On Wednesday 26 November 2003 14:21, Clinton Goveas wrote:
Sometimes these guys have to work under very tight budgets, and yet deliver the world to their companies. It is unfair to pin the blame of using pirated software on them. Any manager would love to have a clear conscience and use software legally. Actually when the company fixes a very tight budget, it (the company/business) is giving the manager a strong cue to use pirated software.
Since when did obeying the law become an option? Both managers and owners are equally responsible. A quick back of the envelope costing which includes the cost of a criminal case (remember wintech computers and Oracle (afaik)) would be totally convincing. The problem is that most it managers and sys admins are clueless outside the M$ environment.
For now, I believe "whistle-blowing" (NASSCOM) is the only practical way to get businesses to switch to FS in the immediate to near future. You'd be surprised how they would flock to FS when the cost of commercial software starts to bite! ;)
Should that be part of the FSF agenda ;-). Ensuring respect of intellectual property. Cueing in your friendly neighbourhood cop on software IP laws and the "devastating" effect of piracy on the poor ol economy might be a good idea. The police would love to help (I presume) since there may be something in it for them too.