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I found this story very funny and maybe the RIAA and the MPAA could learn a thing or two from a 29 year old Los Angeles developer. Trey Harrison had been developing a PC application called Salvation for the last seven years. He had just completed it and actually had just gotten his first couple of customers. He then discovered his application that he had worked so hard on had been cracked and a pirated version was online available for download.
Instead of taking the RIAA or MPAA approach of hiring 400 lawyers and suing everyone that they can get a name and address on, Trey decided to just send the hackers an email. That’s right, he found an email address in the NFO and sent them an email asking them nicely not to do this again. And guess what? The pirates responded by apologizing and promised him they would not pirate his application.
I think this story would serve everyone working at the RIAA and MPAA to remember that old saying, “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
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This is a very interesting and positive post. Thanks Cord.
I tend to operate on the saying:
However, this shows how strong the olive branch can be.
Its a fairly well known fact across the underground that if asked, a cracker or group will not only let you know how they breached your software, but ways of improving the protection.
It is a little circulated fact (the media likes to ignore this so they can spin things the way they want) but most people who pirate and distribute software, music and movies are not doing it to be malicious or hurt anyone, but rather for the challenge involved. Asking them nicely to stop pirating your product would usually work - as there are plenty more challenges out there
Jeremy - Absolutely…
Invalid - I think you bring up a good point that it involves the challenge and not the pirated software. Thanks for the comments.