Work ethics - morale - Legalese: how to handle?

AVGWarhawk · 12-23-12, 09:55 PM

Personally, I would not repair a cracked operating system. That's like fixing a car for the guy who stole it.

RickC Sniper · 12-23-12, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Personally, I would not repair a cracked operating system. That's like fixing a car for the guy who stole it.

I agree.

Takeda Shingen · 12-23-12, 10:28 PM

Make that yet another agreement. I wouldn't help people with cracked operating systems.

12-23-12, 11:06 PM

I've done systems work on and off for years.
My own ISP, County work, Lawyers, and State wide work at various times.
I still maintain several business Computers at home and do side work.

I do not support Pirated systems software.

HundertzehnGustav · 12-24-12, 03:11 AM

I support Private users, not a bank system or such.
If i were inside a system, and the Bank or the Hotel or the insurance company (whatever)would used stuff like that, i would be out of there in zero-nil time, writing a Letter to the owner of the software (Microsoft in this case).

I sat in the bus this morning and thought it through again, looking for a simpler way to explain it, in case i could not make it quite clear.

and the very same example came up:

Would you, as a qualified certified officially approved mechanic, fix a car that you KNOW was stolen?

If you were a watch repairman, would you fix a Rolex that you know was a 15Dollar example off Chinatown?
================================================== =======

The Boss says:
make a Disk Backup before touching anything.
then try and fix it, as we are not the police, our Job is not to police People, but to help them.

If you can fix the problem:
Tell the customer you have doubts on the officiality of the software/Licence Key.

If you cannot fix the "customized"/"licence-less" windows:
Go and use the backup you made, hand the Customer His PC, and blame the illegal software.

New Installs or Re-installs:
Have a licence - either the one on the Machine, or ask the customer.
make sure it aint some fake Photocopy.

My own Heart's Position is:
Illegal stuff of any kind: get the hell outta my workshop! Who am i, your corner-of-the-street Computer Bum?

My Brain says:
take a good look at the illegal software anyway - you might learn a thing or two!

Glad others feel the same.

Skybird · 12-26-12, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HundertzehnGustav

I support Private users, not a bank system or such.

If you work on private users'/private customers' systems, I am pretty sure that you make yourself liable to prosecution according to German laws.

I could imagine that this also is the case if you maintain company-internal systems of the company employing you. Because no company can order you to do something breaking the law without you sharing some share of guilt if complying, assuming you know the order demands you to do something illegal. If prosecuted, there is a chance though that the court would accept mitigating circumstances considering the relationship of dependence between superior employer and subordinate employee.

Since this is your professio and you depend on it making your living, I would definitely ask a lawyer on this, just to be sure.

Neptunus Rex · 12-26-12, 03:11 PM

From a legal point of view, each machine the pirated software is loaded onto is a seperate offense of theft and the company is liable for EACH offense if these are company machines. If more than one person know's this (and you are now one of them), then the charge of conspiracy to commit theft can be added seperately from the actual theft.

If it's seperate "customers", you can be held liable for each machine you found the software on as aiding in the piracy of the software and did not report it.

Companys that produce the software were not born yesterday. They have HUGE legal and technical departments dedicated to finding pirated software and prosecuting the users.

If your boss says "do it" guess what, you're not off the hook. Froma personal liability issue, you're on the hook. If your boss/company gets caught, he/they can say he didn't know anything about it.

If you have any offical certifications or licenses, you can loose them and your investment in time and money in obtaining them.

At the very least, LEAVE whoever you work for that wants this done. But you would still be on the perverbial hook for the machines you found the pirated software on. Report it in writing, have the letter delivered by registered mail, then quit. Keep the signature card you get back for the rest of your life.

Jimbuna · 12-24-12, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Personally, I would not repair a cracked operating system. That's like fixing a car for the guy who stole it.

Precisely.

12-23-12, 09:55 PM	#1
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,275 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Personally, I would not repair a cracked operating system. That's like fixing a car for the guy who stole it. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

12-24-12, 03:11 AM	#5
HundertzehnGustav Sea Lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lux, betw. G, B and F Posts: 1,898 Downloads: 66 Uploads: 0	I support Private users, not a bank system or such. If i were inside a system, and the Bank or the Hotel or the insurance company (whatever)would used stuff like that, i would be out of there in zero-nil time, writing a Letter to the owner of the software (Microsoft in this case). I sat in the bus this morning and thought it through again, looking for a simpler way to explain it, in case i could not make it quite clear. and the very same example came up: Would you, as a qualified certified officially approved mechanic, fix a car that you KNOW was stolen? If you were a watch repairman, would you fix a Rolex that you know was a 15Dollar example off Chinatown? ================================================== ======= The Boss says: make a Disk Backup before touching anything. then try and fix it, as we are not the police, our Job is not to police People, but to help them. If you can fix the problem: Tell the customer you have doubts on the officiality of the software/Licence Key. If you cannot fix the "customized"/"licence-less" windows: Go and use the backup you made, hand the Customer His PC, and blame the illegal software. New Installs or Re-installs: Have a licence - either the one on the Machine, or ask the customer. make sure it aint some fake Photocopy. My own Heart's Position is: Illegal stuff of any kind: get the hell outta my workshop! Who am i, your corner-of-the-street Computer Bum? My Brain says: take a good look at the illegal software anyway - you might learn a thing or two! Glad others feel the same. __________________ In conclusion: SH3 is the shizzle, yo. -Frau Kaleun Another negative about using your deck gun is that you are definately DETECTED, which has long term effects on your relationship with aircraft. -snestorm

12-26-12, 03:11 PM	#7
Neptunus Rex Frogman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 294 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	From a legal point of view, each machine the pirated software is loaded onto is a seperate offense of theft and the company is liable for EACH offense if these are company machines. If more than one person know's this (and you are now one of them), then the charge of conspiracy to commit theft can be added seperately from the actual theft. If it's seperate "customers", you can be held liable for each machine you found the software on as aiding in the piracy of the software and did not report it. Companys that produce the software were not born yesterday. They have HUGE legal and technical departments dedicated to finding pirated software and prosecuting the users. If your boss says "do it" guess what, you're not off the hook. Froma personal liability issue, you're on the hook. If your boss/company gets caught, he/they can say he didn't know anything about it. If you have any offical certifications or licenses, you can loose them and your investment in time and money in obtaining them. At the very least, LEAVE whoever you work for that wants this done. But you would still be on the perverbial hook for the machines you found the pirated software on. Report it in writing, have the letter delivered by registered mail, then quit. Keep the signature card you get back for the rest of your life. __________________ Neptunus Rex sends "In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president." A.C. 11-5-08

12-23-12, 10:28 PM	#3
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Make that yet another agreement. I wouldn't help people with cracked operating systems.

12-23-12, 11:06 PM	#4
Madox58 Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I've done systems work on and off for years. My own ISP, County work, Lawyers, and State wide work at various times. I still maintain several business Computers at home and do side work. I do not support Pirated systems software.