AfterDawn: Tech news

Microsoft applauds piracy conviction

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 09 Aug 2007 5:57 User comments (28)

Microsoft applauds piracy conviction Microsoft has applauded today's federal court decision to sentence a man convicted of selling pirated MS software along with faked certificates of authenticity.
The man, Justin Harrison, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for his part in running Sales International, the company which participated in trafficking the certificates and software.

"The sentence recognizes the value of intellectual property and the threat that software piracy presents to the global economy and consumers throughout the world," Microsoft said in a press statement.

Source:
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28 user comments

19.8.2007 18:39

Amazing a guy convicted of raping a woman was just sentenced to only 6 months. But hey, commit a nonviolent crime and we'll throw away the key.

29.8.2007 19:27

Originally posted by gallagher:
Amazing a guy convicted of raping a woman was just sentenced to only 6 months. But hey, commit a nonviolent crime and we'll throw away the key.

seriously, what's wrong with society today?

39.8.2007 20:12

Originally posted by gallagher:
Amazing a guy convicted of raping a woman was just sentenced to only 6 months. But hey, commit a nonviolent crime and we'll throw away the key.
My thoughts exactly.

49.8.2007 20:40

Quote:
Amazing a guy convicted of raping a woman was just sentenced to only 6 months. But hey, commit a nonviolent crime and we'll throw away the key.
Depends on what happened in the rape scenario. However, yes I agree with your point.46 months = 3 years and 10 months. Manslaughter? 5-to-life if I remember right. Some times killing someone, depending on how it happened, could get you out sooner then 46 months. Now thats crazy.

59.8.2007 20:46

big business is really funny when u see whos in the pockets of senators and governors or congressman in general....money talks i guess

69.8.2007 21:42

Quote:
Originally posted by gallagher:
Amazing a guy convicted of raping a woman was just sentenced to only 6 months. But hey, commit a nonviolent crime and we'll throw away the key.

seriously, what's wrong with society today?
The citizens of the world stopped giving a flying fuck and just let their governments and corporations do whatever the hell they please.

If enough people would just rise up against their government, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

79.8.2007 21:55

They have to make an example out of someone. Its good they got the main source and not all of the users that bought the software. How did this guy think he was going to get away with this?

Im sure it would be funny when he gets into this prison and tells all of these murderers and rapists that he is in for 'software' Rapists get less time and priests get no time in jail for their misconduct. Its all a shame.

89.8.2007 22:24
webe123
Inactive

Yes, his sentance is unfair compared to other crimes....but the guy was STILL guilty of SELLING pirated software!

I think he deserves some jail time.

Anyone who SELLS software they don't own, should be punished in my opinion!

910.8.2007 00:07

Quote:
If enough people would just rise up against their government, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The problem is the government but it is also US. we are not standing up to them cause we're scared or we dont' give Shi$ cause it didn't happened to them. That's how the world will always be. They hear stuff like this in news and bit#h how government is crap but they never do anything. SHI# let's be for real. I never do anything. If i start protest than i would get ticket. and i don't think i can change anything. It is also waste of my time.

Government is really putting wrong people in jail. Did you guys hear about the girl who use her cell phone camera at the movies and she was charged.

I belive Rape,murder and any physical violent should GEt more sentence than software pirate.

Less than five years for murder is wrong. I belive every murder should get life or death unless it was an accient. If your mom,dad, sister,brother,best friend died and the guy only gets five yrs for killing them. I would be pissed as hell. In fact, i would kill him and go to jail for five years. My point is that, if government don't make it big deal out of murder than it's not going to be a big deal.

1010.8.2007 00:14
fgamer
Inactive

Wow...this country is soooo backwards..they sent him up for 3years and 10months..for selling pirated computer software!! That's a little harsh don't you think? I mean they don't even send rapist and murderes to jail that long half the time. I think the correct punishment should've been 1 year probation and community service. And they wonder why American jails & prisons are over-crowded...pffft

1110.8.2007 00:17

because you know its wrong. sometimes rape is an animal instinct.

