: Why should I buy licensed software? What's is the point in buying graphic design programs like Adobe Photoshop, when I (using a cracked Photoshop) can tell people I work with Gimp? Nobody is

@Shelley591

WHAT IS THE DANGER? Besides the viruses, can I go to prison for that?


If you're asking purely about legal ramifications, then this probably isn't the right site to ask. It's a legal question. And legal questions are heavily dependent on where in the world you reside (and where in the world the entity you are infringing on resides).

Legally speaking, using unlicensed software would fall into the realms of intellectual property rights and contract law. These would typically be civil cases rather than criminal, so jail time isn't the typical outcome.

In the US, if caught, and the owner of said intellectual property wanted to pursue, the danger is likely that you and your company will be sued out of business.

There have been publicized cases of this in the past. Examples:


Microsoft and Autodesk lawsuits
Rick Santorum sued for using unlicensed typefaces
and of course, Google "RIAA Lawsuits" to find all sorts of examples of people being sued for using unlicensed music downloads.

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@Karen819

Try to think of it this way:

If someone copies your design verbatim and sells it claiming to be the owner, how would you feel? What would you do? Now think about the people who created the software with their sweat and tears. What do you think they feel? What do you think they'll do to you?

Live a clean life! After all, Creative Cloud is just pocket change for any serious designer...

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@Yeniel278

After you incorporate, your more open for regulation, then you can usually be investigated, in most western countries. As a private person outside US and France not much chance getting caught, even in these countries its slim pickings. In anycase you might leave telltale signs that you did indeed use photoshop, in the files you send out, and what files your are ready to use. For example send pdf and the pdf says it was made with PS.

However, consider this: Your business as a graphics designer relys on this same goodwill. So by using pirated software you loose the moral high ground when claiming whats yours.

Anyway piracy is not a simple issue. Adobe being a big beneficiary of the neetwork effect and all. But, in light of new CC services it makes sense to subscribe if you need the features. Besides the software are quite cheap compared to many other professional software.

Anyway you should pay for it because thats the law. And because its the right thing to do.

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@Twilah924

This is exactly like why should you work when you can steal money from people or somewhere else.

Cracked versions are often not cleaned ones and sometimes comes with Trojan and Backdoors. They can not guaranty the safety of your data and computer and you can not claim the loss from no one.
If you require the paid version of a software then it's good to pay and value someone's hard-work but there are always open source alternative for almost all the licensed softwares. You can go with open source alternatives if that suits your need.

EDIT: Yes, these softwares comes with international copyrights and laws, which can take you to prison or can make you to pay with a huge compensation amount or even worse then that, costing you money, your data and privacy (in case of Trojan and Backdoors) and prison.

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