How serious is product piracy in your country?

[Incal]

Here is nothing serious at all, totally normal. Since I have memory every product I've ever had was a pirate copy, I don't remember having any original videotape as a kid. Same with music, I only bought an original Oasis CD for Christmas with money my mom gave me, the rest of my audio collection was all pirated. Even today, there are whole markets here where they sell fake shoes, clothes, DVDs, Blue rays... you name it. Once in a while, the police organizes some "operation" to seize some fake goods but it's mostly a show. Normally no one will get in trouble for selling or buying fake stuff. As a matter of fact there's people who have become rich doing that.

Regarding Internet it's the same. I heard the story of some dude who traveled to Germany, downloaded a couple fo torrents and next day the police was knocking on his door lol that would never happen here. Nobody ever has gotten into trouble for downloading anything.

How is it where you live?

[Victor]

I used to have all downloaded or cracked until like 2012, then started to buy games and software (except for Windows), I had subscriptions, but few years ago I returned to piracy because it's not ok to pay for something already produced thing which may be copied endless times without any spendings by its author. Ethically and pragmatically I'm pro piracy. If I would like to support someone I would make a donation.

Torrent sites are blocked here but you can have access to them via VPN, downloading something counterfeit by Torrent is not a crime here.

Lots of people have subscriptions to Russian analogs of Netflix tho, just like Music services similar to Apple Music and Spotify, i had them, too, quit buying it long ago.

DVDs.. I didn't see those discs being sold here for ages, it sounds so archaic, majority watches movies via online services or downloads them from Torrent trackers to USB to watch on TV.

[Incal]

Torrent sites are blocked here but you can have access to them via VPN, downloading something counterfeit by Torrent is not a crime here.


I almost cried when RARBG was shut down a couple of days ago...

Download torrents here is so normal that I don't even know if it's considered a crime or not lol

[Victor]

I almost cried when RARBG was shut down a couple of days ago...

Download torrents here is so normal that I don't even know if it's considered a crime or not lol

As for Windows, I don't use pirated cracked versions, I buy Enterprise keys for few Euros, but for personal usage I'm on Fedora Linux, I need Windows only for job.

[Victor]

I almost cried when RARBG was shut down a couple of days ago...

https://rutracker.org/

[Incal]

https://rutracker.org/

I love you man. Almost all the pr0n I download is from russian sites but I was afraid other kind of movies would be dubbed to russian (I don't care if the girls moan in english or russian xD

[KirillMazur]

I used to have all downloaded or cracked until like 2012, then started to buy games and software (except for Windows), I had subscriptions, but few years ago I returned to piracy because it's not ok to pay for something already produced thing which may be copied endless times without any spendings by its author. Ethically and pragmatically I'm pro piracy. If I would like to support someone I would make a donation.
Same here, except I haven't played games for 10+ years and 95% of the software I need for work is either open source or has free analogues. Windows (if it needed at all) is traditionally pirated here:). These 5% of irreplaceable proprietary software are usually programs for unlocking the bootloader of smartphones or routers (it's my fetish to be untied from a vendor).
The son is already entering the age of exploring the PC, and the question of games can't be avoided soon.

There is no more piracy, there is the concept of "trophy".:)

Now that technology and software has become a field of political confrontation, I believe that legally purchased industrial machines, medical equipment, cars, etc. should also be hacked and cut off from communication with the "home server" until our own counterparts appear.

[Victor]

Same here, except I haven't played games for 10+ years and 95% of the software I need for work is either open source or has free analogues. Windows (if it needed at all) is traditionally pirated here:). These 5% of irreplaceable proprietary software are usually programs for unlocking the bootloader of smartphones or routers (it's my fetish to be untied from a vendor).
The son is already entering the age of exploring the PC, and the question of games can't be avoided soon.

There is no more piracy, there is the concept of "trophy".:)

Now that technology and software has become a field of political confrontation, I believe that legally purchased industrial machines, medical equipment, cars, etc. should also be hacked and cut off from communication with the "home server" until our own counterparts appear.

I don't play games regularly since like 2016, rarely I play emulator games with gamepad, I deleted my Steam account with like 30 games I had since 2010.

As for Linux, I'm looking forward switching to Russian Alt Linux :)

[KirillMazur]

I don't play games regularly since like 2016, rarely I play emulator games with gamepad, I deleted my Steam account with like 30 games I had since 2010.

As for Linux, I'm looking forward switching to Russian Alt Linux :)
I have a Steam account and it contains 10-12 honestly bought games, the last one is Fallout New Vegas:).
As for Alt Linux, I've been wanting to try it in a virtual machine for a long time, but this was not necessary until well-known events.
I'm about to buy a new laptop, and Alt Linux looks like a good candidate. At least it has a lot of software packaged in it, but the package manager is a strange hybrid of deb and rpm;).

