Depends on where he lives/works. In some countries, most companies have lots of pirated software running in their desktops, and unless it's a big corporation from which the copyright owner/CSA can make a whole bunch of money, the worst they do is send an 'auditor', have him say something around the lines of 'you have some unlicensed stuff, here's a special offer to get yourself all legal", and insist on it. Only if the company insists on using the copies w/o paying, they will take some nasty legal action (ie suing), and the guy who actually did the install will probably not be held accountable for the worst (maybe used as a witness, and have him pay a fine, but nowhere near going to jail).
This is so, I think, because in these countries a) actually taking something to court and especially have a resolution can take AGES, even super simple stuff, and cost a lot more than a few licenses. Plus if they start suing people around like mad, people that might have kept the pirate copies, and be subject to some nice offer on licences, will instead turn to other alternatives (I'm just speculating here, but it seems plausible), and that wouldn't be good for the copyright owner either. b) people, and many MANY companies, really can't afford the software, but actually need it to work (thanks to our friends at redmond, if you pardon my zealotry), so they pirate. And no, as much as I like to offer OpenOffice to everyone and I propose it each time I get a chance, some people need MS Office. Forcing use of legal software ar prices that are really not meant for a developing economy, will add yet another block on the road, for such an economy to improve. That's one of the reasons people aren't very fond of 'free trade' agreements with copyright protection requirements attached to them.
I Live in Argentina. I'm a gamer, so I saved up and finally bought myself a Wii. Now, games here cost 80 dollars, which if you compare our average income to US's, it's like if americans had to pay 240 dollars per game. I'd really LOVE to have a nice game collection with their shiny cases stacked next to my Wii, but there's no way I'm spending that much of my salary on a game, no matter how good it is or how much it costs to produce. Especially when the companies that produced them literally said "we're not interested in that market, so we're not selling there". Fuck that. When they care enough to at least have an official distributor/dealer where I can go for warranty claims (now not only It's expensive, there's no one to go to if you want to make a claim about warranty or any other issue), and they bother to put the stuff for sale at a reasonable price. Until then, if they aren't 'interested in the market' here, then they shouldn't bother if I copy a game.. because I'm very well fucking interested, and want to play them, but that doesn't mean I'm going to lower my pants and allow them to fuck me over it. So excuse me if I don't see much of a moral issue when copying games and shit.
(sorry about the angry tone, but these things really piss me off)
Ah, but this time it's done by teh t0talitar14n g0vernm3nt of commun1st ch4vezz!!one!!!! See?? there's no privacy in venezuela!!!
I still think this sucks, but I'm getting tired of this kind of "we're the civilized world, the light, people that have different socioeconomic/politic views than us are obviously wrong, so they must have come to power by force, they're terrorists/dictators/communists/liberals (which are of course all the same), and therefore inherently evil" bullshit.
Man.. that is scary. The Internet was never under control. It kinda used to be the point of it really. I remember in the early 90s when I tried to explain to my dad that nobody 'owned' the internet, that there was no-one dictating what you could or couldn't do on it, it was just a bunch of computers connected to each other, and yours was one of those, so what you did on the net was just business between you and whoever you were sending packets to/from. I remember him doing a 'meh' kind of face and saying something along the lines of "Yeah, sounds, nice. We'll see how long it takes to have some business value, then you can kiss all that freedom goodbye, and say hello to the new 'owners'".
I think the problem is that most people who would buy a ps3, are waiting for a price drop, which forces Sony to *continually* go out and say that there will be none. Otherwise I don't know why they keep saying this over and over, once would be enough.
Which would prove that the current price is way too much (Most people always thought that, I know, but still some fanboys kept saying things like "if you want the best you have to pay the price" and that sort of shit).
Disclaimer: You can call me a fanboy myself if you like. I got my Nintendo Wii and I'm having loads of fun with it:)
Right. Makes me think of Carl Sagan, who was (is?) often criticized for 'not having done any real discoveries or advances in astronomy', he was only a good 'popularizer' of astronomy and science in general, as this was a trivial or nonimportant thing. Making something popular is sometimes very important, as it draws needed attention to a subject. In Sagan's case, maybe he didn't do a nobel-worthy discovery, but how many great scientists are there now, that were inspired by his work? how many of today's great scientific minds wouldn't have turned that way without his incredible talent for communicating his contagious passion for science and discovery?
