>I vehemently disagree. Cracked users of commercial software ARE your target market that, for any reason, can't afford to pay you. They would if they could.
I think we actually agree. You said “They would if they could”, that’s exactly what I’m saying.
Especially in business software, the risks associated with piracy always outweigh the benefit of free software for those that can actually pay.
The person who is trying to learn, or uses the cracked software while climbing up the pay-scale will eventually turn in to a paying user.
As others have said, getting cheeky and letting folks know that you know the software is pirated is also a good approach.
Price-testing as you mentioned can also be valuable. Spending energy on DRM or anti-piracy schemes beyond a little Easter-egg/joke/warning is a waste of energy better spent on improving your product for your actual paying customers.
I think we actually agree. You said “They would if they could”, that’s exactly what I’m saying.
Especially in business software, the risks associated with piracy always outweigh the benefit of free software for those that can actually pay.
The person who is trying to learn, or uses the cracked software while climbing up the pay-scale will eventually turn in to a paying user.
As others have said, getting cheeky and letting folks know that you know the software is pirated is also a good approach.
Price-testing as you mentioned can also be valuable. Spending energy on DRM or anti-piracy schemes beyond a little Easter-egg/joke/warning is a waste of energy better spent on improving your product for your actual paying customers.