Just an idea

Robbie Comeau

Robbie Comeau

Como's back. back again
I may be out of times, but I may have come up with an idea to stop/control illegal downloading of programs like AE, Final cut, etc. etc.

Lets use After Effects.

And lets use a made up website that offers free serial numbers (www.freeserials.com)

Alright, so why doesn't Adobe just pay the website X amount per month for the website to add a price to their serials.

So lets say Adobe gives freeserials.com 5k a month, and all the website has to do is put up a price for their serials. This way, people are forced to buy the serials, which then of course freeserials.com would give to Adobe. So even though the website is making money from Adobe, and even though Adobe is losing money from the illegal download, they are still able to get a %, and it's better than nothing.

But then again, this could already be happening, so anyone inform me! I'm guessing this goes with music to.

Thanks,

Robbie
 
And for Final Cut, which is owned by Apple, I'm not sure they really care much about catching pirates, because you still need a Mac to run the software, so they make money either way.
 
Hey Gord, if you haven't already seen it, go get a copy of "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. I think you'll find it very interesting.
 
Robbie, the part that I think I'm missing is, how do they 'force' thieves to come to the site and purchase the discounted serial numbers? If a given person has an illicit copy of whatever, what's in it for them to go and pay to register, since the theft is pretty good evidence that paying for the product is exactly what they are avoiding...
 
But there are free programs that they can learn on. GIMP and Blender are good examples of that.

I'll fess up: I started editing video back in 2004 when a friend got me a copy of Adobe Premiere 7. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't be where I am now (not saying that's anywhere, but I wouldn't be doing this for a living, which I am).

Have I paid for software since then? Yep. I have a fully licensed version of FCS. Not because I can't download it, but because I CAN pay for it.

Was using it illegally wrong? Absolutely. I am no saint.
 
Gord.T said:
I just bought a wacom tablet had I got a free edition of Photoshop something or other and other free software.
Click to expand...

It's not a new concept. Bundle free limited-version software with the hardware so that new users train up with it and - if and when they want to exploit the utiities of the full version - there's your entry-level purchasers.

Without offering ethical judgment one way or the other it's true that quite a few of today's professional license holders were once furtive sneaky stinking cheese-eating ratboy warez jockeys.
 
4100xpb said:
Hey Gord, if you haven't already seen it, go get a copy of "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. I think you'll find it very interesting.
Click to expand...

Actually I've been meaning to do that for some time. I keep getting side tracked. Will take your note and get on it. Consider it done. Thanks man.
 
Sad Max said:
It's not a new concept. Bundle free limited-version software with the hardware so that new users train up with it and - if and when they want to exploit the utilities of the full version - there's your entry-level purchasers.

...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think that's a great idea. I know several companies have free 30 day trial versions but I think Photoshop's limited unexpiring version idea is better. I mean, you at least want to allow people to show/produce something without a stinking watermark all over it.
Even if they are beginners, let them have some dignity.

I think it's a good counter blow to pirating, Imo. I'm all for it. I hope other companies follow suit. It's a great corporate standard to follow imo.
 
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In fact if someone shows me sufficiently impressive work I don't really care if there's a watermark on it. If I'm hiring.
 
That is true in general Max, but you know, most beginners will be posting to friends and such and maybe the odd site post. You know, just testing feedback. I'm talking (early teens or teens?) school kids here.

And, while we're here Max, I'll tell you, we have local contests here with, get this, 9 year olds sketching. You would NOT believe the talent these kids have. Just jaw dropping, I swear to god. More like talented teens. And by that I mean pretty impressive by any standards otherwise. :)

I digress however. :)
 
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