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[Sheb]

How would you make money from that?

[MagmaMcFry]

I wonder how much would it cost just to track down those users who are downloading pirated softwares. I guess it wouldn't be feasible. Piracy can't be stopped because people are patronizing it. Why not sell the software for free? There would be no pirates around. Computer hackers/geniuses will always find a way to bypass measures aimed at tracking down illegally downloaded softwares.

Welcome to the forums, I guess.

[Aklyon]

1. free software isn't profitable. The people who hate piracy with the intesity of the sun are much more interested in profit then any attempt to actually end piracy.
2. Good luck defining who is downloading the 'pirated software'. IP addresses (either IPv4 or IPv6) do not equate to a specific person, the only thing they specifically equal is a specific device at the time, and they can change at anytime if they are not statically defined (There are not enough IPv4 addresses to statically define one for everyone, don't bother trying). And if you determine it based on filesize of downlaods then you'll end up pointing the prosecution stick at Adobe or Autodesk or another company with very large (but very useful) programs like Photoshop, AutoCAD, etc.

[Itnetlolor]

Whenever I hear about a security-based bill to be signed in and all sorts of things, and I have an opportunity to send a letter to a senator or something, one thing I always like doing is reminding them that whatever is being signed in, remember, you and your family will also be affected by this, and not just us; and in case any sort of conspiracy stuff is true and you are on their bad side, what you might be helping sign in can, and likely will, be used against you, if it means they'll gain more from it and get away with the abuse. If you (whomever is signing it in to pass) can't be affected directly, then there's still indirect methods (using said law against their kids and such, who likely could be breaking it by their contexts) in order to coax you to do what they say, or else.

Essentially what I would be saying would be along the lines of "We're (The people) not threatening you for what we would like to do (to you) if this passes; we're warning you about what your peers may likely do (to you) if this passes.". In other words, if you're generally a good person lucky enough to be among the top tier of law (and you meant well when signing it in, blindly thinking it for the better of everyone), then keep an eye on all sides, especially of those closest to you in office; sometimes they're waiting for the right law to pass so they can send you to the streets, or at least, out of their way.

I like reminding them that we're not the only ones that can be targeted by unfair bills/laws; they're also making themselves targets, and willingly giving the lawmakers (and anyone else fully capable of abusing these laws once signed in) a knife to stab them in the back with; if they don't comply with more unfair bills and etc. to come along in the (near) future, and if they realize what they've been signing in and try to fight against more of them, instead of helping sign them in.

Essentially, I'm reminding them that politics is full of dicks, and to not "drop the soap".

[Leafsnail]

When I think about how I'd like the future to go, if it turns out to be possible to bring into reality the more popular sci-fi inventions like replicators, I think the Internet amounts to a test run for a true post-scarcity society. At the moment, we're doing a shitty job, but hopefully once we get it right we can learn to apply those lessons if we ever have the opportunity by some miraculous chance.

It's really not as far away as you might think, what with 3D printers improving so rapidly.  It's not unreasonable to suspect that simple manufactured goods (stuff made out of one material with no internal elements) could be scanned and "pirated" by 3D printers within the next decade or so.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

When I think about how I'd like the future to go, if it turns out to be possible to bring into reality the more popular sci-fi inventions like replicators, I think the Internet amounts to a test run for a true post-scarcity society. At the moment, we're doing a shitty job, but hopefully once we get it right we can learn to apply those lessons if we ever have the opportunity by some miraculous chance.

It's really not as far away as you might think, what with 3D printers improving so rapidly.  It's not unreasonable to suspect that simple manufactured goods (stuff made out of one material with no internal elements) could be scanned and "pirated" by 3D printers within the next decade or so.

You can do this right now if the material in question is plastic and you have a large enough 3D printer, raw plastic, and the right program for whatever you want to make. Expanding the allowed materials can't be that hard.

[Leafsnail]

They're also likely to get cheaper and more commonplace too considering the vast number of potential applications (there'll be a weird point where printers are able to print their own components too).

[Bauglir]

Expanding the allowed materials can't be that hard.

Depends on what you mean. It'd be pretty hard to print, say, a peach.

[Leafsnail]

Noone's trying to claim intellectual property rights on peaches though.

[Itnetlolor]

When I think about how I'd like the future to go, if it turns out to be possible to bring into reality the more popular sci-fi inventions like replicators, I think the Internet amounts to a test run for a true post-scarcity society. At the moment, we're doing a shitty job, but hopefully once we get it right we can learn to apply those lessons if we ever have the opportunity by some miraculous chance.