I think a similar kind of credit is due to the ubuntu project. Maybe they didn't rewrite the kernel, but they made linux slick and easy to install and accessible to a LOT of people who draw attention (and indirectly resources) to linux. I know in my case, it helped me get a lot of friends interested in linux, who had previously tried it but found it too confusing.
There are many ways to contribute to a project, besides coding.
You're right, I thought GPL and BSD-like licenses contained also non-distribution clauses that limited uses (don't know where I got that idea, I guess all the anti-DRM provisions in v3 got me confused, sorry about that). Sine copyright should be (is?) concerned only with (re)distribution, if the GPL and friends only deal with that, then I guess they're ok. Besides, I don't know in the US, but where I come from, laws have priority over private contracts (such as a software 'license'). So if some law (copyright law?) says somewhere that once the stuff has been sold to me, I can do with it as I like, they can show me all the legalese they want, make me sign a contract in blood saying I won't use it for virtualization, and it won't mean jack, 'cause they can't override law with a private contract just the same way you can't sign your freedoms away. You can't sign a contract accepting to becoma someone's slave, since slavery is illegal and your freedoms are protected by law, and law is above private contracts.
And for 'licensing' of the software concept of "you don't OWN your copy of this software, you just have a license to use it. Microsoft owns it", it's also bullshit. They own the COPYRIGHT to it, meaning they are the ones who can dictate how, to whom (and this varies in some countries, in some places you can't decide to sell to someone and not to someone else.. if you sell, you have to sell to anyone who pays the defined price) and for how much to distribute the stuff, but that doesn't mean I don't own MY COPY. I do, I just don't own the copyright to it. But it's still MY copy, and I can do whatever I want with it within the limits of what copyright law allows (mostly thou shall not copy this and redistribute it).
I agree 100%. This 'License' business is way out of control. How can they tell you how to use a product in your home? all that "you didn't buy a copy, you bought a license to do only X" is bullshit. I bought a copy, a cd/dvd with a program on it. The copyright owner can sell me a 'license' to modify (extend) my rights to it regarding -distribution and reproduction- (after all that's what copyright should be all about) of such work, but in no way what I can do with it in the privacy of my own house. It's MY copy and I'll use it for whatever I fucking like. They can't 'license' something to me so I can do with it only what they allow, or at least they shouldn't. When and how did this ever change?
sorry for the rant, I'm just sick to death about this 'licensing' nonsense, GPL, BSD and friends included.
If the people at the store doesn't seem friendly, you can also do it Corleone style: grease the right hand to give you a call when the next shipment arrives;)
Funny that you mention it, because one of the things updated when you run the 'update' option (before actually downloading the full version of opera) is the parental control thingy, apparently to be able to use it to control the Internet Channel. I haven't tried it tho.. I have no use for that kind of thing, but your soccer moms might like it.
Heh, a couple of days ago a friend of mine invited me and a few others to his apt for some pizza & beer. They've all played videogames (on pc mostly) but they're certainly not hardcore gamers. However, I couln't help giggling when I showed them Wii Sports Tennis and they kept pushing buttons when they swing (even when they knew they had to actually swing the remote, some still instinctively pressed the A button). we had lots of fun, btw;)
We are not "helping" to maintain bad work conditions , we (and indeed the entire global market, smug Europeans take note) are benefitting from China's own lack of regulatory oversight. It is ultimately the responsibility of a self sufficient nation, like China, to ensure the welfare of its own citizens (recognizing that there are places, like the Sudan where the government is not capable of this level of control).
I agree about the entire global market part, but this time it's only the xxAA (US) bitching about piracy. By benefiting from china's own lack of regulatory oversight they incentivate the people that make that oversight possible to maintain it. To wash your hands and say "it's their problem" is naive and downright irresponsible. Saying that it's ultimately their responsibility is oversimplifying a complex situation in which many factors play in to maintain certain status quo (where it fits them, of course), and by entering that market you ARE taking actions that have repercutions and responsibilities, like it or not. It's not completely 'the country's responsibility' just as it's not completely the foreign country's responsibility either. It's a sovereign country capable and responsible for their own laws, yes. That doesn't exempt anyone else of any responsibility for what they do in it any more than it exempts some US companies of the ethic responsibilities of what they do in their own country, regardless of their legal right to do it. I agree that taking it to the WTO is the correct action for complaints like that, what I criticize is the hipocrisy of it, reminiscent of last century's colonial policies, courtesy of our european pals.
