About software piracy

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yesukristus

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Is downloading or buying pirated software sinful- it’s definitely wrong, but is it sinful? And if yes, how sinful?
on a related topic, I wasn’t sure whether the above deed is sinful, but I confessed it anyway. However, after confession I realized that I’m going to continue it anyway, i.e. not truly sorry for downloading pirated software. I read somewhere that confessing a sin without deciding then and there to stop doing it invalidates the confession. I think my above confession just got invalidated. What do you think?
 
It is not theft because you are not taking something away, but it is still a violation of secular law, a secular law that is not against Natural Law. From my point of view a copyright violation is the equivalent on not paying a just wage to a worker and that is even worst than theft.
 
Software piracy is grave matter. If the other two conditions are also met (sufficient reflection & full consent of the will), it is mortal and must be confessed. (Also consider that if you confessed something that was not actually a sin, Father probably would have said something to you along those lines!) And yes, firm purpose of amendment is required to be validly absolved.

Software piracy is theft, plain and simple, and most new software these days easily sells for $50 or more per individual license. It seems a little silly/borderline scrupulous to assign a dollar value to what is or isn’t “grave” by way of theft, but I have read elsewhere (can’t remember link, sorry) that 50 dollars is usually considered serious and that seems a pretty sensible rule of thumb for our times. 50 bucks ain’t chump change for the average, middle class person and is certainly a dent in the income of the people who work so hard to create these programs for our use. And that, of course, is assuming the illegal download/use of just ONE game off the internet. Imagine the harm caused if you also do things like “share” software illegally with others, which they may in turn “share” with their friends, and on it goes.

And the old argument “well, I never would have bought it in the store, so they didn’t really lose anything” is just hogwash, before anyone even thinks of it! The fact is that their product was used/enjoyed without just compensation in direct violation of the law (breaking just laws is a sin in and of itself, and receiving wages for one’s work is not in any way considered unjust by the Catholic Church!) That fact is undiminished by whether you would have bought it if you were living more honestly.

There really isn’t any excuse to pirate software. If you can’t afford it, then you don’t have to use it. There are shareware/freeware options for many practical applications these days (such as anti-virus programs, etc) and games are hardly necessary to one’s existence or of superior importance to the welfare of your immortal soul. Not to be melodramatic, but that is what it comes down to. No software exists that is more important than your soul. God bless you!
 
yesukristus said:
Is downloading or buying pirated software sinful- it’s definitely wrong, but is it sinful? And if yes, how sinful?
on a related topic, I wasn’t sure whether the above deed is sinful, but I confessed it anyway. However, after confession I realized that I’m going to continue it anyway, i.e. not truly sorry for downloading pirated software. I read somewhere that confessing a sin without deciding then and there to stop doing it invalidates the confession. I think my above confession just got invalidated. What do you think?
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You answered your own question there. 😉 I too struggled with this issue but only because I didn’t want to hear the answer.

Buying piracy is definitely wrong because you’re paying someone who steals and encourage the person to continue doing so. Pirating things yourself is also wrong because you’re not paying for a good you’re using, despite feeling “good” about not having supported pirates.

Software seems to be less of a bad thing because it’s intangible but it is still a good like anything else. You obviously want to use it so it has a value, which you didn’t pay its maker.

One thinks that because money isn’t changing hands there’s no real “stealing”, but your use (and in some cases profit) from using this unpaid software is still stealing. I’d suggest either saving up for what you REALLY need or just going with open source / freeware alternatives (Gimp instead of Photoshop or purchasing the cheaper Photoshop Elements for example).

–
As to your confession being invalid: if you commit a sin again it doesn’t invalidate your confession so long as you had the intention to not sin again. Which is why one must pray to break free of the habit of sin.

If you confessed “just in case” without really being sorry about it, then it wasn’t a valid confession to begin. If you confessed something KNOWING you’ll willingly continue to do it again after confession, it wasn’t valid either.

If you confessed feeling bad about what you had done and didn’t realize that you’d do it again until AFTER the confession, then it was **valid **because you weren’t intending to continue doing it at the time. It’s like having forgotten to confess a sin and remembering it later, it’s forgiven if you had the intention to ask for forgiveness though it’s always best to go at a later date to specifically confess those things you had forgotten.

I hope you find in your heart the strength to follow the truth and learn how liberating it is to break free from the vice of pirated software. 👍 “Everyone does it” certainly doesn’t make it right. :rolleyes:
 
This may be a bit too intrusive to ask, but if someone does this again and again and doesn’t feel bad about it or that it was wrong, then what happens? Can they just confess it each time and state they don’t know why they can’t feel bad about it and can’t stop?
 