1210.8.2007 00:22
nobrainer
Inactive

I'm glad he got what he deserved, this is the capitalist American dream, a few prosper and the rest are just factory fodder or twisted into joining the military just from school but if ppl are dume enough to join the military they deserve to get shot, ain't globalisation great, btw love your health care system that rocks when company bosses get bonuses for turning down insurance claims to save a few bucks.

i'm so glad i live in the uk. says mr sarcastic.

on a point though he was apparently the leader of a piracy ring and not just downloading shit for personal use, but there are many crimes of greater severity that have less sentence time than IP infringement but the companies own America, hell socialism is a "communist" idea after all! go back to sleep America all is well, drink beer, watch fox and never read books, your government is taking care of you!

1310.8.2007 01:18
cousinkix
Inactive

"Amazing a guy convicted of raping a woman was just sentenced to only 6 months."

Bill O'Reilly makes it his business to report on judges who coddle rapists and child molesters. He reports on one every week. Last niight was no exception. We actually have judges, who treat perverts, as if they only got a parking ticket. Certain USA states are no place for kids; because the local authorities just don't give a damn about them at all.

On the other hand, harsh sentences for software piracy are handed out by federal courts, which have a harsher punishment for almost any crimes committed. That thief deserved what he got for selling bootleg software for personal profit. They'll also come down hard on sex criminals who break the laws on military bases and US Government property...

1410.8.2007 03:09

Software piracy is a result of the software companies charging too much money for their products.

Rememeber mastertronics move to produce 99p games for he Commodore 64 it turned the software giants over. IF new reelased games were sold for $9.99 or less would there be as much piracy?. with the huge decreases in costs of manufacturing DVD's why have the prices not reflected this. Same for the music industry too expensive, make the prices so low you would never consider piracy. The retailer makes a wopping 40% or more on each sale. Dont think you can blame the consumer not paying 69.99 CAD for say a crappy version of Pirates of the Caribeean for the PS3, but you might pay 14.99? just to try it.

1510.8.2007 05:12

@nobrainer
So you also watched the legendery Bill Hicks.
Well said man, well said indeed. To all my american comrads, all our countries are in some sort of shit, but the bush admin is taking the piss out of you lot and only the people can do something about it. Whats the name of that catchy song oh yeh "I PREDICT A RIOT"

1610.8.2007 07:43

The sentance was fair so if you want to be cheap and get stuff free or at low cost you have to pay the devil sooner or later. I gave up on file sharing and buying bootleg programs 6 months in a fed pen isn't fun!

1710.8.2007 09:40

Originally posted by joe777:
but the bush admin is taking the piss out of you lot and only the people can do something about it.
You're an idiot. Clinton did the same thing..as did the president before him..and before him..

Get your facts straight before you proceed to spew your vomit all over yourself.

1810.8.2007 10:04

Only an idiot and crook would feel the way you do you really shouldn't flame here as it is against the rule now who is the idiot!

1910.8.2007 10:08

This crime has nothing do with rape or murder, you need to compare apples to apples. New laws are in place to punish the guilty. Murder and rape are a state issue! Software hit-tech theft is federal. Federal is much tougher then the slacked state laws so please use a different example. We are talking high tech not low life murder or rape!

2010.8.2007 14:25

everything about law started by opinion. How is it a law that you receive 3 years for "insert crime here", it started by an opinion that the punishment fit the crime. But it is all just an opinion.

Now, here is mine. You rape someone, you get shot in the head with a glock 45. Case Closed.

You steal software, you get 3 yrs and 10 months.

I bet rape would drop by 99%, but it is just my opinion.

2110.8.2007 14:59

Originally posted by ugc:
everything about law started by opinion. How is it a law that you receive 3 years for "insert crime here", it started by an opinion that the punishment fit the crime. But it is all just an opinion.

