All the latest UK technology news, reviews and analysis
|
|
|
06 Apr 2010
A third of UK citizens believe that it is acceptable to use pirated software at home or at work, according to a new survey conducted by Microsoft.
The poll of 1,000 people showed that pirated software is nearly as popular in the workplace as it is at home. Microsoft said that the trend is alarming because chunks of its revenue are lost each year to pirated software.
One in eight employed adults surveyed admitted using pirated software at work, aligning with the fact that 57 per cent of respondents believed that their boss would consider the practice acceptable.
Microsoft was keen to point out the risks of using illegal software, claiming that it has led to the introduction of a computer virus in 62 per cent of cases, a loss of personal data in 31 per cent of cases and a system crash in 38 per cent of cases.
"Computers are now central to the way in which we interact, work and consume media, and we need to make sure our awareness and understanding of the dangers of downloading pirated products improves too," said Michala Wardell, head of anti-piracy at Microsoft UK.
The company has timed the launch of its research to coincide with the debate on the Digital Economy Bill.
If the proposed legislation is passed by parliament as it stands, persistent illegal downloaders and file sharers will be punished by being disconnected from the internet.
However, the Bill has met with widespread protests, and the piracy clauses may not be passed as MPs have little time to debate a number of bills before parliament is dissolved.
Latest stories from Law
Related videos
Related articles
Related jobs
Poll
Are you confident that the UK's IT infrastructure is secure from attack in the wake of the Flame malware revelations?
Orange and Intel talk us through the ins and outs of their San Diego smartphone
Connect with V3.co.uk
The wrong printers, for the wrong tasks on the wrong contracts
Who leads the BI pack and who should we be watching out for?
2nd & 3rd Line CRM Support Analyst / MS CRM Systsems...
Digital Insight Manager, Hertfordshire, £28,000. An...
Enterprise / Solutions Architect. Salary £60,000 - £90...
Business Intelligence Developer - Leeds. Salary £35,000...
Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies. IThound.com brings you over 2,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.
Do you agree?
Pirated software
Software companies, like pharmaceutical companies, keep extortionate prices for their goods far longer than is strictly necessary to repay research costs. If they stopped ripping off their customers, they might find some sympathy from them and cut the piracy purchases. They will never stop piracy completely, since there will always be a 'get it for nothing' brigade.
Posted by: David Waterson 09 Apr 2010
I pay for my software if I could afford it
First of all, I would like to know how did MS come up with those figures? Sound to me to be as fantastical as the embarrassing "research" paid by music industry of how many people are involved in illegal downloading - widely repeated (no names mentioned) by pro "strike off the net" MP. If there is a software I need I am happy to pay - if I can afford it. For example, my university teachers are too lazy to save documents created in Ms Office 2007 in compatibility mode, so I was forced to upgrade expensive and resource-hogging software I hate to use. Not only because it loads ten times slower than MS Office2000 in my XP (but I cannot afford to upgrade my hardware just to accommodate Office2007) but because it takes me more time to find a function I know where it is in older version, than actually produce a piece of document; there is nothing in the newer version that I need, which doesn't already exist in the old versions, so this upgrade is really a useless upgrade... While in some cases the old version is more efficient, i.e. better, than the newer version, I agree with the previous writer that selling older versions with cut-down price would make sense to the companies: once people learn and get used to using certain software they are more likely to upgrade to newer version - if the new version has any real innovative chances - than go to a competitor and learn a completely new way of working. For example, while I applaud Open Office and in theory would prefer using it, I don't have the inclination of going through the pain of learning the quirks of Simpress etc. It is also the reason I am happy to upgrade to Paint Shop Pro over getting Photoshop elements. (For get the full version, who but a professional claiming back part of it as tax relief could afford it!) Once a business decides on a program for their use, it requires a major hurdle to change loyalties and it is easier just to upgrade. Therefore software companies choose to ignore pirated versions blatantly used by the businesses in developing countries where their position is not as established as it already is already in developed ones... I'm sure they are aware of the pirated software openly sold in the markets, for about the same price I would pay here for an empty DVD case. I rarely buy new music: I haven't got money to throw away to buy pigs in a sack and hearing a few seconds sample just doesn't give any real idea if I will like a song or not, not to say anything about a whole CD! Hence, while liking