StrawberryJam said:
This may be a bit too intrusive to ask, but if someone does this again and again and doesn’t feel bad about it or that it was wrong, then what happens? Can they just confess it each time and state they don’t know why they can’t feel bad about it and can’t stop?
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Can’t stop? Since when software downloading is addictive? :confused:
 
StrawberryJam said:
I don’t know if there is a study on it, but can’t it be for someone?
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Actually, I think you’re right Strawberry. Anything can become addictive…whether it’s alcohol, cigarettes or drugs, video games or gambling, people can get to the point where they need something so much. Of course, the outcomes based on what they are addicted to might vary greatly.

In theory, anything which is a habit could become an addiction.

In relation to the OP, I also believe you answered your own question.

God bless.
 
StrawberryJam said:
This may be a bit too intrusive to ask, but if someone does this again and again and doesn’t feel bad about it or that it was wrong, then what happens? Can they just confess it each time and state they don’t know why they can’t feel bad about it and can’t stop?
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There’s a big difference between if this person knows or ignores if what they’re doing is **wrong **(using pirated software in this case).

For one to sin, they need to **consent **with their will, meaning that they know that what they do is wrong. You can’t accidentally commit mortal sins.

In the case of one who is consenting to do evil again and again and doesn’t feel bad about it despite knowing it’s wrong, then they’re committing grave sin and their confession is invalid because they’re not asking for forgiveness. All that person is doing by going to confession is trying to make himself feel better (or silence his ill-informed conscience) that he just needs to do that to make up for his sin so he can continue doing it. That’s not how the sacrament works.

It’s not about feelings but about knowing that you’re doing wrong. Maybe you don’t feel bad because you’re so attached to that sin, but that’s why one goes to confession to begin the process of healing and to get rid of that attachment. So once CAN go to confess about not really feeling it’s wrong but knowing they should stop and seek guidance. Then you have a valid confession because you’re WILLING to stop sinning.
 
Liraco said:
You answered your own question there. 😉 I too struggled with this issue but only because I didn’t want to hear the answer.
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Yup. I struggled against this answer too for a month and ended up deleting 300 songs from my harddrive.
 
Pray4Life said:
Software piracy is grave matter. If the other two conditions are also met (sufficient reflection & full consent of the will), it is mortal and must be confessed. (Also consider that if you confessed something that was not actually a sin, Father probably would have said something to you along those lines!) And yes, firm purpose of amendment is required to be validly absolved.

Software piracy is theft, plain and simple, and most new software these days easily sells for $50 or more per individual license. It seems a little silly/borderline scrupulous to assign a dollar value to what is or isn’t “grave” by way of theft, but I have read elsewhere (can’t remember link, sorry) that 50 dollars is usually considered serious and that seems a pretty sensible rule of thumb for our times. 50 bucks ain’t chump change for the average, middle class person and is certainly a dent in the income of the people who work so hard to create these programs for our use. And that, of course, is assuming the illegal download/use of just ONE game off the internet. Imagine the harm caused if you also do things like “share” software illegally with others, which they may in turn “share” with their friends, and on it goes.

And the old argument “well, I never would have bought it in the store, so they didn’t really lose anything” is just hogwash, before anyone even thinks of it! The fact is that their product was used/enjoyed without just compensation in direct violation of the law (breaking just laws is a sin in and of itself, and receiving wages for one’s work is not in any way considered unjust by the Catholic Church!) That fact is undiminished by whether you would have bought it if you were living more honestly.

There really isn’t any excuse to pirate software. If you can’t afford it, then you don’t have to use it. There are shareware/freeware options for many practical applications these days (such as anti-virus programs, etc) and games are hardly necessary to one’s existence or of superior importance to the welfare of your immortal soul. Not to be melodramatic, but that is what it comes down to. No software exists that is more important than your soul. God bless you!
Click to expand...
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Quoted because it bears repeating. Emphasis added.

I use freeware myself for anti-virus, firewall, and word processing (OpenOffice–does everything MS Word does, but better), and I’m also a fan of shareware (try before you buy).
 
Melissa said:
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Quoted because it bears repeating. Emphasis added.

I use freeware myself for anti-virus, firewall, and word processing (OpenOffice–does everything MS Word does, but better), and I’m also a fan of shareware (try before you buy).
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If I could add upon this - Use open source software. This issue usually becomes moot, since one is encouraged to make modifications to the software and/or distribute it until your heart is content.
 
ComputerGeek25 said:
If I could add upon this - Use open source software. This issue usually becomes moot, since one is encouraged to make modifications to the software and/or distribute it until your heart is content.
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That’s true–if one has the tech. abilities to modify (I don’t). I think OpenOffice is open source, but I like it because it doesn’t turn my files into huge bloated things like MS Word, and it’s free, and works great. However, I have no understanding of the ‘how it works’ aspect, so use it just as downloaded. I forget, there’s a slightly different name for it, there’s also a Mac version.
 
