The whole concept of copy protection is bullshit. The best thing about digital technology is that it promises to make it easy for everyone to copy and share information. Blizzard is being obstructive with this policy. It also clearly hurts people who have no interest in "pirating" the game since that isn't what I'm doing. I just wanted to make a backup copy, and I don't think I should have to go crawling to some company for another CD like it is some physical commodity. Since when it is against the law to make backup copies? Also did you know that safedisc impairs the performance of games by up to 20+ percent? And seeing as how you need a unique cd key to play the game on bnet, copy "protection" seems rather pointless in this case. Blizzard is a good company in the sense that they make good games, but that's it. Their business model still relies on obstruction and intimidation. Don't tell me I'm "cheap" either because I payed 60 dollars for Warcraft 3, and my bro paid another 60. I don't think I should be handed a crippled CD for that kind of money, do you?
I would also ask that you avoid using the word "pirate" and "piracy" in the future. When you use words like that to describe illegal copying, it looks like you're implying that it is ethically equivalent to attacking ships on the high seas, kidnapping and murdering the people on them.
If you don't believe that illegal copying is just like kidnapping and murder, then don't use the word ``piracy'' to describe it. Use a neutral term like ``prohibited copying'' or ``unauthorized copying.'' And some of us might even prefer to use a positive term such as ``sharing information with your neighbor.''
edit: Actually, it *is* against the law to make a backup copy of a program if you have to circumvent a copy protection scheme to do so. Credit goes to the DMCA for this, of course.
[ April 07, 2003: Message edited by: Linux User #5225982375 ]
