Does Linux = a pirate's dream?

[SZF2001]

Not as in pirating software. Of course all the software is free (or otherwise propriety and the people making it are sharing it, or your using Wine to play some pirated games... Why would you do that though?), but I'm talking about other things, like data backups.

For example, let's say I work at a store and we get DVD's in before they hit store shelves. On Windows I'd have to run the risk of pirating software, or actually spending money for a DVD copying program, and then (if in place) get past the DRM (is it a real issue right now?), etc.

Or, on your Linux computer, just install the libdvdcss3 package and install k9copy.

On Linux distro's (as far as I know) all the ports are closed unless you WANT one open, and change it. On Windows you have a higher chance of being "caught" because of default opened ports. You'd be amazed if you install PeerGuardian on Windows and see all the fun companies and colleges pinging you that it blocks out.

There are other examples I thought of earlier today but it's one in the morning and I forgot them. I'm sure there are more though... Anyway, is Linux the pirate's dream?

(Also, let's make sure this topic stays at hand - DO NOT TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ILLEGAL, like pirating sources and the like, or what you've aquired, etc)

[bucky]

Perhaps the late night.....If you google how to rip a movie all you get is various means and freeware and shareware and commercial programs on and for windows. if you download a few free live linux cd's like ubuntu, you can convert songs to ogg or on windows you can convert to mp3 any OS that will not play a commercial dvd in a dvd player that came with the system should take the system back to the dealer and say remove the dvd and replace with cd and if the thing will not play a cd or it is illegal to play one, then take it back and have the cd drive removed and get your money back for both and stop buying cd and dvd..why would any one bother pirateing anything. if you can buy an mp3 player what good is it if you cannot play a song on it thus dowload an mp3 ripper for win or linux. any industry that has issues has created them. if the movie industry has issue with someone buying a dvd and putting a copy on a computer so they can watch it, then why would anyone buy dvd's. The price would suggest they rent and watch it. renting 5 times is cheaper than buying and watching ten times, and who does that anyway? starwars fans? At the price of windows they suggest that anything a linux could do windows can do better and faster, for a price. My computer came with windows as do they all so why would I want to try a free live cd? well it can run from a cd that's why. It's interesting.

WHAT WAS THE QUESTION??????

[SZF2001]

Let's think of a scenario here. Actually two.

Let's say your friend has bought a new movie and you REALLY want it. You ask to borrow it and, without her knowing, rip it onto a DVD for you to keep and watch as you please. Would that be stealing from her, and in a sence, be pirating? It could be a more polite way of pirating - imagine a fifteenth century pirate asking for gold (instead of just taking it), copying it, and giving it back to the other person. Did that person lose or gain anything? Not really. But the pirate managed to gain something from nothing.

Or let's say a place like Hollywood Video or Blockbuster has you on an "inactive list" and tell you you have a free rental as a kind of "lure" to get you to come into the store. You take one free rental, go home and copy it, and then take it back. Perhaps you even say "This movie offended me/bored me, and I want another copy for free for my customer satisfaction". Now you have another movie ripped onto your computer and maybe a disc. Did the store lose anything in this process? They did not lose the disc, BUT they lost profit. Or did they? They took a risk when they gave you a free rental anyway.

There are so many more scenarios... Including other data as well. Just can't think of them right now, maybe tomorrow.

[elija]

Only if the person using it is a criminal. Even then, there are
probably more piracy tools for Windows.

So on reflection no.

[bucky]

well if you were the persons friend you would likely watch it with them, if time did not permit and they loan you there dvd to watch then you already have a copy so why would you want to try to burn a copy. rental fees are reasonable so you can rent if you want to watch it again or go see your friend. windows has lots of software for playing movies and Mac has means of copy to ipod so what does linux have to do with it other than most generally used windows software and freeware has a Mac or linux alternative in most cases
I think the pirate's dream is to own an operating system that requires no pirateing.There are better things to do than waste time attempting to get a free movie. wallmart sells movies for a dollar. redesign the entire system and give it to your friends to make use of the stream of disposable windows mechines that can no longer run the system without pirateing the microware.

[Cabhan]

It is argued by some (and it is undetermined, in the U.S., who is correct) that libdvdcss may be illegal. So there's no free shot there.

Also, there is free copying software for Windows. There are port protectors for Windows (and free ones, I'm sure). None of this is exclusive to Linux.

On to the topic of copying DVDs:

It is legal for me to rent a movie and show it to a friend of mine, thus dampening their desire to rent the same movie. Theoretically, it is legal for him to invite some of his friends over to watch the movie when we do. Theoretically, it would be legal to invite everybody over to watch the movie that I rented. I don't see how this differs from sharing a copy of it.

On TV shows, we can take this a step further. It is legal for me to make a copy of a TV show that I watch (TiVO, DVD burners, VHS burners, etc.). Further, it is legal for me to then give that copy to a friend (imagine a friend asking you to record a show for him). And of course, it is legal to invite friends over to watch a TV show, or even the recorded show.

So again, how is it illegal to put it on the Internet instead?

Interesting questions. I've thought about this topic to myself a fair amount, trying to see how I actually feel about it.

I do disagree about Linux in this case, though.

[carlosponti]

i guess its no surprise the biggest dvd ripping software in popularity is only available natively for windows. dvd shrink. in actuality you are going to find more software available for windows that help circumvent copy protection. linux comes into the picture for those who already use linux and wish to only break protections just to be able to use the music movies etc legally on the media they choose. ie changing music cd's to mp3 for listening on their mp3 player. and since there is no legally supported way of doing this in linux the assumption is made that they are pirating even though that is not entirely the case.

[dalinux_n00bie]

And here is another point. You talk about libdvdcss and other libraries/software for Linux/windows and assume people use them illegally. I personally use all the mentioned type softare because i want all the DVD's that i legally own and payed for on my laptop so i don't have to lug around 30-40 DVD's. Same thing for game copying. I own all the games that i have the ISO's for. I try to protect my originals so they can last a long time.

[flipjargendy]

It seems to me that most people who focus on pirating music or even those who don't want to pay for their music usually aren't the type to spend time figuring out how to use Linux. Also, as it was mentioned there is a ton of free software out there for Windows that you can use for ripping music or DVDs. If you're worried about security you can block the ports on your router or download a free firewall for Windows.

Most of the people I've heard of or known of ripping music have used Windows to do it and they have done so with ease. There is probably more software for ripping music using Windows then there is for Linux. But basically, all of the steps required to pirate using Linux or Windows is the same. Find the software install it and any codecs or libraries necessary and get to work. Just because Linux is free doesn't mean that is the main reason people use it, Linux users normally use Linux because they are sick of Windows and/or like the idea of open source software that works well, is powerful and if they want can modify themselves.

[Roxoff]

Not a smart suggestion. Most of the 'pirates' you talk of are teenagers who rip-off cd's, dvd's and games for their mates from their bedroom. It takes me back to my teenage years when some of my mates had stereo's with two cassette decks on them - this made copying games for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum really easy.

In my experience pirates of this nature aren't even smart enough to step outside of the woolly, cosseted box that Windows provides. If you cant do it without the idiot's wizard, they're really not interested.

Yes, there may be tools around to do a better job of software or music copying on Linux, but you need to be brave enough to install Linux in the first place. If you're copying software or movies or music, then you'll be taking the path of least resistance, that means commodity operating system (i.e. the one that came on the computer when you bought it) and the cooker/ripper software that got downloaded from a torrent site or found through astalavista.