At risk of deraling the thred more, mind giving your working definition of "steal"?

 

[Vegosiux]

Oh, they understood his point of view, they just thought he was an asshole for considering turning in someone who was breaking the law.

Depending on your motives and your relationship with the "someone" in question that can be a pretty asshole-ish thing to do sometimes.

 

[Phisi]

Is it just that he doesn't want to pay for it or he can't. It sounds like you are high school or Uni students and I can understand the latter. I think it's better for gamers to be able to play lots of games so they get to experience a variety of different genres and mechanics so they know what they like in future and what is a good buy. That said if you can pay for the games I think you are obliged to. I wouldn't dob him in, I don't see it as that major of a crime. Maybe buy it for him and make him in debt to you.

 

[Yopaz]

I wish that was true, many of my friends have `shit on me' in the past and I forgave them. I very rarely oppose my friends at all, but somthing about this just really got under my skin.

I guess i've been lucky with my friends. 5 of us, quite literally, grew up together. We were all born within a few months of each other and lived on the same street (there was a power cut for a week 9 months earlier, guess what our parents did to entertain themselves). We've been friends for close to 30 years, well we're between 31 and 32 now but obviously we didn't socialise much from the cot.

We've all done and known someone who's done something stupid but with friends we let it slide. Hell, my friends have lied for me and i've lied for them.

I'm just struggling to come to terms with the fact you were willing to do that to a friend.

Normally I take nothing seriously, as some people here know, I rarely make a serious comment but that threw me.

If your friends have shit on you in the past then i'm guessing they aren't very good ones.

I am just upset that people think I enjoy the thought, I really don't but I did'nt think the reaction would be so... Nasty, I used to think the Escapist was a place were fellow posters would understand your point of view. I guess not, thanks for the feedback anyway.

Well you didn't expect a nasty reaction over asking for advice to get your friend in trouble. Now sit back and think about the consequences of getting him in trouble.
He gets sued by a massive company. He has to face a whole team of lawyers. He is going to lose. He will never be able to pay a small fracture of the court proceedings, let alone paying what defendant demands. He will have to file for bankruptcy. He will never be able to get a loan for a house/apartment, future employers are likely to turn him down due to his history.

That is why you get a few nasty replies here. If you were successful in getting him into trouble you would pretty much screw up his entire life. Now I hate piracy as much as anyone else, but is it really worth it? What happened with telling someone they're an ass and move on?

 

[Darknacht]

I am just upset that people think I enjoy the thought, I really don't but I did'nt think the reaction would be so... Nasty, I used to think the Escapist was a place were fellow posters would understand your point of view. I guess not, thanks for the feedback anyway.

The escapist is fairly well populated by pirates that don't like people making them feel bad about what they do, how was the reaction not expected? Also, your not being an ass he is, report him.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Ya know, I can understand distaste of his position, but you'd really do that to a friend of yours?

As if you wouldn't. "I don't want to pay for it, so i just took it because I could" is why everyone calls piracy theft. And they'd be right, in this case.

 

[Aeonknight]

I am just upset that people think I enjoy the thought, I really don't but I did'nt think the reaction would be so... Nasty, I used to think the Escapist was a place were fellow posters would understand your point of view. I guess not, thanks for the feedback anyway.

The escapist is fairly well populated by pirates that don't like people making them feel bad about what they do, how was the reaction not expected? Also, your not being an ass he is, report him.

It's funny how many people are calling him a terrible person. What makes this so terrible? That a pirate is getting what he deserves? That the consequences for his actions finally have a little weight behind them? Sounds like a good start to me.

 

[Durgiun]

For all of you "Wow, you're so horrible for ever snitching on your friend!", I have one question:

Say your friend murdered someone, and has no remorse for their act. They even plan to do it again. Would you still refuse to tell anyone?

Did you just compare internet piracy to murder?

Actually, no, I didn't. Just seeing how far people will take this whole "Never tell on your friends" idea.

Well, if one of my friends killed a serial rapist or something I'd keep it secret, but also throw them a small party for being awesome.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Bethesda are already sitting on a mountain of cash. Chill the fuck out and don't be snitchin'.

Ah yes, the old "the people who do the work that I should be paying to access have PLENTY OF MONEY, SO IT'S FINE THEN" argument. Otherwise known as "why no one takes jimquisition seriously anymore".


So it'd be totally ok to just flat out take money from people who've got plenty of money right? Because hey, they've got lots of money to begin with.

 

[ResonanceSD]

I am just upset that people think I enjoy the thought, I really don't but I did'nt think the reaction would be so... Nasty, I used to think the Escapist was a place were fellow posters would understand your point of view. I guess not, thanks for the feedback anyway.

The escapist is fairly well populated by pirates that don't like people making them feel bad about what they do, how was the reaction not expected? Also, your not being an ass he is, report him.

It's funny how many people are calling him a terrible person. What makes this so terrible? That a pirate is getting what he deserves? That the consequences for his actions finally have a little weight behind them? Sounds like a good start to me.

Fantastic start, but yes, IP law needs a rewrite. You either bust everyone for the little things first, or be prepared to let the big things slide.