• How did you become a pirate? What is your story from the beginning?


Well. I'm brazilian and every single person here already bought a pirate dvd or game. Well, I used to buy pirate games for two reasons:

- Original games were far too expensive (and they still are… some games are about 1/ 4 of the minimum wage).
- I could find way more interesting titles on sale on pirate shops.

But that was always material things, I only began pirating through internet when I realized I didn't need to pay $10 on a pirate game when I could pay $1 on a cd/dvd and burn it myself. As well, I thought that I could have games I couldn't find anywhere here, nor pirate or original.
So, I guess I always used pirate content and stuff, it is in the culture here (lol, it is). I began sharing content last year, here on the forums, when Megaupload came down.
After seeing that the forum was empty on stuff and I download so much content from here, I felt like I needed to help other people who, like me, wanted games and couldn't find them or couldn't buy them. I NEEDED to help as those who helped me.
So I began sharing games, but I stopped that when it became a responsability that I couldn't really take.
Today I only share things that someone specially request me and I don't guarantee the reuploading the thing after it is deleted.

  • What are your limits when it comes to piracy? What stuff/means are too hot for you?


Well, I have no problem sharing. I think that, well, if you can't afford it, well... this is the way you can have it. I don't have in mind right now a thing I wouldn't share. I just have in mind that if I know the person who wants something and I know he/she can really afford that thing with no problem at all, they should support it and buy it. That's it, besides that I don't have anything in mind.

  • What is your justification for pirating?


People need things. It is so hard for you to have and pay for it all. I pirate the things I can't afford at all and I really want. People want things, you know, and they will find a way to have it. But I have in mind that if I have the money to have an original copy without interfering with things I REALLY REALLY NEED, I will do something to buy it.
Besides that, many stuff are sold limited to a country or a group of people. I have no problem with pirating those. If they don't wanna sell it, I'll pirate it.

  • What means of download do you use? E.g. bittorrent/Filehosters/FTP/etc. If you use several: to what percentage each?


I guess I use them all, lol:.
I normally tend to use torrent, cause they're faster and what I can't find with them, I download on the other ways. But as I look for many "rare" things, I guess I use 50% to filehosters and 50% on torrent.

  • Have you ever been caught by lawmen/publishers? What was your penalty and how did it affect you?


No..

  • To what extent do you use legal download shops? (e.g. iTunes)


I use sites like Amazon (actually, I use a local site here, but it is... like... the same thing).

  • What would have to change to make most people stop pirating?


Some people pirate cause they don’t have the money to afford the thing they want. So this is one thing that would have to change.
Besides that, there are people who can afford it but prefer not to because they “don’t have to”. So I guess you would have to change people’s financial situation and some people’s doutrine.
And… that won’t happen, sorry.
Oh, and some pirate things that they can’t easily buy original.

  • What do you think: What is the reason for most people to pirate?


I can’t tell for the others, but my guess is that most people living in this world are poor and they can’t afford things, so they pirate them. And that is a simple thought. There are social reasons besides that, if you ask me, like “everyone watched/played this, I don’t have money to it and I can’t have more money for it and I need to fit in” and worst things too…

  • What is the best-working copy protection in your opinion?


I don’t know, I guess you can pirate everything that is not material. There are those who can encrypt and those who will decrypt… so I don’t know.

  • Please give a statement on this quote: "piracy harms industry and in return harms users."


I like to support things if I can…
But industry could, instead of trying to make their products less accessible, change their mind and make different versions of their products that would reach the most people.
I mean, industry’s reaction is suicidal. They could think on better ways to make money and minimize piracy.

  • Are you an active member of the homebrew scene? (legal)


No.

  • Are you an active member of the cracker scene?


I’m not a cracker, but I use cracked products.

  • Do you contribute to this community (=uploading) or just leeching (=downloading)?


Read above.

  • Your age?


20.

  • Your gender?


Male.

  • Which country do you reside in?


Read above.

  • To which social group do you account yourself?


I don’t think I fit anywhere, lol. I come and go when I feel like needed.