Finnish computer hobbyist magazine Mega-X, issue 1/1989, page 3:
(https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelittaako/49472080062/in/album-72157712923995207/)

PIRACY Right or Wrong
(Original title: Piratismi oikeinko vai väärin)

Copying and distributing copies is illegal, at least to some extent. If nobody in the world, you and me, bought software, it wouldn't be worth publishing. At least not if you're after economic gain. Public domain, the quality of which we know well (with some exceptions), wouldn't provide powerful enough tools for our computers. Software development would be left to hobbyists only, and it wouldn't be possible to use months for developing a program. The quality would inevitably go down.

However, this is not the only possible future. There are programs that absolutely need a manual. This is common nowadays when it comes to productivity software, because they're so complicated that you can't use them effectively without instructions. When games evolve, it is likewise useful to own an original copy and the instructions. If, in order to play, you also need to get a copy of a hundred-page manual (which is of course protected by using a devilish background color...) there will be less copying. Even if you had friends who could copy books, continuous begging would be painful. To both sides.

People copy programs because they're expensive. Because of high prices, there is no use selling all possible software in a small place like Finland. Bad availability can thus lead to copying too. As an example of the importance of pricing we could mention a word processor sold in Sweden, which cost 200 marks. They sold several tens of thousands copies, by their calculations to almost all Swedish PC users. Usually word processors cost several thousands of marks, both in Finland and Sweden. People would buy programs if the prices were affordable, but they aren't. Surprisingly this is not only a Finnish problem but affects the whole Europe. Prices are often double compared to the USA. Hardly anybody can afford a comprehensive software collection without copying. The prices should be lowered to a sensible level. This would multiply software sales. Some companies are trying to do this by importing sofware to Finland at reasonable prices. At times even cheaper than in England. Thanks for that.

EXPENSIVE COLLECTIONS

It is not uncommon for a young computer hobbyist to have several hundreds of floppies of games and productivity software. Who can afford productivity software that costs thousands or games that are made just for the sake of money? A collection like that would cost 110.000 marks. YES. Hundred and ten thousand. Let's assume that the user has 400 floppies of software. 300 for games and 100 for productivity applications. The average price for a game (ST, Amiga, PC) is about 200 marks. For a productivity application 500 marks. 300*200+100*500 marks = 110.000 marks. This is a conservative estimate. Horrible.

Copying tapes on an 8-bit machine is painful. Partially because of this piracy blooms on bigger machines. Out of the 16-bits Amiga, in particular, is known for its almost professional piracy. Why do these normal, usually young, people knowingly break the law? When you get a computer you want to use it for something too. The easiest way to start is by playing. You get games from friends by copying, because the machine alone was expensive and your parents probably won't understand the endless need to spend more. This is the case at first. Later on the young user gets into competition. Who is number one in Finland?

You found 'groups' among friends. They start swapping software with groups from other cities. Later on you also find foreign contacts. At this point the users usually get fed up with gaming, and swapping itself becomes a way to get in touch with other users. Creating your own software and distributing it becomes important. You have to gain fame. There is competition among these 'groups' too. Who cracks and spreads software around the world first. Yes, around the world. The activity is international. For Finnish youngsters this internationalization is purely useful. 'Cracking' software is considered a challenge, which it is too these days. Many professional pirates appreciate 'crackers' above all. Thus, there will surely be aspirants.

WHY

Some pirates participate because of principles; they want to question the status quo. Because copying isn't completely illegal in Finland, they're mostly against the Post and Telecommunications Office. Even if you could afford postage fees, which can be up to 20-30 marks PER DAY, people try to circumvent regulations whenever possible. Taped over and soap treated stamps can be washed clean after use. Paper recycling? According to the Office, no. And probably not according to the police either. This kind of counterfeiting is considered fraud and that's definitely a big deal.

Many pirates also copy videotapes, music records and manuals (expensive, expensive). In other words, youngsters exchange information. Knowledge is power and who wouldn't want power.