Internet Cafes: The untouchable Piracy?

**AntiochusIII** · 12-04-2005, 21:49

Internet Cafes are often very "compromising" when it comes to issues with piracy. They don't seem to care much about legality if it saves their costs...

Of course, Greece isn't one of the stricter countries when it comes to software piracy.

Nonetheless, it is rather sad that America isn't having such a large number of internet cafes. Games like Counter-Strike are at their best when you play them with your mates side-by-side, shouting orders and taunts at each other with no headphones needed. Or may be just peeking at their monitors to see where they are in de_dust.

**hellenes** · 12-04-2005, 23:12

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

That's why god invented LAN parties. One doesn't need to resort to Piracy to enjoy the very industry that he/she would then be helping to destroy.

LAN parties?
Where?
Taking whole towers and CRT screens with you?
Doesnt sound that convinient to me...
Anyway, I know many people that prefer to play in Net Cafes although they have internet connection home, because they find LAN games more socialising...
The sales of PC's for gaming purposes are very low, as very low are the sales of Single Player games' otiginal copies, but the Multi player games have no problem...
We have also in many (mostly countryside) net cafes chipped Playstation2s and people playing copied games on them for 1.5 euros per hour...

Hellenes

**Kraxis** · 12-05-2005, 00:53

Every first monday each month (that means tomorrow) I go out and play LAN Battlefield II (or Vietnam or 1942 for a few maps), starts at 19.00 and ends when we are tired.

That is of course done at a netcafé. We just preorder some 20-30 computers.

There are so many netcafés here that it is a very risky business. We have had two of our places die on us during the last year and a half, but now we have a stable, large and good café that seems to run everything the legit way (though all games are no-cd cracked).

**hellenes** · 12-05-2005, 02:08

Originally Posted by Kraxis

Every first monday each month (that means tomorrow) I go out and play LAN Battlefield II (or Vietnam or 1942 for a few maps), starts at 19.00 and ends when we are tired.

That is of course done at a netcafé. We just preorder some 20-30 computers.

There are so many netcafés here that it is a very risky business. We have had two of our places die on us during the last year and a half, but now we have a stable, large and good café that seems to run everything the legit way (though all games are no-cd cracked).

Thats the pain...
20-30 Pcs X 30 games per pc X 50 Euros per game = 45000 euros...
Thats a decent amount of money and in the competitive world if one doesnt pay all that he has the edge...
An extract from the RTW manual
"SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT:

LICENSE CONDITIONS

You shall not

1. Exploit this Program or any of its parts commercially, including but not limited to use at a cyber cafe, computer gaming centre or any other location based site. Activision may offer a separate Site License Agreement to permit you to make this Program available for commercial use;"

How many net cafes pay the publishers for License Agreements?
For 40 games?

Hellenes

**Papewaio** · 12-05-2005, 03:55

The lack of IP protection is not a good thing for a country. Many companies will not invest into a country that has a poor IP track record. Those countries that have a poor IP protection record tend to be technological backward and finacially worse off.

By protecting IP countries develop quicker and become havens for technology investment.

Piracy happens around the world, but it definitly is proportional to how poor the socio-economics of the country is. In a well off country PCs, consoles and games are relatively cheap. Part of the solution in creating a more viable modern economy is IP protection, that and creating a knowledge economy... but if you don't protect the IP then there is little point in a knowledge economy... it would be the equivalent of being a primary producer but letting anyone steal farm animals because they feel like it.

Piracy is simply stealing... and a country that steals IP reflects the level of the locals... relatively uncivilised.

**hellenes** · 12-05-2005, 04:30

Originally Posted by Papewaio

The lack of IP protection is not a good thing for a country. Many companies will not invest into a country that has a poor IP track record. Those countries that have a poor IP protection record tend to be technological backward and finacially worse off.

By protecting IP countries develop quicker and become havens for technology investment.

Piracy happens around the world, but it definitly is proportional to how poor the socio-economics of the country is. In a well off country PCs, consoles and games are relatively cheap. Part of the solution in creating a more viable modern economy is IP protection, that and creating a knowledge economy... but if you don't protect the IP then there is little point in a knowledge economy... it would be the equivalent of being a primary producer but letting anyone steal farm animals because they feel like it.

Piracy is simply stealing... and a country that steals IP reflects the level of the locals... relatively uncivilised.

Well I wouldnt call Hellas uncivilised...
Member of EU since 1981.
Held SUCCESFUL (as far as the hosting is concerned) OLYMPIC GAMES.
Economy in a quite stable and high level.
Life standard not so low as many Greeks would like you to believe.

Pirate Bay is based in Sweden, I wouldnt call Sweden a poor or uncivilised country.
Russia has a decent share of global piracy but C.A. Officially localised RTW in Russian (using a third party company) without second thought...

In Greece the internet connections are quite expensive, 50 euros for a 384kbps line? Its 45 euros for a 8mbps line in UK...
So its very hard to download games in Greece without making ISPs rich...
There is also this sense of "rebellion" as many times the IP owners are multinantional colossal corporations, and with the whole anti corporal/anti american attitude in the Greek public one can see the rootes of the problem...

Hellenes

**hellenes** · 12-05-2005, 05:09

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

Oh noes!? It's inconvenient for you to go out and rent a cafeteria or something for a day!? Surely that is a perfect excuse to endorse piracy!

In fact, it's inconvenient for me to work for my money! I think I'll start mugging people!

Well I didnt mean to insult anyone its just kinda heavy and bulky to walk all the street carrying a 17" CRT monitor and a Tower....
Endorse piracy?
These net cafes pay taxes they are buisnesses not some kids pirating in their moms basement, if the state has no problem with them what can I say?

Hellenes

**hellenes** · 12-05-2005, 05:18

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

You should not be asking the state, you should be asking the developers of those games.

1st
Whatever right or wrong the US government does, as I know the people back up the troops no matter if they are fighting an unjust and unnessesary war...
2nd
Its very nice and convinient to equalise the Emploee to the employer, why nobody speaks about the PUBLISHERS? They are the bosses they dictate the patching the target group of the game and most of the VITAL production stages.
Are the payed emploees like developers losing anything? They have the risk of losing Jobs, but its the PUBLISHER that losing money directly and can go bankrupt.
3rd
My only option is to form a political party, win the Greek elections and close all net cafes.

Hellenes

**Papewaio** · 12-05-2005, 05:52

Originally Posted by hellenes

, if the state has no problem with them what can I say?

Since a democratic state reflects the will of the people... doesn't it reflect poorly on the people then?

BTW can you name the city with the largest Greek population outside of Greece?

**hellenes** · 12-05-2005, 05:57

Originally Posted by Papewaio

Since a democratic state reflects the will of the people... doesn't it reflect poorly on the people then?

BTW can you name the city with the largest Greek population outside of Greece?

Chicago, Melburne, Sydney...
These three Im not shure what you mean though...
On the democracy, well we all know what UK people wanted about the Iraq war and what Tony Blair decided...

Hellenes

**Papewaio** · 12-05-2005, 06:21

Actually we will have to wait for the next elections to see if Iraq is a significant enough election point to decide things... after crime, economy, employment etc...

Melbourne has a Greek population of about 800,000...

**hellenes** · 12-05-2005, 06:38

Originally Posted by Papewaio

Actually we will have to wait for the next elections to see if Iraq is a significant enough election point to decide things... after crime, economy, employment etc...

Melbourne has a Greek population of about 800,000...

Thats correct...
If something isnt important people bend over it, they disagree but they tolerate...
But why you aksed me about Greeks abroad?

Hellenes