Dashiell Ponce de Leon sentenced to 4 years in prison, $1,000,000 fine.

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Originally Posted by jasonsplace

You never mentioned corporate piracy but really there are 2 types of people that use software at least like Flash....those who are learning it and those who make money off of it. Those who make money (except a few freelancers) don't usually pirate the software leaving you with those learning it...I took a Flash class in college and the teacher told us to buy Flash MX...I already had Flash 5 so I used it for a while but then decided to upgrade. They had like 5 copies on the shelf and the person in the bookstore said they hadn't sold that program in a very long time. Now, all of the other students in the class had Flash but they didn't buy the academic version...i'm guessing that they didn't run to CompUSA and by the Full version either...they had there room mate download it for them or they did it themself. It's sad but true that most students don't just have a couple hundred extra dollars laying around and so they cut corners where they can...Whether it's for a good skill or not...it's just not reasonable.

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Careful... you're stating your position as fact without qualifying your statements. Please back your position with verifiable facts, or at least qualify by saying that you don't necessarily know what you're talking about.

Lots of people use Flash, and I would imagine many of those people are neither students nor development pros. There's plently of people who do things simply because they are interested. If I were a betting man, my money would be on those people making up a large percentage of the piracy and the purchase of pirated copies of the software.

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Originally Posted by JayCharles

There's plently of people who do things simply because they are interested. If I were a betting man, my money would be on those people making up a large percentage of the piracy and the purchase of pirated copies of the software.

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That may be true...I just haven't met anyone yet who just played around with Flash because they were interested...unless they were learning it. Anyway...my mind is shot...I need to sleep and i'm going to bed....my final though...piracy is bad...don't do it. If you can't afford it, use freeware...sometimes it's better than the pay software.

I was on the way of reading the whole thread, when I got bored on one of your post (I forgot whose), and reminded of this phrase by one of my friend.

Take note that I'm from a country where piracy is imminent and the government seems not to bothered to take care of things.

I'm not saying that I support piracy too btw.

"Microsoft won't be as big as they are now if it wasn't because of piracy".

Which is kinda true here. No one will know "windows" if no one is using it.
No one will use it with their price tag, converted to local currency.

And I believe in some way they allowed piracy to happened at some point before when it is not 'dangerous' to their existence. maybe... :)

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Originally Posted by luvenny

Which is kinda true here. No one will know "windows" if no one is using it.
No one will use it with their price tag, converted to local currency.

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People know about windows because you have to have windows on your computer if you use a PC (unless you use linux, and most don't), not because people have pirated the software. You might be able to make that case for music but not for Microsoft.

I love the excuses for why people pirate. Because software is too expensive?
People pirate because they don't feel like paying for it, plain and simple. Those same people might steal a pack of gum from a store, because it's too expensive? No, because they can.

Y'know, when he comes back out and if he's still real good like he is now, you're all gonna be kissing his ass again. Plus, you cant be telling me you havent pirated stuff before. I'd be surprised if even one person here hasnt used pirated stuff. Personally, I think the sentence is harsh.

Also...I was wondering...maybe the mods should stop pruning the Cool Sites forum. He'll be needing to go through all those threads when he comes back :D

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Originally Posted by Visionray

People know about windows because you have to have windows on your computer if you use a PC (unless you use linux, and most don't), not because people have pirated the software. You might be able to make that case for music but not for Microsoft.

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taraaa, exactly, that's my point! :)

people have windows on their computer. how? back to square one.

not proud or anything, but all the 'legal' stores have loaded their PCs (to sell) with warez, that's how windows got famous here...

i don't think they know what linux is. hrmmmm.

The justice system is a mess to begin with
There should be levels for each crime committed.
Murders should be with murders
Theives with...
etc etc etc
Child rapers go right to the chair.

The law knew he was dealing in hot goods, and they let him build his own case by watching him get away with it till they can convict on a harsher charge.

They do it all the time, they put feds in with mob guys, and just collect illegal actions till they have furfilled their needs. But the crimes still go on?

They watch the crimes and taxpayers expense.

With that said, the crime is of substance and should carry some jail time.
Min security - and no more than 2 years. And his talent should be used while in there.
Maybe teaching design and development to inmates, or even guards.

But, on another issue - what about Paypal? Didn't they get their % off the $192,000 - that's a nice piece of change and I alway thought a fence should be responsible for their actions and profit.

Just some thoughts

D.