All countries do things differently and for very different reasons
You mean, like not considering IP that much of an issue? I think making -copies- (ie: different from stealing) is a lot less amoral than taking advantage (and somewhat indirectly) help maintaining bad work conditions. US's money muscle doesn't only reach pockets, it pushes laws abroad, gives uncaring politicians a great incentive to maintain an interest, and for that, keep the work profitable (ie: low paid). Of course it's mostly the local politician's corruption, but taking advantage of it isn't passive or lacking of responsibility. US mega companies want to profit from 3rd world countries working conditions, they're all for it, but they get all pissed when they have to deal with that same 3rd world country's market conditions (piracy). You can't have it all.
Makes me think of a discussion about game piracy I had a couple of days ago with a guy from a store downtown who imported original games. I said I like games, but they are way too expensive, so I use pirated copies. Of course he wasn't happy, but then he said he once talked to a representative from Sony about producing (pressing) games in the country instead of having to import them (shipping + taxes), and they repliead that they're not interested in the market (in Argentina). So, i said "well, if they're not interested in the market, I'll just keep copying, they obviously don't care. If they change their minds, and want to make a realistic offer considering the average income here, I'll happily listen".
It's kind of catch-22, because one of the arguments they have for the lack of interest is the amount of piracy in the country, but the piracy itself grew because of high prices in the first place, which are made worse in no small part for import costs.
So? they can make a game where if your saber collides with another, they stay so for a moment (both 'pushing') and have the wiimote do some rumbling, then you have to go quickly to the 'blocked' position to match the screen and do something to start struggling with the opponent (nothing too long). and that might just be bosses, I'd buy in a second a game where I can go around a full level or map against, say, stormtroopers , deflecting shots and cutting away troopers, droids and doors or walls (no real resistance needed there, the saber should cut as through butter, but making it rumble while it goes through something would be extra-nice).
Well depends a lot on personal taste, but for now I'm having lots of fun with Zelda:TP, DBZ:BT2 and Godfather: BHE. DBZ is funnier when you play against a friend, but the adventure mode is addictive (warning: I used to be a SF2 junkie, so take it in context;))
I'm 29 and while I can have fun with wii sports, I like games like GTA, sports games (WE/PES), FPSs and stuff like that. I used to be part of a Quake2 clan in the lanparty days. However, I decided to go for the wii (can't afford more than one console), because while graphics do matter, I'd rather have something somewhat new, more fun to play (so far the Wii has definetly delivered) than photorealistic graphics.. Wii's graphics are just good enough for me, I really prefer efforts be spent on other directions (diversification for example) than have the same games all over again just with photorealistic graphics and better AI. With the Wii I *can* have the games I already know, plus the oportunity to try out some new things (or new, funnier ways to do old things other than just a paintjob: I tried Godfather BHE on the PC, but the controls sucked. On the Wii it's a blast).
Shipping is only free in the US. To get something sent down here, it costs a bit. It's been some time since I bought something from them but using some service you can track (say UPS or DHL) will cost around 15 dollars. Add to that the 21% VAT on customs, and there you have, from 50 to around 90. Imagine most import shops also have to make a (small) profit out of it, so even if they lower the shipping costs (volume), they also have to make a profit on the sales, plus I believe there must be some extra customs costs, and the price easily goes above $100. I love my country, but sometimes it sucks for this kind of things. For example, I got my Wii paying only 315 dollars, because a friend from Panama was returning to Buenos Aires, so I asked her to buy it for me there (they have some sort of tax-free zone or something) and she brought it here in her baggage (luckily she didn't get searched in customs). If I had to buy the console here, I wouldn't have bought it at all. In mercadolibre.com.ar (ebay the argentine way), it's selling for around 650 u.s. dollars. There's absolutely NO WAY I'm spending 2/3 of my monthly salary on a console. 315 dollars hurt enough already.
I only pirate stuff for personal use, but 30 pesos a copy wouldn't fly here. Most small time pirates (there's plenty) sell copies between 5 and 15 pesos each. Buyers tend to be either parents who couldn't care less about piracy and IP (They're just buying a game for the kid, plus 15 pesos vs. 300.. well, there isn't much of a choice, and 3000 pesos is a pretty good salary, many many people do much less a month), and kids who either don't have a cd/dvd burner and broadband or can't/don't know how to use it.
