[rythie]

Don't make the mistake of assuming that pirating users would pay for something they currently value as zero. Also there is a trial effect where people pirate software like Photoshop at home, learn how to use it and later on get employers to by it for them when they are employed.

[DilipJ]

but they don't value it at zero. if they did they wouldn't pirate it in the first place. pirating takes time (which is valuable) and storage on a hard disk, which has a cost. so any pirater is valuing it on some level. as for the photoshop example, again you are attempting to rationalize a crime. Companies already provide subsidized software for students so that they can gain familiarity with it prior to entering the workforce

[rythie]

Yes it's already a crime and personally I wish people would just use gimp which is free. People behave in a certain way and changes to law won't really change that - given that these activities are already against the law.