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How about different pricing for software for countries like lebanon (e.g. where the average income is much lower than developed countries). I mean, I'm not saying that since we dont have enough money to buy software then we are allowed to pirate it - that's fundamentally wrong. What i'm saying is to dynamically set prices taking into consideration average income in the target country. would that be feasible? could they practically lock the software to a certain region (something like DVDs) ? What do you think about it?
Shant wrotethe reason piracy is low in the us is because you get paid well,
That's a huge statement you made there. Got any data to back it up with?
First, is piracy really low in the US? The only numbers that I could get were that of the RIAA (which let's face it, are biased and probably corrupt). They claim an annual $12.5 billion dollars in losses to the U.S. economy.

Next, how can you correlate it with income? These guys are usually swimming in a sea of debts. Moreover, you claim that "in lebanon we barely have money for food", sounds like you're trying to make the reader pity the poor Lebanese gamers who don't have money for food. Yet, look at your gaming rig.

The way I see it, it's mainly the fact that we don't have online payment facilities and decent bandwidth to legitimately buy the games online.

PS: Shant, do not take this personally. We're holding a debate here. Welcome to LebGeeks!
shant wroteother hand, in lebanon we barely have money for food....
Actually, food is probably the only thing selling well in this country.

And I have to disagree on something - yes I know all of us at some phase pirated, pirating and will pirate software, but if some cant afford money for food, then the last thing someone should be worry about is how to get to play video games or get certain software. Personally I believe that piracy is a worldwide issue beside the fact that salaries might drastically differ between territories.

For instance, Canada is one of the big dogs in piracy - yes it's [Canada] listed as one of the top five countries responsible for piracy worldwide.

What about Sweden? Do they need a website like TPB(pirate bay) when almost poor people are non-extant in the country – it’s rather a place pounded with rich and middle class residents.
Just give us good download speed and ill keep buying games from gog and steam. But when i need to wait 3 weeks for a 15gb size game, screw it!
Ill just go to that 2000L.L\DVD store and buy the games from there.
MegaCool wroteWhat about Sweden? Do they need a website like TPB(pirate bay) when almost poor people are non-extant in the country – it’s rather a place pounded with rich and middle class residents.
My relative is a Swedish citizen, but he is Lebanese and lived here for about 6 years. He basically buys games from Steam like any other gamer in his country, his internet connection is 100 Mbps (he doesnt know how much upload). The government tracks any person who downloads torrents or from any black listed website illegal stuff, and if they do the fine is about $20000.
This year he bought a PS3, so almost every game must be bought from a real retailer. He is working in hotel with an hourly wage of about $15, he works like 3 days a week about 10 hours each day roughly earning him $1500. Of course there are taxes but when he was under 18 all the taxes are paid back by the government in about 2-3 months.
This month he turned 18 and found a new job contract that earns him an hourly wage of about $30, along with his high school he wont be working much. But he told me that he will make an average of $3500 per month, of course the taxes will be deducted thus the net earning will be about $2000(no refunds this time).
No question related to software here i think you got the point everything he owns or is going to buy is legit, from Windows software to games.

I have stated here a case of your typical Swedish man, i want your analysis guys/gals what do you think?

Note: Lebanon has a GDP per capita of about $12000 which translates to a $1000 per month, that is for the average Lebanese person who wants to live a normal life. Why dont we see that inaction? or is there something sucking some $s from those $1000 before they reach thew worker?

P.S: Sweden's GDP per capita is about $35000.
kareem_nasser wroteor is there something sucking some $s from those $1000 before they reach thew worker?
I didn't quite follow up with the topic, but i just wanted to comment on kareem's question.

the 1000$ reaches the worker but then the following happens:

1- Paying ridiculous mobile and home phone bills
2- Paying 2x Electrical bills
3- Paying 2x Water bills (including 2x mineral)
4- Paying off bribes in governmental institutions or you wont get your papers done.
5- Paying X amount of car repairs because the roads are just messing your car up.
6- ...
7- ...
Those $1000 should be the least a university graduate should expect after graduation, but some if not most companies dont give this much from the month you start working.
If i am wrong about GDP per capita or something related to economics please correct. (Kassem?)
samer wrote
Shant wrotethe reason piracy is low in the us is because you get paid well,
That's a huge statement you made there. Got any data to back it up with?
First, is piracy really low in the US? The only numbers that I could get were that of the RIAA (which let's face it, are biased and probably corrupt). They claim an annual $12.5 billion dollars in losses to the U.S. economy.

Next, how can you correlate it with income? These guys are usually swimming in a sea of debts. Moreover, you claim that "in lebanon we barely have money for food", sounds like you're trying to make the reader pity the poor Lebanese gamers who don't have money for food. Yet, look at your gaming rig.

The way I see it, it's mainly the fact that we don't have online payment facilities and decent bandwidth to legitimately buy the games online.

