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Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

arstechnica.co.uk

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Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#71

Post by dylanz »

ylhert wrote: post #59

Xfer records is very small, its just 2 people really (Steve and I). It's nice seeing this get so much attention. We are a very small company (if you can even call it that, I'm not even full time). Every sale is a big deal for Xfer, and piracy definitely hurts us. We don't have the resources to combat it, and we don't put restrictive copy protection on our software because we don't believe in hurting paying customers…

As someone who has purchased most of your products, I just wanted to say thank you!

I admit I've pirated a lot of software in order to try it over time, but I end up buying what I start using in my workflow. I don't make money producing music (yet!), so I definitely use trials or pirate expensive plugins (I'll often try to re-trial something if my trial lapses and I haven't yet used it enough).

Serum? I downloaded the trial, used it, then bought it. The same with LFO Tool. It is a complete steal at its price point, and an absolute beautiful piece of software. I hope Kanye gets more flac for this.

Keep up the great work! I'm constantly blown away at the work you and Steve do.

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#72

Post by JonnieCache »

dylanz wrote: post #71
ylhert wrote: post #59

Xfer records is very small, its just 2 people really (Steve and I). It's nice seeing this get so much attention. We are a very small company (if you can even call it that, I'm not even full time). Every sale is a big deal for Xfer, and piracy definitely hurts us. We don't have the resources to combat it, and we don't put restrictive copy protection on our software because we don't believe in hurting paying customers…

As someone who has purchased most of your products, I just wanted to say thank you! I admit I've pirated a lot of software in order to try it over time, but I end up buying what I start using in my workflow. I don't make money producing music (yet!), so I definitely use trials or pirate expensive plugins (I'll often try to re-trial something if my trial lapses and I haven't yet used it enough). Serum? I downloaded th…

> I hope Kanye gets more flac for this.

I see him as more of a 128 kinda guy.

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#74

Post by hackercooler »

ylhert wrote: post #59

Xfer records is very small, its just 2 people really (Steve and I). It's nice seeing this get so much attention. We are a very small company (if you can even call it that, I'm not even full time). Every sale is a big deal for Xfer, and piracy definitely hurts us. We don't have the resources to combat it, and we don't put restrictive copy protection on our software because we don't believe in hurting paying customers…

love serum and its the first vst that i've bought personally. thanks

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#75

Post by KMag »

ratsmack wrote: post #69
KMag wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> stealing it :( While I empathize with most of your comment, you lost me at the end. Let's not use hyperbolic rhetoric. The crime is copyright infringement (unlawful copying), not stealing (theft), and not plunder and murder on the high seas (piracy). Yes, the sheet music publishers back in the day were able to convince people to use the language of the terrorism of their day (piracy). The hyperbole still harms disc…

Color it by any technicality you want, but it is taking something from somebody and in common vernacular, that is theft.

I agree that someone is making money using a tool acquired illegally and the creator of the tool needs to be paid.

> but it is taking something from somebody

Here is where the inaccurate language harms discussion. Nothing is taken from the author. The author still has just as much as they had before the unlawful copying, apart from lost opportunity. They have lost a potential sale.

The analogy with theft breaks down quickly, and using the language of theft (or worse, insisting that it is really identical to theft) hinders clear thinking about the issue. Yes, it's a useful rhetorical device, since infringing on someone's physical property rights produces a strong emotional reaction. However, that strong emotional reaction doesn't foster rational discussion.

The only thing actually taken from the tool creator is opportunity cost. If you set up a cluster of two machines that illegally copy back and forth as fast as GigE allows, things aren't taken from the tool's creator at a higher rate.

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#76

Post by [deleted] »

djhn wrote: post #65
ylhert wrote: post #59

Xfer records is very small, its just 2 people really (Steve and I). It's nice seeing this get so much attention. We are a very small company (if you can even call it that, I'm not even full time). Every sale is a big deal for Xfer, and piracy definitely hurts us. We don't have the resources to combat it, and we don't put restrictive copy protection on our software because we don't believe in hurting paying customers…

I reckon this will make you top the charts for VST plugin sales for this day, week and maybe even month. Even if that means you will top the VST piracy charts... In fact, is this just a genious marketing stunt..?

[deleted]

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#77

Post by ylhert »

dylanz wrote: post #71
ylhert wrote: post #59

Xfer records is very small, its just 2 people really (Steve and I). It's nice seeing this get so much attention. We are a very small company (if you can even call it that, I'm not even full time). Every sale is a big deal for Xfer, and piracy definitely hurts us. We don't have the resources to combat it, and we don't put restrictive copy protection on our software because we don't believe in hurting paying customers…

As someone who has purchased most of your products, I just wanted to say thank you! I admit I've pirated a lot of software in order to try it over time, but I end up buying what I start using in my workflow. I don't make money producing music (yet!), so I definitely use trials or pirate expensive plugins (I'll often try to re-trial something if my trial lapses and I haven't yet used it enough). Serum? I downloaded th…

Thanks dude! You rock! And I bet the music you make with Xfer products rocks! :D

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#78

Post by michaelbuddy »

ylhert wrote: post #59

Xfer records is very small, its just 2 people really (Steve and I). It's nice seeing this get so much attention. We are a very small company (if you can even call it that, I'm not even full time). Every sale is a big deal for Xfer, and piracy definitely hurts us. We don't have the resources to combat it, and we don't put restrictive copy protection on our software because we don't believe in hurting paying customers…

had never heard of it before, but your software looks awesome.

Re: Kanye West caught using Pirate Bay to download music software

#79

Post by djhn »

JonnieCache wrote: post #68
djhn wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I reckon this will make you top the charts for VST plugin sales for this day, week and maybe even month. Even if that means you will top the VST piracy charts... In fact, is this just a genious marketing stunt..?

It's already arguably the most highly regarded VST synth for modern digital sounds anyway. Serum is basically the new massive. They don't need marketing stunts.

Ah, I see. I've been out of that game for 8+ years.
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