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Originally Posted by zakp0

Plus, you cant be telling me you havent pirated stuff before. I pirate software and since I'm a criminal I naturally think everyone else is a criminal too. Personally, I think the sentence is harsh. Hopefully they will go easier on me when I get caught.

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bottom line is..if they want to reduce the piracy...they should make it more affordable...

as all of you have stated..they have the right to charge what they want (noone said different)...but by making the software affordable..they can reduce the about of "stolenware"

slightly off-topic (this is UK but no doubt US is experiencing similar problems):

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Home Office proposals to release prisoners early in order to ease record prison overcrowding were today welcomed by prison reformers.

Last night, it emerged that Home Office officials were considering several options - including an extension to tagging - in an attempt to solve the problem.

It is understood the proposals could mean that criminals sentenced to four years may be released after 18 months, while a two-year sentence would mean only six months being served.

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Linky

Here they were talking about releasing these prisoners (theft, buglary, etc.) would have electronic tags attached.

So it costs money to put a prisoner into the prison, and costs even more to bring them out with tags added, right? Does this not mean more work for the police?

oh why cant everyone be good?

tony what makes you think an "ankle monitor" (or electronic tag) is more expensive than prison? I would tend to disagree with that statement.

An electronic gadget that is returned after a period of time to be used on another "convict"... vs. rent, 3 meals a day, TV, heat, man hours to watch them, doctors on staff..etc..etc.. they "we" pay for in prison...

whispers, I never said that tags were cheaper or more expensive than prison. I meant the cost of the whole process (put person A into prison + release person + add tag to that person = total cost)

Do prisoners who get released not register with their parole officer anyway?

If yoru talking about the tags AFTER prison...I guess it would depend on how much "early release" prisoner "A" got to offset the cost of ankle monitor.

Yes..you have to report to your PO usually with-in a couple days.....which also costs us money..you have to PAY to be on supervision.....pay the PO's...etc..etc..

Not sure about anywhere else...but US needs to take a hard look at the "checks/balances/deterants" put in place for nbon-violent crimes (IMHO)

whispers, agreed. :thumbsup:

Iv got two things to say..

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Originally Posted by jasonsplace

That may be true...I just haven't met anyone yet who just played around with Flash because they were interested...unless they were learning it. Anyway...my mind is shot...I need to sleep and i'm going to bed....my final though...piracy is bad...don't do it. If you can't afford it, use freeware...sometimes it's better than the pay software.

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i got teh free trial of flash because i was interested in it, not because i wanted to be a developer oranything like that, i just wanted my geocities site to be flashy! after my trial was up i got the student edition of MX. jesus does'nt like people who assume other people are sinfull.

next up is zak practicaly telling everyone hee pirates stuff.. is flashlevel your dad? is that how hes able to buy you everything you want?!


AND another thing, instead oof ankle tags, after you commit a crime and are sent into prison, you need to have a gps chip surgically implemented into your body, it will allow the police to track your every movement, if a crime happens they can search the list of "taged" criminals to see if any where at the spot of the crime, simply pick em up if they were and kill them.

I agree with you Silver. Zak should be banned. *goes off to tell*

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Originally Posted by tonytryout

depends on the thieves, e.g.

1. A man who steals $1 million worth of software from a shop where he threatened the staff with a shotgun.

2. A man who steals $1 million worth of software from internet, P2P or whatever.

3. A man who sells drugs to some kids and fully knowingly that taking them may lead to death.

If there is only room for two people in our already overcrowded prisons I would rather send (3) and (1) to prison before considering (2).

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I agree with that scenario. I can think up scenarios that would justify killing kids... what was your point?

by the way stealing a million dollars of software takes revenue from those companies that pay their employees who use that pay to feed their family, just so you don't think that stealing a million dollars of software is a victimless crime.

I'd rather have someone try to sell my kids drugs then steal their food or kick us out of our house.

Many of you seem to be glorifying this person's plight by mentioning how expensive software is and that many people can't afford it, that they need it to pump up a resume, etc... ad nauseum...

Some of you are forgetting that he was pirating the software himself AND then selling it. The actions of the persons purchasing this software from him are not on trial here, his actions are.

In one of the articles it was mentioned that he sold "MS Windows 2K Datacenter (retail value $26,000.00)".......... What student needs that product for practice and to pretty up his resume? Who here just happens to be setting up a home datacenter?

As I said, his actions are indefensible. In fact, the actions taken against him are based on a plea deal, not a jury conviction. He'd have probably received worse had he been convicted at trial.

This is so retarded. He goes to jail, he was a good designer, GET OVER IT!!