music as much as the next person, I have learned to sit in the silence for very long periods indeed. In fact I can go months without hearing music except when buying groceries in supermarket! (Maybe that's why I dislike pup music so much: I associate it with the stress of shopping) In fact I would like to challenge anybody of the music industry to live without music as long periods as I do, maybe they would finally wake up to the idea that they charge too much for music, which can be said to be essential for mental health. The only way I am exposed to new music I like - because I rarely any chart music - is streaming pirated music on the net (slow connection and bandwidth limit allowing). If I like the music and the artist I might buy the song. I rarely buy a CD, simply because music shops don't usually sell what I want and ordering one, say from Japan, will come with high import tax... My only choice would is to download illegal music or sit in the silence, which I do a lot because I only use torrents for downloading legal software. (I suppose RIAA et al claim that the songs I ripped from my own CDs for backups and convenience are also breaking the law. Tough, I'm not going to pay for the same songs twice, and for inferior quality. Neither will I ever carry around a bulky portable CD player inherently suffering from all those jumps and silences cause by the slightest movements! They can sue me if they like, but they can't stop me transferring my ripped music onto my mp3 player. As always, those that want to break the law will find a way of doing so, while the law-abiding citizens are the ones suffering from the draconian acts of music and film industry - that has obviously bought the government - and DRM measures (including software companies). In fact, I sense the anger towards film and music industry?s successful lobbying has angered the majority of the nation and actually made more people consider piracy acceptable. There will always be some mindless sheep willing to repeat the associations? slogans, of course.
Posted by: claptrap 09 Apr 2010
My posts are not displayed
But why - I cannot see word limit or cut off date and I don't have a habbit of using bad language. Yet I get a message of a successful posting... Am I missing something here?
Posted by: claptrap 09 Apr 2010
Pirated software
Perhaps if the UK consumer was not charged 'rip off' prices but prices comparable with those found in the USA then less piracy would occur? We pay roughly twice the going rate for software but if we buy in the USA we are not allowed to register it here because we have to be ripped off to be legal!
Posted by: Caldecott 08 Apr 2010
I would not want to pirate
I would not want to pirate, but Microsoft are even more dishonest than people who do pirate. I have several copies of Windows XP Pro and Home that I bought. I have always maintained my computers and upgraded them, but the system that Microsoft runs prevents me from activating these, even though they are house in the same case with a more up to date Motherboard, Ram and CPU. They just do not want to believe that I am activating a copy per machine as agreed and even when I have activated these without re registering, which I was advised to do, Microsoft hacks my computer than tells me I am running illegal software. So I have registered them with the same details as the original install and out of seven or eight copies I have only managed to get two accepted. Similarly with buying surplus to requirements software from companies that have moved to newer versions and want to sell the surplus unused licences Microsoft has hacked in and sabotaged them. I have never been able to talk to anyone from Microsoft about these issues as every phone attempt ends up with a robot. If I could learn code writing for UBUNTU or MINT or any other LINUX program I would dump Microsoft in an instant. Sadly the geeks at these distributions are only interested in showing off to each other and are not making a serious attempt to make these free standing like Windows is. That is the only advantage Windows has. I do not want LINUX to be another version of Windows; I want Linux to surpass Windows in every respect offering free or more friendly priced programs than Microsoft offers.
Posted by: Stephen Mark 08 Apr 2010
Why not try some open source applications?
While not everyone is up for replacing Windows with Linux, there are some reasonably good open-source applications that run on Windows and provide much the same user experience--without feeling the guilt of pirated programs. Open-Office provides probably 95% of MS Office features--far more than the average person needs, and the GIMP has a few tricks that Photoshop can't do. Evolution is a pretty good replacement for Outlook, and the list goes on.
Posted by: Wayne 08 Apr 2010
The end of the internet as we know it.
It looks like the digital economy bill will get through in the next few days without proper consideration. It will give the government powers to block any web site they choose, and to spy on internet users. If you think it is only countries like China that want to hide things from the people then think again. They are doing this to protect the entertainers. A minority that get very rich while the majority work for a pittance all their lives only to find their saving devalued by inflation and poor interest rates.
