Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

Lol, well, I suppose it is rationalizing theft, but it's certainly not the same as stealing a candy bar, and it's not the same as traditional theft. That's why ideas are great, they are free. ;P I <love freeware.

I agree Morpheuos, but we can't run their company for them, we don't make these decisions, even if it is a smarter economic move.

Edit: I should remember ^^ as well.

Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

Your statement has a flaw in it. If the student/person is not paying for it and is stealing it, What happens if they take the things learned and get a job from it. This would be theft to help yourself, and the company is losing money from the kids that would want to buy it to get the job, but if they find out you can do it for free than there goes the customer. Also, if you do win something from your work with the software, how do you justify that? Would they give the price of the software back after the fact? Its like stealing a car, and then 5 years later paying for it.

Dont get me wrong though, People learning things from software that is free is always a good thing. But when it could give an unfair advantage in anything then it becomes an issue between stealing and not.

Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

Consider the opposite example, if the student/ person does not have the money to pay for the product? They wouldn't be able to get a job based on it, and therefore less licenses would be sold to whoever they end up working for. Though your right, it does imply that if you can afford to buy the program the way many schools can't, you should.

If you win an award with use of a stolen program then hopefully it'll be enough money that you can afford to pay for the software in the future, not to mention that it also implies that someone who would otherwise not have been able to realize their skills in the use of the program has turned out to be exceptional and a great asset to the world, they would not have otherwise been. Though I thought we were talking about the illegal use of this program in classes for educational purposes, as was the original subject if I'm correct, hence it's a bit more of a stretch because it's closer to a commercial purpose than an educational one.

I don't think that stealing the licenses in order to learn how to use it ought to be considered stealing if indeed they could not otherwise afford it, because if every such person were free to do so, everyone who would like to learn the software can, so it doesn't seem like an unfair advantage, but rather an evening of the playing fields between those who can afford this program, and those who can't. Most of the money lost in my opinion, is when a stolen program is used for commercial purposes instead of educational ones.

In case ^^ turns out to be a decent argument, I would like to add that one should still not steal these programs, it is a violation of trust, and bad for the society, because there are those who are lawful who are penalized by your actions because they refuse to do so. This is simply why I advocate AutoDesk to change their policies. Not like it will ever happen.

Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

It's not up to the individual to decide what is or isn't theft. It's defined by federal and local laws.

And the fact that you probably wont get caught, or the victim is rich & can afford the loss does not make it okay to steal.

I challenge any student to explain how they cannot afford $14 month for a legal software license. If you're capable of learning 3ds Max you're capable of working for 1 week at a minimum wage job to buy a 14-month license. Or just cut back to only 1 Mt. Dew a day & use your extra money to buy Max!

If you steal food because you're starving and can't work, that's understandable. But we're talking about people stealing software because they're too lazy to pay for it, or would rather spend their money on something else.

Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

If anyone could link me to these $140 licenses, I would be much obliged.

~Setsanto

Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

I think BuddyB mentioned the $140 license.

The best I could find was $195 for 14 months (students only), including Combustion and Cleaner. Still a great deal!

http://www.journeyed.com/itemDetail.asp?ItmNo=12314843F
http://www.studica.com/products/prod...roductid=54553
http://www.academicsuperstore.com/ma...?PartNo=859319

Re: Big Thanks to Everyone!
 

Blender: $0 for forever (everybody), including game engine and video editor.

Still a great deal!