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Depends on where he lives/works. In some countries, most companies have lots of pirated software running in their desktops, and unless it's a big corporation from which the copyright owner/CSA can make a whole bunch of money, the worst they do is send an 'auditor', have him say something around the lines of 'you have some unlicensed stuff, here's a special offer to get yourself all legal", and insist on it. Only if the company insists on using the copies w/o paying, they will take some nasty legal action (ie suing), and the guy who actually did the install will probably not be held accountable for the worst (maybe used as a witness, and have him pay a fine, but nowhere near going to jail).
This is so, I think, because in these countries a) actually taking something to court and especially have a resolution can take AGES, even super simple stuff, and cost a lot more than a few licenses. Plus if they start suing people around like mad, people that might have kept the pirate copies, and be subject to some nice offer on licences, will instead turn to other alternatives (I'm just speculating here, but it seems plausible), and that wouldn't be good for the copyright owner either. b) people, and many MANY companies, really can't afford the software, but actually need it to work (thanks to our friends at redmond, if you pardon my zealotry), so they pirate. And no, as much as I like to offer OpenOffice to everyone and I propose it each time I get a chance, some people need MS Office. Forcing use of legal software ar prices that are really not meant for a developing economy, will add yet another block on the road, for such an economy to improve. That's one of the reasons people aren't very fond of 'free trade' agreements with copyright protection requirements attached to them.
I Live in Argentina. I'm a gamer, so I saved up and finally bought myself a Wii. Now, games here cost 80 dollars, which if you compare our average income to US's, it's like if americans had to pay 240 dollars per game.
I'd really LOVE to have a nice game collection with their shiny cases stacked next to my Wii, but there's no way I'm spending that much of my salary on a game, no matter how good it is or how much it costs to produce. Especially when the companies that produced them literally said "we're not interested in that market, so we're not selling there".
Fuck that.
When they care enough to at least have an official distributor/dealer where I can go for warranty claims (now not only It's expensive, there's no one to go to if you want to make a claim about warranty or any other issue), and they bother to put the stuff for sale at a reasonable price. Until then, if they aren't 'interested in the market' here, then they shouldn't bother if I copy a game.. because I'm very well fucking interested, and want to play them, but that doesn't mean I'm going to lower my pants and allow them to fuck me over it.
So excuse me if I don't see much of a moral issue when copying games and shit.
(sorry about the angry tone, but these things really piss me off)
Ah, but this time it's done by teh t0talitar14n g0vernm3nt of commun1st ch4vezz!!one!!!! See?? there's no privacy in venezuela!!!
I still think this sucks, but I'm getting tired of this kind of "we're the civilized world, the light, people that have different socioeconomic/politic views than us are obviously wrong, so they must have come to power by force, they're terrorists/dictators/communists/liberals (which are of course all the same), and therefore inherently evil" bullshit.
(sorry, I'm having a bad day)
" we have an Internet out of control "
Man.. that is scary. The Internet was never under control. It kinda used to be the point of it really. I remember in the early 90s when I tried to explain to my dad that nobody 'owned' the internet, that there was no-one dictating what you could or couldn't do on it, it was just a bunch of computers connected to each other, and yours was one of those, so what you did on the net was just business between you and whoever you were sending packets to/from.
I remember him doing a 'meh' kind of face and saying something along the lines of "Yeah, sounds, nice. We'll see how long it takes to have some business value, then you can kiss all that freedom goodbye, and say hello to the new 'owners'".
It's kind of sad, really.
I think the problem is that most people who would buy a ps3, are waiting for a price drop, which forces Sony to *continually* go out and say that there will be none. Otherwise I don't know why they keep saying this over and over, once would be enough.
:)
Which would prove that the current price is way too much (Most people always thought that, I know, but still some fanboys kept saying things like "if you want the best you have to pay the price" and that sort of shit).
Disclaimer: You can call me a fanboy myself if you like. I got my Nintendo Wii and I'm having loads of fun with it
How about we settle for neutral-evil?
but we all agree they're caothic evil :)
Right. Makes me think of Carl Sagan, who was (is?) often criticized for 'not having done any real discoveries or advances in astronomy', he was only a good 'popularizer' of astronomy and science in general, as this was a trivial or nonimportant thing.
Making something popular is sometimes very important, as it draws needed attention to a subject. In Sagan's case, maybe he didn't do a nobel-worthy discovery, but how many great scientists are there now, that were inspired by his work? how many of today's great scientific minds wouldn't have turned that way without his incredible talent for communicating his contagious passion for science and discovery?