[Blondie]

Regarding Internet it's the same. I heard the story of some dude who traveled to Germany, downloaded a couple fo torrents and next day the police was knocking on his door lol that would never happen here. Nobody ever has gotten into trouble for downloading anything.

Same in Hungary, almost everyone is a pirate :cool:

[Incal]

Same here, except I haven't played games for 10+ years and 95% of the software I need for work is either open source or has free analogues. Windows (if it needed at all) is traditionally pirated here:). These 5% of irreplaceable proprietary software are usually programs for unlocking the bootloader of smartphones or routers (it's my fetish to be untied from a vendor).

Ahhhhh I forgot about software. Yeah, nobody has real Windows here, it's all pirated. The only exception are big companies and such but the average person got not a single original software program. We have lots of markets about that too.

[Östsvensk]

They are pretty harsh on it here.

It has happened that people got fines from the movie companies for torrenting. Traitorous ISPs collaborate with them and hand out customers IP numbers to them. That's why you are strongly adviced to use a VPN when you torrent. There is one ISP, Bahnhof, that specialises in privacy and refuses to hand out IPs and information.

And you can forget about selling pirated material openly.

Pirating isn't very common anymore though since streaming services came (Spotify, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, etc).


Same here, except I haven't played games for 10+ years and 95% of the software I need for work is either open source or has free analogues. Windows (if it needed at all) is traditionally pirated here:). These 5% of irreplaceable proprietary software are usually programs for unlocking the bootloader of smartphones or routers (it's my fetish to be untied from a vendor).
The son is already entering the age of exploring the PC, and the question of games can't be avoided soon.

There is no more piracy, there is the concept of "trophy".:)

Now that technology and software has become a field of political confrontation, I believe that legally purchased industrial machines, medical equipment, cars, etc. should also be hacked and cut off from communication with the "home server" until our own counterparts appear.

Nobody pays for Windows voluntarily here. Microsoft blackmails you into buying it by including it with the computer you are about to buy.

[Seya]

They are pretty harsh on it here.

It has happened that people got fines from the movie companies for torrenting. Traitorous ISPs collaborate with them and hand out customers IP numbers to them. That's why you are strongly adviced to use a VPN when you torrent. There is one ISP, Bahnhof, that specialises in privacy and refuses to hand out IPs and information.

And you can forget about selling pirated material openly.

Pirating isn't very common anymore though since streaming services came (Spotify, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, etc).



Nobody pays for Windows voluntarily here. Microsoft blackmails you into buying it by including it with the computer you are about to buy.

All of what you just said it's exactly the same over here.

[Duke]

Nobody pays for Windows voluntarily here. Microsoft blackmails you into buying it by including it with the computer you are about to buy.

You can always go Linux, its even creation of nordic man

[Östsvensk]

You can always go Linux, its even creation of nordic man

Technically, Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel. The Linux (GNU) operating system was created by Richard Stallman.

Including Windows with PCs is how Microsoft came to dominate the computer market. It began when they secured a deal with IBM to bundle computers with MS-DOS. It has been a tradition to bundle PCs with Microsoft's OS ever since.

[Aspirin]

Piracy is quite common, you can download freely anything you want, and nothing will happen to you. But today many local people buy products and are subscribed to many streaming and music services like Netflix and Spotify, same for games, many buy them online.

[Incal]

All of what you just said it's exactly the same over here.

In Romania???????



Piracy is quite common, you can download freely anything you want, and nothing will happen to you. But today many local people buy products and are subscribed to many streaming and music services like Netflix and Spotify, same for games, many buy them online.

That's true. Almost everybody here got Netflix (including myself) and Spotify but then again they are pretty cheap.

[Damião de Góis]

Game piracy decreased a lot with the creation of Steam. As for movies, series i think piracy is still high. As for music i think it decreased a lot too.

[Petalpusher]

Ironically i get tv series and movies from torrent (rip rarbg) for convenience more than anything. Sick of having to deal with a dozen of services and broken smart tv apps on different sets. Much easier to get everything where you can browse easily like a PC then stream around, often you get better quality rips. I'm even subscribed to netflix and few others yet still most of the time just download directly a season or a particular episode. The day i don't have to check what tv show is tied to whichever network maybe i ll change my mind.

Im more onboard with the music services, everything is centralized, and just works conveniently with my Tidal subscription.

I never cared about the legal aspect, i think there is a global tax anyway in France for piracy but probably not where i reside.

[Duke]

Technically, Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel. The Linux (GNU) operating system was created by Richard Stallman.