It's really not as far away as you might think, what with 3D printers improving so rapidly.  It's not unreasonable to suspect that simple manufactured goods (stuff made out of one material with no internal elements) could be scanned and "pirated" by 3D printers within the next decade or so.

You can do this right now if the material in question is plastic and you have a large enough 3D printer, raw plastic, and the right program for whatever you want to make. Expanding the allowed materials can't be that hard.

I can see it already. Provided you have a forge of your own somehow, you can print a 3D model of parts to a machine, print the plastic positives, build a negative mold, apply materials, and boom, you have your own engine block (so to put it). Of course, this would be a specialized case. You would be able to pirate Ferrari/Mercedes/etc. parts; however, I would assume there's a company secret as to the correct materials, and how to apply them to maximize performance (structural rigidity, right alloy ratios, etc.). Let's not forget, you'd really have to know your metallurgy and etc. if you really want to properly pirate solid materials in that manner.

If anything, consumer goods and merchandise you would normally get for a pretty penny in a toy store or something would be the more likely targets, but it doesn't make the above example any less possible. You'd just have to be really skilled and dedicated to your craft if you want to pull something like that off.

Of course, this is within the realm of our current tech level. If anything, toys and machine parts (with proper means/methods) would be the most likely things to be pirated first. Chop shops can go even more incognito this way, and reduce risk of getting caught by applying the method I mentioned, instead of hunting genuine car parts from cars all over a city. However, prices would differ because of this (legit parts acquired illegitimately, and "legit" reproductions).

EDIT:
Let's not forget the very rational and understandable fear of downloading weapons (likely on the actual top of the list). The plans to build them, and the parts to reproduce to build them with (You can download AKs or frag grenades, for example). All you need otherwise would be raw materials for final reproduction (means of mass-production can come later). Otherwise, you've got a pretty awesome looking airsoft or paintball gun and maybe (water)balloons.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Expanding the allowed materials can't be that hard.

Depends on what you mean. It'd be pretty hard to print, say, a peach.

I meant in the sense of printing simple, single-material items.

Printing living things shall be rather difficult, or will it?

Noone's trying to claim intellectual property rights on peaches though.

Wrong.

[Aklyon]

Noone's trying to claim intellectual property rights on peaches though.

Wrong.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Let's not forget the very rational and understandable fear of downloading weapons. The plans to build them, and the parts to reproduce to build them with (You can download AKs or frag grenades, for example). All you need otherwise would be raw materials for final reproduction. Otherwise, you've got a pretty awesome looking airsoft or paintball gun.

You could, but you'd need to already have explosive materials like Composition B if you wanted, for example, an M67 fragmentation grenade.

This also ensures that you don't have to worry very much about people fabricating nuclear weapons, as you'd already need to have weapons-grade uranium or plutonium on hand, along with a fabrication program for said nuke (something I'm sure would be kept very secret) and if you have those you probably could just build one the hard way if you had to.

Noone's trying to claim intellectual property rights on peaches though.

Wrong.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Is that directed at me or the idea of patenting fruit?

[Itnetlolor]

Handguns and rifles, as long as they're simple and relatively quick to produce, would likely be the most practical option anyone would go for first. A basic firearm (or few) to start, heavier stuff ('splodey stuff), and obtaining their materials somehow, would come later.

As for ammo, you can get the casings and bullet shape, but the materials may be a tad tricky; otherwise, you'd might as well find an ammo provider with ready-made bullets. Plus, there'd be less (apparent) risk in getting already made bullets, since it would be a challenge to get the right caliber and properly make them so they work properly, and not wreck the gun, or risk injury or death of the wielder of the weapon, or anyone around them.

EDIT:
Also, if I recall seeing some shows that involve working with guns and such correctly; crafting bullets and munitions themselves is like an art form in itself. I think building a gun is safer than crafting the ammo for them. If sufficiently inexperienced, and lack the right tools to work with, a ruined weekend is not too far away.

EDIT EDIT:
I suppose, the only real safety net we have are the limits of skill and precision (and the right tools and machining) required when it comes to the more dangerous, as well as more profitable, items to be duplicated/pirated via 3D Printer. Not to forget, have fun hiding a mass-production machine (specialized for what you intend to mass produce), no less building one that works (on all different levels) cheaply, and keeping them properly supplied, well-oiled, and did I forget to mention hidden?

[Frumple]

Don't... don't they already patent specific fruits? Like, the gene-modded ones? Or were trying to, or something. Patenting the specific techniques or whatever for creating a particular breed of fruit. Pretty sure they've been doing that.