I think a similar kind of credit is due to the ubuntu project. Maybe they didn't rewrite the kernel, but they made linux slick and easy to install and accessible to a LOT of people who draw attention (and indirectly resources) to linux. I know in my case, it helped me get a lot of friends interested in linux, who had previously tried it but found it too confusing.
There are many ways to contribute to a project, besides coding.
You're right, I thought GPL and BSD-like licenses contained also non-distribution clauses that limited uses (don't know where I got that idea, I guess all the anti-DRM provisions in v3 got me confused, sorry about that). Sine copyright should be (is?) concerned only with (re)distribution, if the GPL and friends only deal with that, then I guess they're ok.
Besides, I don't know in the US, but where I come from, laws have priority over private contracts (such as a software 'license'). So if some law (copyright law?) says somewhere that once the stuff has been sold to me, I can do with it as I like, they can show me all the legalese they want, make me sign a contract in blood saying I won't use it for virtualization, and it won't mean jack, 'cause they can't override law with a private contract just the same way you can't sign your freedoms away. You can't sign a contract accepting to becoma someone's slave, since slavery is illegal and your freedoms are protected by law, and law is above private contracts.
And for 'licensing' of the software concept of "you don't OWN your copy of this software, you just have a license to use it. Microsoft owns it", it's also bullshit. They own the COPYRIGHT to it, meaning they are the ones who can dictate how, to whom (and this varies in some countries, in some places you can't decide to sell to someone and not to someone else.. if you sell, you have to sell to anyone who pays the defined price) and for how much to distribute the stuff, but that doesn't mean I don't own MY COPY. I do, I just don't own the copyright to it. But it's still MY copy, and I can do whatever I want with it within the limits of what copyright law allows (mostly thou shall not copy this and redistribute it).
I agree 100%. This 'License' business is way out of control. How can they tell you how to use a product in your home? all that "you didn't buy a copy, you bought a license to do only X" is bullshit. I bought a copy, a cd/dvd with a program on it. The copyright owner can sell me a 'license' to modify (extend) my rights to it regarding -distribution and reproduction- (after all that's what copyright should be all about) of such work, but in no way what I can do with it in the privacy of my own house. It's MY copy and I'll use it for whatever I fucking like. They can't 'license' something to me so I can do with it only what they allow, or at least they shouldn't. When and how did this ever change?
sorry for the rant, I'm just sick to death about this 'licensing' nonsense, GPL, BSD and friends included.
Good piece of advice.
;)
If the people at the store doesn't seem friendly, you can also do it Corleone style: grease the right hand to give you a call when the next shipment arrives
Funny that you mention it, because one of the things updated when you run the 'update' option (before actually downloading the full version of opera) is the parental control thingy, apparently to be able to use it to control the Internet Channel.
I haven't tried it tho.. I have no use for that kind of thing, but your soccer moms might like it.
Heh, a couple of days ago a friend of mine invited me and a few others to his apt for some pizza & beer. They've all played videogames (on pc mostly) but they're certainly not hardcore gamers. However, I couln't help giggling when I showed them Wii Sports Tennis and they kept pushing buttons when they swing (even when they knew they had to actually swing the remote, some still instinctively pressed the A button). ;)
we had lots of fun, btw
No, it makes me a "pirate". Arr!!
I agree about the entire global market part, but this time it's only the xxAA (US) bitching about piracy.
By benefiting from china's own lack of regulatory oversight they incentivate the people that make that oversight possible to maintain it. To wash your hands and say "it's their problem" is naive and downright irresponsible.
Saying that it's ultimately their responsibility is oversimplifying a complex situation in which many factors play in to maintain certain status quo (where it fits them, of course), and by entering that market you ARE taking actions that have repercutions and responsibilities, like it or not. It's not completely 'the country's responsibility' just as it's not completely the foreign country's responsibility either. It's a sovereign country capable and responsible for their own laws, yes. That doesn't exempt anyone else of any responsibility for what they do in it any more than it exempts some US companies of the ethic responsibilities of what they do in their own country, regardless of their legal right to do it.
I agree that taking it to the WTO is the correct action for complaints like that, what I criticize is the hipocrisy of it, reminiscent of last century's colonial policies, courtesy of our european pals.
recommended reading
All countries do things differently and for very different reasons
You mean, like not considering IP that much of an issue? I think making -copies- (ie: different from stealing) is a lot less amoral than taking advantage (and somewhat indirectly) help maintaining bad work conditions.