Including Windows with PCs is how Microsoft came to dominate the computer market. It began when they secured a deal with IBM to bundle computers with MS-DOS. It has been a tradition to bundle PCs with Microsoft's OS ever since.

Yeah i know, I am avid Linux user, I also have Chromebook, and Windows machine.
Also have NomadBSD on a stick.

Only thing missing is iOS :D

[luc2112]

In Brazil, companies with employees and a store that sell computers with Windows and Software pirated are fined.

[luc2112]

Including Windows with PCs is how Microsoft came to dominate the computer market. It began when they secured a deal with IBM to bundle computers with MS-DOS. It has been a tradition to bundle PCs with Microsoft's OS ever since.

For the USA!


OEM computers started to be manufactured in ASIA in the late 1980's and probably used Windows. Another thing that made Windows more used and its office package.

[KirillMazur]

Same in Hungary, almost everyone is a pirate :cool:
If women love "bad guys", then do guys who pirate software have an increased popularity among women in Hungary compared to honest buyers?:)

Nobody pays for Windows voluntarily here. Microsoft blackmails you into buying it by including it with the computer you are about to buy.
In Russia, sales of already assembled PCs and laptops without a pre-installed operating system are also prohibited. But there are a certain number of buyers who do not need Windows / who do not want to pay for it, for such there is FreeDos as a stub, and a number of laptops are certified for Linux and have Ubuntu or smth else pre-installed.

[Jana]

everyone downloads torrents via pirate bay and watches illegal streams of PPV stuff like UFC, boxing or football games

before we'd buy pirate video games for Playstation and PC......I don't know anyone getting penalized. It's pretty risk free as of now

[Östsvensk]

For the USA!


OEM computers started to be manufactured in ASIA in the late 1980's and probably used Windows. Another thing that made Windows more used and its office package.

That Microsoft's operating system was 100% IBM compatible was basically the reason. Many IBM clones went under in the 1980's for failing to reach 100%.


In Russia, sales of already assembled PCs and laptops without a pre-installed operating system are also prohibited. But there are a certain number of buyers who do not need Windows / who do not want to pay for it, for such there is FreeDos as a stub, and a number of laptops are certified for Linux and have Ubuntu or smth else pre-installed.

Wow, I wouldn't imagine that it was prohibited to build a computer.

Basically the only way to buy a PC without Windows is to build your own. If you buy a brand name machine, it will come pre-installed with Windows (unless you buy a Mac or Chromebook).


everyone downloads torrents via pirate bay and watches illegal steams of PPV stuff like UFC, boxing or football games

before we'd buy pirate video games for Playstation and PC......I don't know anyone getting penalized. It's pretty risk free as of now

The late 90's and early 00's was when gaming piracy peaked. Everyone had a modchipped PS1, but the real deal was when you got your hands on a modded Xbox and could put in a larger HDD and transfer the games onto the console from the computer. My friend had one and I think I do not exaggerate when I say that we in our spare time downloaded almost the whole game library. xD Oh, to be young again.

[KirillMazur]

Wow, I wouldn't imagine that it was prohibited to build a computer.

Basically the only way to buy a PC without Windows is to build your own. If you buy a brand name machine, it will come pre-installed with Windows (unless you buy a Mac or Chromebook).
That's right, an already pre-built branded PC, server, laptop, router or smartphone is considered by law to be software and hardware complex and must contain (any) pre-installed operating system.
When assembling from individual components, no one imposes an operating system.

[Östsvensk]

That's right, an already pre-built branded PC, server, laptop, router or smartphone is considered by law to be software and hardware complex and must contain (any) pre-installed operating system.
When assembling from individual components, no one imposes an operating system.

Ah, I think I misunderstood what you said. I thought you meant that it was illegal to sell pre-built configurations (no brand). I mean, at a computer store where you pick out the parts yourself and then either you assemble it yourself or pay for their service to do it. If one buys such a computer, they can exclude a Windows license, and I think that is the only way if you want to run Linux (or pirate Windows) without paying Microsoft a dime.

I don't know if it is illegal to sell brand computers without an OS, but it is practically never done. No, you cannot go into an electronics chain store and buy a PC without Windows.

[Incal]

everyone downloads torrents via pirate bay and watches illegal streams of PPV stuff like UFC, boxing or football games

before we'd buy pirate video games for Playstation and PC......I don't know anyone getting penalized. It's pretty risk free as of now

Damn I forgot about Playstation, those were the wonder years... I basically played every PS game that's ever existed lol we even got pirated games that never reached the US.

[Catnip]

While downloading video games or software is absolutely prohibited, downloading music and movies isn't penalised. Consumers aren't fined, only providers.

My French acquaintance received an email warning for downloading the movie, so perhaps the law is a bit more lenient here.