Yes, probably. But it's extremely hard to beat the pirates' prices, you know.
Think of it: the pirates only have to copy files. All right, probably translate something into the local language (which, in Russia, is usually done by twits with very feeble knowledge of either Russian or English. Therefore, that must be strikingly cheap as well.)
To produce something that can really compete with major products, years in development by major software shops, you have to invest lots of money and effort. Sure, probably somewhat less than you'd have to in Silicon Valley. But then again, keep your programmers seriously underpaid and the last you'll see from them would be an e-mail from California.
All right, suppose you managed to create something that is at least nearly as good as the stuff one can buy from pirates for $1.5/CD. Do you expect to return your investments? Really? Hey, it'll just be pirated as well.
Yes, there are some software companies in Russia that somehow manage to make ends meet. What they sell are mostly things that have no competition from the industry's leaders: Russian OCR systems, accounting software carved to fit the sick mess our raving legislators made out of accounting, etc. And most of it still can be bought for $1.5/CD in a shop around the corner.
I find it hard to believe that they can put pirates out of business.
Slashdot Mirror
Never. But that's a totally different problem.
Did I read this right? Finally, they've confessed in public that they cannot, just cannot make an OS even remotely secure by design?
Whoa.
Yes, probably. But it's extremely hard to beat the pirates' prices, you know.
Think of it: the pirates only have to copy files. All right, probably translate something into the local language (which, in Russia, is usually done by twits with very feeble knowledge of either Russian or English. Therefore, that must be strikingly cheap as well.)
To produce something that can really compete with major products, years in development by major software shops, you have to invest lots of money and effort. Sure, probably somewhat less than you'd have to in Silicon Valley. But then again, keep your programmers seriously underpaid and the last you'll see from them would be an e-mail from California.
All right, suppose you managed to create something that is at least nearly as good as the stuff one can buy from pirates for $1.5/CD. Do you expect to return your investments? Really? Hey, it'll just be pirated as well.
Yes, there are some software companies in Russia that somehow manage to make ends meet. What they sell are mostly things that have no competition from the industry's leaders: Russian OCR systems, accounting software carved to fit the sick mess our raving legislators made out of accounting, etc. And most of it still can be bought for $1.5/CD in a shop around the corner.
I find it hard to believe that they can put pirates out of business.