Few businesses can operate without using a computer, and computers need software to operate. Does it still make sense to cut corners by using pirated software?
Consider the following figures:
1,962 – the number of raids made by the Philippine Anti-Piracy Team
3.3 million – optical disks seized in the raids
P876 million – estimated street value of optical disks seized
206 – computers seized as of November last year
15 – sacks of pirated CDs of software valued at P14.3 million seized
The team claims its campaign will affect both small and big businesses. I checked with a few big corporations this month and it seems that their IT teams have begun the purges in earnest last year. They can well afford to lose computers and CDs, but damaged reputations will take a lot more time to repair. Small businesses are the ones that can get really hurt if caught.
I didn’t care about piracy before. I loved buying pirated CDs and displayed them as trophies of being “smart.” But having worked with publishing firms lately opens your eyes to the perils of piracy like nothing else can. ☺ Besides, Microsoft and other firms have knocked down their prices and buying licensed software might be better than losing your entire computer, plus paying fines.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
What about open-source? I started a small cafe in the province with 6 w/s using pirated XP. Now, 5 of the 6 are running Ubuntu. I have no complaints from my customer. BTW, I don’t do games in my cafe.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
i don’t know about engineering software, but for graphic artists & 2d designers there are a lot of free software for linux.
sure they’re not as feature-rich as photoshop of illustrator, but they get the job done
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
i want to start i cafe bisnis,i jst want 2 inquire how to apply for open liscensing of 10 units if u have already d CD software of MS XP?
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
yeah, big business can afford softwares especially the license one’s. but your only talking of things like office applications, windows operating systems and the like which you’ve listed the alternatives such as linux.
but how about the softwares that will be used by the small company, especiialy if they are involved in the engineering or technical fields??? many start up companies like those in engineering cannot afford those softwares, for example an “autodesk software, like autocadd (costing around US$3000 or more) and also other softwares they are using….
to my estimates, if i’m planning to start up my own business in engineering consulting….i may have to buy a softwares worth about US$15,000 to $20,000 which translates to about P600,000 to almost P1M…and thats for softwares only…in addition to that of your overhead costs. That’s like saying you cannot start your own business witha small capital. Its like saying that if you only have a hundred thousand for your capital, then you cannot have your start up business because your capital will only go to buying softwares, and you cannot rent a place for your business since almost 90% of your capital is alloted for software expenses. And a major factor why many of our countrymen don’t want to make their own businesses.
yes, microsoft lowers it cost for its windows package so many companies can afford it now, but what about the other softwares they need. still you havethe extravagant cost of those softwares.
so, there will be no more room for small enterpreneurs and those who would want to start up small on their small businesses.
maybe the government should do something about this problem first before making those raids on pirated softwares….they should offer some incentives for those who buys authenticated softwares like maybe some tax breaks because of the cost of buying such an expensive softwares in order for their the businesses to grow until such time they are making money.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 am
oh i forgot ms server on the internet installed out of the box is hacked in 4 hours costs $1000, linux takes 4 months to hack and is free.