Now, here is mine. You rape someone, you get shot in the head with a glock 45. Case Closed.

You steal software, you get 3 yrs and 10 months.

I bet rape would drop by 99%, but it is just my opinion.
I have to partially disagree with you there. I don't think rape should get a shot in the head. I think that if they didn't kill anyone, it's not our place to kill them. However, I do think they should get a nice 50-60+ years in a REAL prison to reflect on their horrible mistake. Now if they did kill someone, and it was intentional and not in self defense, they should get thousands of amps send through their body with the entire nation allowed to watch on a web site or something so people start to realize how serious this stuff is. And in addition to that, none of this dying naturally on death row crap. Start actually killing these people that are filling up death row! People are being released from prisons because they are filling up with regulars and death row inmates. This is getting ridiculous. And when I say a REAL prison, I mean none of this TV and other luxeries crap. It's supposed to be prison. At the most, they should only have a gym to stay in shape and even that should be monitored. And one last thing, we need way better informed citizens who actually look at the facts and use common sense on the jury instead of people that just say, "sure guy #1 was about to stab and kill guy #2, but guy #2 killed guy #1 which means they committed murder so they need to go to prison for life. Can't sentence them to death though, because thats just not humane."

Ok, I'm done with my little rant.

2210.8.2007 16:39

This article only proves what the US was built on and thats take what you want and make a profit and whom ever it was that you took from if they arent strong enough to fight back then they are shiznit out of luck. "Survival of the fittest" This is just another situation that proves there are not real values in the US. Also for MS to applaud this as if they never stole to get to the level that their on now is very laughable. Everything they built their OS on and put it together with has been taken from others smaller then them with less money. They should be happy this guy was able to sell their crappy software. Especially if it was Shitsta.

2310.8.2007 20:11

Originally posted by spydah:
This article only proves what the US was built on...
Er, I'm afraid your wrong. The US was built on freedom and God, now it has degraded down to what it is because of politicians, general immorality, etc. The US was built on a good foundation, it's just that it has degraded to what you see now.

2411.8.2007 00:20

At the beginning of the 21st century the US had become the largest commercial entity in the world, 9 out every 10 homes contain it's bureaucracy, it's political and finicial influence is felt everywhere. In public it's the world leading supplier of computer technology, medical products and health care. Unknown even to it's residents it's massive proffits are generated by miltary technology, genetic experimentation and viral weaponry.

2511.8.2007 17:25

Quote:
Originally posted by spydah:
This article only proves what the US was built on...
Er, I'm afraid your wrong. The US was built on freedom and God, now it has degraded down to what it is because of politicians, general immorality, etc. The US was built on a good foundation, it's just that it has degraded to what you see now.

I think your talking about why people migrated to this country im talking about how they built this country. Yes also this country has been degraded several times over so i kinda agree to disagree.

2611.8.2007 19:44

Originally posted by spydah:
I think your talking about why people migrated to this country im talking about how they built this country. Yes also this country has been degraded several times over so i kinda agree to disagree.
Actually, it's the same thing. This country was originally established on freedom and God ("one nation under God"), but has degraded to were it is now with all the politically correctness. Sure this is what people migrate here for, but it is also what this country was originally established on. Sure people migrate here for that, but that's because they don't know what it has degraded to nowadays.

EDIT- grammer
EDIT- And regardless of what people say, there is still more freedom here than most/all other places. Sure there is a lot of crap, but there is still more freedom.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 11 Aug 2007 @ 7:48

2712.8.2007 05:39

"Yeah wake up america you are free to do what we tell you to do"
another great quote from Bill Hicks, one of america's greatest ever comedians.
And since we are speaking about freedom within the IT field then who is gonna tell me that theres more freedom in the states? with regards to the personal use theory?

2817.8.2007 17:56

I appluade this as well.

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