US's money muscle doesn't only reach pockets, it pushes laws abroad, gives uncaring politicians a great incentive to maintain an interest, and for that, keep the work profitable (ie: low paid). Of course it's mostly the local politician's corruption, but taking advantage of it isn't passive or lacking of responsibility.
US mega companies want to profit from 3rd world countries working conditions, they're all for it, but they get all pissed when they have to deal with that same 3rd world country's market conditions (piracy).
You can't have it all.
Well, if I want something, but not enough to pay the ridiculous sum they ask for it, I pirate it :)
Makes me think of a discussion about game piracy I had a couple of days ago with a guy from a store downtown who imported original games. I said I like games, but they are way too expensive, so I use pirated copies. Of course he wasn't happy, but then he said he once talked to a representative from Sony about producing (pressing) games in the country instead of having to import them (shipping + taxes), and they repliead that they're not interested in the market (in Argentina).
So, i said "well, if they're not interested in the market, I'll just keep copying, they obviously don't care. If they change their minds, and want to make a realistic offer considering the average income here, I'll happily listen".
It's kind of catch-22, because one of the arguments they have for the lack of interest is the amount of piracy in the country, but the piracy itself grew because of high prices in the first place, which are made worse in no small part for import costs.
So? they can make a game where if your saber collides with another, they stay so for a moment (both 'pushing') and have the wiimote do some rumbling, then you have to go quickly to the 'blocked' position to match the screen and do something to start struggling with the opponent (nothing too long). and that might just be bosses, I'd buy in a second a game where I can go around a full level or map against, say, stormtroopers , deflecting shots and cutting away troopers, droids and doors or walls (no real resistance needed there, the saber should cut as through butter, but making it rumble while it goes through something would be extra-nice).
;)
Hey, I can dream
Well depends a lot on personal taste, but for now I'm having lots of fun with Zelda:TP, DBZ:BT2 and Godfather: BHE. ;))
DBZ is funnier when you play against a friend, but the adventure mode is addictive (warning: I used to be a SF2 junkie, so take it in context
here you go :)
There's Need For Speed: Carbon, which seems to be nice.. I'll be grabbing a copy soon.
Agreed
I'm 29 and while I can have fun with wii sports, I like games like GTA, sports games (WE/PES), FPSs and stuff like that. I used to be part of a Quake2 clan in the lanparty days. However, I decided to go for the wii (can't afford more than one console), because while graphics do matter, I'd rather have something somewhat new, more fun to play (so far the Wii has definetly delivered) than photorealistic graphics.. Wii's graphics are just good enough for me, I really prefer efforts be spent on other directions (diversification for example) than have the same games all over again just with photorealistic graphics and better AI. With the Wii I *can* have the games I already know, plus the oportunity to try out some new things (or new, funnier ways to do old things other than just a paintjob: I tried Godfather BHE on the PC, but the controls sucked. On the Wii it's a blast).
Shipping is only free in the US. To get something sent down here, it costs a bit. It's been some time since I bought something from them but using some service you can track (say UPS or DHL) will cost around 15 dollars. Add to that the 21% VAT on customs, and there you have, from 50 to around 90. Imagine most import shops also have to make a (small) profit out of it, so even if they lower the shipping costs (volume), they also have to make a profit on the sales, plus I believe there must be some extra customs costs, and the price easily goes above $100.
I love my country, but sometimes it sucks for this kind of things.
For example, I got my Wii paying only 315 dollars, because a friend from Panama was returning to Buenos Aires, so I asked her to buy it for me there (they have some sort of tax-free zone or something) and she brought it here in her baggage (luckily she didn't get searched in customs). If I had to buy the console here, I wouldn't have bought it at all. In mercadolibre.com.ar (ebay the argentine way), it's selling for around 650 u.s. dollars. There's absolutely NO WAY I'm spending 2/3 of my monthly salary on a console. 315 dollars hurt enough already.
I only pirate stuff for personal use, but 30 pesos a copy wouldn't fly here. Most small time pirates (there's plenty) sell copies between 5 and 15 pesos each. Buyers tend to be either parents who couldn't care less about piracy and IP (They're just buying a game for the kid, plus 15 pesos vs. 300.. well, there isn't much of a choice, and 3000 pesos is a pretty good salary, many many people do much less a month), and kids who either don't have a cd/dvd burner and broadband or can't/don't know how to use it.