Posted by: Allan 07 Apr 2010
No Wonder
Whilst pirated software, music and movies is wrong, i do fear that if it is all outlawed the internet will have been destroyed with companies now beginning to charge to read their news and if this bill gets passed, what more will the internet be? Most people download warez because they simply can`t afford some of the programs, i have this last 12months brought a number of legal downloaded programs because i could afford them around the £20 mark, however i couldnt afford £4,000 for a piece of video editting software or £500 for a paint program that i would only probably use once or twice. How can companies justify some of the price tags? i know it`s time consuming to write and develop a program but most programs released are old programs with a bit more added to it, so why the big price tag, surely if it was more affordable people would buy the program and hence less piracy in software. And as for music i own over 20,000 cd`s brought since the early 80`s, a few have rotted, a few are damaged so it would be nice if record companies included a code on the cover so that i could replace the damaged cd with a legal download, and record companies in my opion are partly to be blamed they kept releasing a new compilation which was the same as the last one they released except 2-3 new tracks , also people got fed up of buying a cd £14 only to find 2 good tracks and the rest wasnt worth listening to and people do download those charted songs that have never appeared on any cd if thats the only way they can get that song they will do....record companies have shot themselves in the foot, also the movie industry despite constantly reading what great years the cinema is having etc, they keep releasing really bad movies and with tickets costing £7+ a night out at the movies for a family of 4 can easily cost £50 with the tickets, transport, parking, sweets etc etc..no wonder downloads happen.
Posted by: Cal 07 Apr 2010
Pirates tend to buy more
I Pirate games but I also buy far more. It's a was of sorting what is worth buying and what is not. If I didnt pirate games I would not play as many games and it would not be as big of a hobby therefore I would not buy so many games. I have bought over 60 games in the last year and pirated around 30. The same goes for the music business, a recent study showed that people who download music illegally spend more. It's like free advertisment. If the person did not pirate the game or music then they may not be able to afford it normally and would not be able to talk to their peirs about it either.
Posted by: John 07 Apr 2010
Older versions free
Some older versions of products are provided free (unsupported) by the vendor. Why don't more do this? Having used a poduct many may then pay for the newer upgraded version.
Posted by: Jon 07 Apr 2010
Pirated software is fine, say one in three Brits
pirated software , film and music are all thriving business which now cannot be stopped . Its too late. Threats and intimodation from the performing rights thugs aiming to tax people listening to the radio at work is wrong . Media should not be taxed for ever . pop and film stars generate fantastic wealth from the first showing of their material , which should be enough.
Posted by: greentea02 06 Apr 2010
IPirated Software
I have actually bought Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, it cost me £73... I know of many people running XP and Windows 7 in cracked variations. My only thought on this is: If that price was actually in the realms of affordability for the many who risk cracked versions, then you wouldn't have the widespread use of cracked versions, if it can be "given away" to students etc for half the price, or less, that I paid, then why can't it be sold for the same price to all ordinary people (who are the base client anyway), especially in the current economic crunch? A win win situation for Microsoft if its priced that way, volume sales go up, so does its profits. If it works for Tesco, Netto and Aldi, then I'm sure as hell it would work for Microsoft, in the same vernacular.
Posted by: tssk 06 Apr 2010
Interesting figures but I have always been convinced....
"claiming that it has led to the introduction of a computer virus in 62 per cent of cases, a loss of personal data in 31 per cent of cases and a system crash in 38 per cent of cases." It would be interesting to see the figures for these percentages on a Microsoft system that has no illegal software. I wonder what difference would be shown. Also not that I advocate illegal software but I have always been convinced that companies let it slide as it is a great way of distributing and training people on your software. Then once you are in a position to be earning a lot of money from it you would be a fool to not purchase this software.
Posted by: Anon 06 Apr 2010
Don't risk gross misconduct
What many employees don't realise is that by downloading illegal software not only are they putting their employers at risk of penalty but also themselves of gross misconduct. This is exacerbated as more businesses encourage flexible working and start to provide laptops to their employees, which in no doubt further blur the lines between the business and leisure usage of devices. The majority of organisations have now realised the risks associated with pirate software, and many have already included acceptable device usage policy into handbooks. However, the communication of this throughout the business is often poor, leaving employees unaware of the consequence of their actions. For this reason it is important to have the mechanisms in place to monitor the installation of software on the company network and enable companies to pre-warn employees when they are at risk of violating company policy.
Posted by: Matt Fisher, FrontRange Solutions 06 Apr 2010
Pirated software
Have no sympathy whatsoever for Microsoft. The introduction of so-called new operating systems every couple of years is nothing but a monopolistic racket. I am fed up of being told that the latest is the best thing since slice bread only to be told in a year or so that it is now no good and you now need something else. The New OS's are not by any means cheap and it would help if they were issued with at least 3 licences at no extra cost to the family.
Posted by: Charles Heaven 06 Apr 2010