PS: Shant, do not take this personally. We're holding a debate here. Welcome to LebGeeks!
wait, i wasn't clear, i wasn't saying i don't have money for food, i do, im saying that many lebanese don't
look around, most of the people don't get paid well, comparing to america, there not only you get paid good but hardware and stuff are cheap there, well yes, if i spent my money on games legit games i wouldnt have the cash for this rig, also US is big, VERY big! if 50% of them pirate games, that 50% is more than all the people in lebanon,
forget the number of people who pirate, lets count this in percentage, if 50% of the people pirate in US, then 95% of lebanese do it!
im not saying that it is 50% of the people who pirate in the US, whatever the percentage, its still lower than lebanon, just so you know, the people who pirate there DO buy games at least twice or more a year!
on the other hand i don't think most of the lebanese who pirate have had a taste of legit games or even know the difference of features between pirated and legit ones
sorry for my bad english, i don't know if i made my point or not
MegaCool wrote
shant wroteother hand, in lebanon we barely have money for food....
Actually, food is probably the only thing selling well in this country.

And I have to disagree on something - yes I know all of us at some phase pirated, pirating and will pirate software, but if some cant afford money for food, then the last thing someone should be worry about is how to get to play video games or get certain software. Personally I believe that piracy is a worldwide issue beside the fact that salaries might drastically differ between territories.

For instance, Canada is one of the big dogs in piracy - yes it's [Canada] listed as one of the top five countries responsible for piracy worldwide.

What about Sweden? Do they need a website like TPB(pirate bay) when almost poor people are non-extant in the country – it’s rather a place pounded with rich and middle class residents.
yes, why do you think food is selling good here? because thats the only thing people are forced to buy, other than that you can live with dirty clothes etc...
arguing about this would prove nothing as the country is viewed different from different people and different ages, im not poor nor rich, i have money for food, im kind of an idiot who doesn't know his balance, i spend more money on my pc than other things such as cloths, heck i have very few cloths in my drawer, reason? you guessed it, no good income,if i balanced my spent between pc,legit games,food and cloths my life would be so boring! what good would do to me if i had crysis 2 legit and i had a pentium 4 pc? well thats probably only me i guess because im not a person who spends his time looking good etc.. in other countries such as america (i know lots and lots of people there and i know people who lived both there and here in leb so don't tell me you don't have proof)
so was saying such as america a regular nor poor none rich person has A LOT more than stuff than regular paid people have here!, in fact i heard that the lowest paid person makes 28k dollars a year, im pretty sure i can buy very good cloths, feed a family, but legit games and and still have a good gaming pc if i get that much, tbh ive saved for years just to get the current pc i have

EDIT: just so you know with that 28k a year, you pay 20$ a month for cell phone and you get 300 minutes of talk time and UNLIMITED texting!
cheaper electricity,internet,cards and a whole lot other stuff, a 10k dollar car here costs around 2-3k, so yeah
sorry for the long convo there,just saying that if you compare in percentage, not in number of people or how much loss there is, people here pirate more than people in the US
i still stand that it's all because of lack of competition and high prices

i don't see why 3 year old PS3 games down at virgin are still some 50-80$

i mean you could go to a smaller retailers and pick it up for 35 $ (resistance 2 for example ) but still that's pretty darn high.


im just using video games as an example, it's even worse for OS's and Software .. i have NEVER ever in my time hear at Lebanon spent a single penny on OS or software .. UNLESS it came with a laptop/PC i purchased.
vegetaleb wroteAnother thing that push people in Lebanon toward piracy is CENSORSHIP and lack of choice in the music department.
How many movies have been forbidden?
Can you find psychedelic trance CDs from 2010 and newer in Lebanon for exemple?
Speaking of censorship, I guess the church authorities here have deemed the latest Lady Gaga CD "offensive to christianity" and it is now banned. http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/06/06/lady-gagas-born-this-way-banned-in-lebanon/ Stuff like this also drives people toward piracy.

Please note, this info is only to illustrate your point. I personally don't listen to her because I think the music is crap. Now if someone can find a way to download Levi jeans......
xazbrat wrote
vegetaleb wroteAnother thing that push people in Lebanon toward piracy is CENSORSHIP and lack of choice in the music department.
How many movies have been forbidden?
Can you find psychedelic trance CDs from 2010 and newer in Lebanon for exemple?
Speaking of censorship, I guess the church authorities here have deemed the latest Lady Gaga CD "offensive to christianity" and it is now banned. http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/06/06/lady-gagas-born-this-way-banned-in-lebanon/ Stuff like this also drives people toward piracy.

Please note, this info is only to illustrate your point. I personally don't listen to her because I think the music is crap. Now if someone can find a way to download Levi jeans......
hmm, never knew the government of lebanon takes such steps for its people :P
maybe they fear a religious fight in the country, anyway, yes it does increase piracy and yes lady gaga is crap
i get your point, but i dont think anyone would pay 99$ to get a software they could get at 1500LL !