Becoming an Informant For The Anti-Pirates
According to an article published today on ComputerWorld, the main motivation for individuals blowing the whistle on companies using unlicensed software, is not about revenge, but morals. Yeah, right.
“Revenge isn’t the primary motive of individuals who blow the whistle on software piracy. Neither is money — fewer than half of the informants who report their employers for using pirated or unlicensed PC software ask about financial rewards,” reports CW, quoting information from the Business Software Alliance.
It goes on to write about the case of “Bob” who reported his former company for using a copy of unlicensed software after he was “galled by the blatant dishonesty” shown by them. His foreman told him not to update an operate system since it would “freeze up” since the software wasn’t registered.
“That was mind-boggling to me, because without that kind of software, they weren’t in business,” said Bob. In my opinion, Bob makes a valid point. It seems fair to me that if you make money from software, you should pay for it.
But here’s the thing. Bob didn’t report his company there and then. Oh no. He waited and waited and waited until not only had he left the company, but a whole year had passed. Only then did he inform on his previous employer.
It is very naive of the BSA to state that morals are the primary reason why people turn informant. For someone who had close contacts a number of years ago with an individual who worked with tip-offs at the government’s tax office, morals rarely come into it. Jealousy and general trouble-making come high up the list;
“My next door neighbor hasn’t had a job for 10 years – how come he can afford a new car and I can’t?”
“How can my ex-wife afford a foreign holiday on the money she bleeds from me?”
etc…etc
Bob, who naturally doesn’t want to be identified (does anyone like a snitch?), took a whole year for his “morals” to kick in. They only did so after he had left the company, which of course ensured that he wouldn’t be fired for his disloyalty nor have to suffer the effects of setting the dogs on the people who were kind enough to give him a job in the first place.
If companies use software to generate profit they should pay for that software. But please, don’t portray these snitches and whistleblowers as moral crusaders – most of them have their own axe to grind.
Most techs only have so much to work with, theyget the job, they’re told what to do and they do it.
It’s a form of extortion, we expect this to work – that’s what we pay you for.
Course once the pay stops (and other forms of abuse) there’s no reason to stay silent – they’re not putting food on your table any more – you’re free.
You interiew for a position – they withhold information (like if they own the software to begin with) then if you want to keep your job you’d best keep your trap shut.
It’s not pretty – but it’s pretty common.
Just because they don’t see a hammer swinging, and my back being broken they act like we’re not doing REAL work… here’s some work for you – get me this software for free.
When a tech does his job right – everyone is working, when he does it wrong – he looks “busy and useful” but no one else can work…
If anything it shows that he’s a scared little mouse who decided to go, work next to a mouse trap until he could get another job… He then had the mouse trap removed, but forgot to take the damn cheese before so… He’s an idiot… He either A. Let the fact that he received money for the information or B. Seriously didn’t ask for it because he’s a dumbass…
Even when there’s whistle-blowing legislation to protect people reporting their company, they still get fired and have to sue the employer when they haven’t got a job. And if they’re successful, should they really go back to work for the same company?
“Bob” (no relation) may very well have been motivated by morals. But it seems like he did the right thing by getting established at another job first before reporting his old employer.
Bob’s morals seem grand to me; he shat on his employers when the time was right for him. Bosses need us, we don’t need bosses ;)
http://www.Adult-Facebook.com
If you leave on bad terms with your previous employer then you might as well snitch. But if you leave your job normally then just leave it and you can get a good reference from them….
report yourself here:
https://www.riaa.com/reportpiracy.php
write them a nice moral statement, please be so kind.
Step 1
Install hidden directory with hidden files on company computer.
Step 2
If they ever fire you report them.
Step 3
profit.