The piracy isssue has alway been a complicated one. I draw a special line for product vendors that differentiates hobbyist and users (not that i support personal privacy). Keep in mind that Internet connection via Microsoft (and probably others) exposes you to a variety of "auditing" processes you might not be aware of (ever found a file called Reginfo.txt?

I would advise that those who make products or provide service for sale, not pirate the work of others. You certainly don't want your own product to be pirated (the KARMA/Ethical Argument). Perhaps you do what we do, inserting sign posts within the product to help identify un-fair use.

The very real (and large) liability, that exists when a firm allows pirated products to be used within a product development; manufacturing; or product support cycle, is far more severe than the cost of the product itself. It would be a severe vulnerability that you could expose to your competition (the Legal/Civil/Prudence Argument).


regards,
p