Or, conversely, you could actually BUY the product and benefit the people who worked hard to write it.
nodz @ Shaitan: I used to crack software all the time, then I learned to program which actually makes it possible for me to trully crack any software but at the same time made me realize just how hard programmers/software engineers have to work/think to make the tools we use. The only time I think cracking any software is ok is if Microsoft made it, and besides anything you can buy to run on windows there is a 90% chance that you can download and run it for free on Linux
It appears to me that he has already made up his mind. Let's save the debate over the morality of warez for another thread. If he wants the crack I will give it to him.
But if you use Linux and get all of your software for free, you still cause the exact same harm to the software company.
Most free linux software works like this: If you want to use it for your own privet use it's totally free, But if you want to take the end product of that software, say in this case soulrebel51 makes an album from opensource software, and make money from it, then you have to pay a price to the software developers. It's sort of a win-win in my book. Then again what do i know i'm just a Linux geek who programs for a living..
What the hell? That's not even remotely close to the truth. I don't care what you do for a living, you've completely misconstrued (and are misrepresenting) Open Source. FACT: unless you are creating a piece of software which depends on another program under the GNU license in order to function what you create with GNU software is free for you to do anything you like with it. No strings attatched. Here's how it breaks down: If you write The Great American Novel using GNU/Emacs you do not have to give anything to any one. If you get fame and fortune based on images you create using the GNU Image Manipulation Program you can hoard the cash all to yourself and live in siberia, giving nothing more to no one; it's your choice. The tricky part is that there are some applications which are dual licensed. MySQL database is one such application, as is the QT framework. Both of those have stipulations that if you use them for one use, it falls under one license, if you use it for another, it is another. Both of those are software tools, by the way; I'm not aware of their being any dual-licensed audio software (then again, it's not something I'm interested in, so I wouldn't know). (edit: someone wondering about the legal status of things they create using tools such as an audio or image program might want to look at this link from the GNU FAQ.) As A Rule if you create something using Free (GNU or BSD licensed) software, you are free to do with what you create as you please. MOST software found in GNU/Linux systems tends to fall into that category. the only real exceptions are with regards to source code (if you distribute a modified GNU program, you have to make the modified source code available), and the dual-licensed problem.
Two points then I'm done, lol, yeah right I never shut up. Anyway one is that I feel your off a tad on the whole GNU thing. Granted your allowed to use 'said' product without charge, and sell copies of what ever you make from it, i.e. I use some thing like OpenGL to make some chill ass graphics package. The downside is in order for me to do so I have to make my code avaliable to the public, or people who buy my software, which actually makes it pretty much worthless as far as selling goes, (source code isn't to hard to come by in the file share world).. Anyway that's no big thang, cuz well honestly I don't care that much, the other thing is. This whole dual license thing is honestly going to be the wave of the future, Qt is a prime example. Hell even Linus 'the self proclaimed God of opensource' sold out, and all the while people like Allen Cox who are responsible for most of the auditing/coding/debugging/management, of the kernel, are essentially unknown and continue to go un-credited.. I know I'm no god when it comes to the whole licensing issue, and honestly I didn't want to post a long ass thing that most people would be like 'wtf i'm not reading all that shit', so I tried to make is as basic and simple as possible, and really try to point chuck in a better direction. Lastly as far as an application who's output isn't code related, i.e. audio editing software (like dude was wondering about), I hope that most people would have the moral integrity to at least cut a $10+ check and send it to 'said software's' creator if they use, enjoy, or even profit from 'said' product. Anyway wtf ever, when I see your name on some kernel or driver source code, then I will listen to you, till then I have to say "meh what have you done to help the cause"...
For starters, pointing out that there is a cause ("free as in speech" ring any bells? if not, hie ye to the gnu philosphy page and do some reading), and second explaining as clearly as I am able to what the distinction is. If you can read the GNU pages and tell me where I am "off" on the whole GNU thing, feel free, I'm open to correction. Dont' listen to me, listen to Richard Stallman (the guy behind the GCC compiler and the whole GNU movement). Fuck Linus; Linus is a whore, and his operating system has become flakey as hell (any of the BSD systems are much, much more reliable).