Melissa said:
That’s true–if one has the tech. abilities to modify (I don’t). I think OpenOffice is open source, but I like it because it doesn’t turn my files into huge bloated things like MS Word, and it’s free, and works great. However, I have no understanding of the ‘how it works’ aspect, so use it just as downloaded. I forget, there’s a slightly different name for it, there’s also a Mac version.
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Thanks. I was going to say, with so much good freeware out there why steal? I can’t remember the last time I bought software except for games.

Btw, if morality won’t deter, remember that there are statutory penalties for copyright violation. The penalty for downloading a single song is $125,000. Not sure what it is for software but I’m sure Bill Gates’s lobbyists are as savvy as the RIAA’s.
 
Hello there,
I’m new in this forum . I’m also interested in this issue. I noticed that most of the response are in regards to consumer-type softwares which are pricey, but not really prohibitive in their costs.
Code: 
     What if, like in my field of work,which is high-end 3d animation where the only people who can afford the softwares are either business studios or educational schools, so most of the students or independent animation professionals who are still learning the program and can't afford to buy them , usually resort to downloading cracked versions of the software, not for commercial use but for personal learning at home., with the intention of finding gainful employment with the use of the software. It's a common practice , that it's almost taken for granted, and an unspoken understanding of the situation. 
    
     Each software can costs up to 4000+ USD.  In the country where I came from ,  people never give this much thought , whether it's right or wrong. Justifying it that it's not for commercial use , but for learning purposes only. Even those in the US and fellow professionals have a cracked copy, so they can use it to create their demo reels to find employment later.   I have been struggling with this issue, and I feel the use of this is justified as it is out of necessity, even practicality. I have yet to meet a fellow professional in my field who have a legal copy of the software.  

      Is there an exception to this, especially if you're in a country where it is a common practice? It's almost self-defeating to do otherwise. Please  consider that I have no intention of sinning, but am having a moral dilemma.  Any helpful comment is appreciated.

      God bless.
 
joscat08 said:
Hello there,
I’m new in this forum . I’m also interested in this issue. I noticed that most of the response are in regards to consumer-type softwares which are pricey, but not really prohibitive in their costs.
Code: 
     What if, like in my field of work,which is high-end 3d animation where the only people who can afford the softwares are either business studios or educational schools, so most of the students or independent animation professionals who are still learning the program and can't afford to buy them , usually resort to downloading cracked versions of the software, not for commercial use but for personal learning at home., with the intention of finding gainful employment with the use of the software. It's a common practice , that it's almost taken for granted, and an unspoken understanding of the situation. 
    
     Each software can costs up to 4000+ USD.  In the country where I came from ,  people never give this much thought , whether it's right or wrong. Justifying it that it's not for commercial use , but for learning purposes only. Even those in the US and fellow professionals have a cracked copy, so they can use it to create their demo reels to find employment later.   I have been struggling with this issue, and I feel the use of this is justified as it is out of necessity, even practicality. I have yet to meet a fellow professional in my field who have a legal copy of the software.  

      Is there an exception to this, especially if you're in a country where it is a common practice? It's almost self-defeating to do otherwise. Please  consider that I have no intention of sinning, but am having a moral dilemma.  Any helpful comment is appreciated.

      God bless.
Click to expand...
It can be truly frustrating when everyone around you is getting ahead by immoral means, but 2048 wrongs don’t make a right.

Perhaps you could talk to your school about getting extra time in the lab. Or maybe they even have a license to give out some copies.
 
Hi Spiritbound,

Thanks for your reply. You’re right about many “2048 wrongs don’t make a right”.
But I think in my situation things aren’t as black and white.

I can’t afford to go to animation schools, so I’m trying to learn the software at home, when I was unemployed for a long time,due to the studio which I was working for closed. A friend provided me a copy of the software for the purpose of learning it. Actually, almost everyone I was working with have a copy of the software, because everyone needs to learn this new technology as the type of work we did was being phase-out .

Out of necessity and survival, I didn’t think it was wrong at the time. But have been thinking about this issue recently, now that I’ve recommitted myself to be faithful to our Lord. I’m now employed, and within this industry, using copyrighted material for research, reference and learning purposes still persists and tolerated.

Recently, at work, we were given a movie material that was copied from an unavailable imported DVD , for the purpose of learning the style of animation of one of the characters, which we are also going to be doing. If I watch this movie, will I be sinning, even if I wasn’t the one who copied this movie? How about all the PDF files that is passed around the industry also as reference materials. Is having copies of such also means I’ve stolen them too?:manvspc:

Hopefully, they’ll be somebody in this forum who can enlightened me in these matters. Thanks. God bless.
 
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