Does Software Piracy Exist?

#1

Post by pcaharrier » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 3:45 PM UTC

Does Software Piracy Exist?
matthewbutterick.com

Re: Does Software Piracy Exist?

#2

Post by pcaharrier » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 3:50 PM UTC

Provocative title notwithstanding, it seems like the author's core argument is correct: "to the extent that it doesn’t influence economic choices, piracy does not exist."

Re: Does Software Piracy Exist?

#3

Post by ed_mercer » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 4:40 PM UTC

> But consider that there are only two foolproof ways to prevent software piracy

Does the author not know what SaaS is?

Re: Does Software Piracy Exist?

#4

Post by charlie-83 » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 5:07 PM UTC

ed_mercer wrote: post #3

> But consider that there are only two foolproof ways to prevent software piracy Does the author not know what SaaS is?

I think they define selling software as selling a file that people download. Which is a pretty reasonable definition to me. With SaaS you are selling access to your servers.

Re: Does Software Piracy Exist?

#5

Post by pcaharrier » Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 6:05 PM UTC

ed_mercer wrote: post #3

> But consider that there are only two foolproof ways to prevent software piracy Does the author not know what SaaS is?

I don’t think Butterick is claiming SaaS doesn’t exist. He’s setting boundary cases for an economic argument about distributed software. SaaS isn’t an endpoint in that model; it sits in the middle, alongside subscriptions and licenses, where some form of leakage or unauthorized use still occurs.