Not a happy bunny

Not a happy bunny at the moment - some b-stard at work has dobbed on me for providing someone with some knock-off software. OK - I can understand their concerns in the sense that we have to be legal at work, but as the software was to be used on a home PC - and it was a copy I had obtained outside of work, it seems a bit OTT. Now facing a disciplinarly - which hopefully will only be a written one. Time to seriously look at getting the hell out of that place. I have my suspicions on who it is, as they have 'dobbed' several other people in before for various IT-related offences. Personally, I'd rather give someone a quiet warning first time round and ensure that they cleaned up after themselves whilst present. Second time round, take it further, fair enough....

 

It dosn't seem fair when you consider at university piracy is openly encouraged by the lecturers however nobody charges for it, in the second week of term there is always a load of free CDs going round.

My mum had an MSI motherboard in hers and her capacitors popped open after about 3-4 years. It may have just been a one off experience though.

 

the software piracy thing is a bit of a vicious circle.
why is software pirated? because it's too expensive
why is software too expensive? because it's pirated.
personally i'm against piracy but then i have a vested interest so i'm not exactly neutral however when i've spent the best part of 2 years writing software only to have it on thousands if not millions of peoples computers whithout them paying for it is a bit galling.
cheers


julian

 

My opinion on the matter is its ok alongs as its not done for commerical reasons. I.e people selling it on for a profit or businesses using it. On my course for example you can imagine how much it would cost me if every piece of software I had was legal, I am talking £1000's.

My university has sturck a deal with Microsoft so all their students on my course can take home a copy of the .NET suite, each haver their own unique product key so they can trace any piracies to that student. It means students can get free software worth £1000's perfectly legaly. It is the academic version though.

I don't see how companies like Adobe can expect indviduals to pay £500 for somthing like Photoshop.

 

Julian, I can definately see it from your point of view and can understand work's concern from a point of view that they could be liable - if it was using work property/and equipment. However, as it was for personal use - using personal resources and equipment, I suspect it is someone who is either backstabbing or has some form of vendetta against me.

 

nsherin,
yes i agree that grassing should have been beaten out of the squealing little git in the playground. have you tried the counter roumor tactic?
it was just the act of piracy itself (whether on work machines or on home ones) that i have a problem with.
cheers


julian

 

Well, a little, but not much more info has been gained on the issue at work. Still haven't heard from Human Remains, but I was told that our team leader (one of two people who was in yesterday's meeting) is extremely angry about how somebody on the team could do something so unprofessional (even outside of) work. Three things have made me furious here.

1) What the f**k does my activities outside of work have to do with her, unless I have used resources/equipment from work for these activities.

2) I know of two people on the team who do/have given me software (obtained outside of work, from the obvious online sources). However, as I am neither into backstabbing and whistleblowing, I have not told her about them. So what she is saying is complete bollocks.

3) Lastly, I knew a friend who used to work there before I did and he asked me if I could provide her with some software for home. This took place 3 years ago. I have been working with her team 3 months. So there is a huge element of double standards here.

Something makes me think that she has a serious vendetta against me and is out to make a real example of this incident (which was nothing to do with work - all I did was to pass someone a CD-R that was copied from software that was sourced outside of work and was to be used on someone's personal PC at home).

 

What you did was illegal, whatever your view on software piracy. Do you think your employer would have a right to do something if they found out you were using heroin? Afterall, it doesn't use any resources/equipment from work does it?

I'm not being judgemental, merely telling you how these things work. Also, I recently went on a (mandatory) ethics/conduct at work course at my company where all these things were covered. Basically, the lines aren't nearly as clear cut as you might think they are. If I were in the same situation as you at my employer I could well be looking at losing my job. The lesson is, you can never be too careful and be careful who you trust.

Michael.

 

Michael, good points - can't argue with what you say really.

Trouble is, is that they need to look at their own standards before having a go at others - note item 3) from my previous post.

 

Yes, they should definitely apply the same rules equally to everyone.

Michael.

 

Thanks Michael - I'd agree with that - and certainly realise what I did was wrong.

 

That's how the situation pans out in practice, but legally it's a violation of copyright laws, so therefore not strictly speaking OK.

 

My God man , you're being dicked by a bitch ! In situations like this you need to revert back to the very basics. Lie like F**K, Say nothing to incriminate yourself and if accused deny everything and insist that they prove it. If they can prove it, deny everything anyway.
Also ask your team leader if she is feeling particularly hormonal at the moment, I find that that usually has a great effect. Does she have any children ? pointing out that she is just lashing out at everybody because she feels guilty about putting her work before her children is another effective weapon that has a great effect.

Follow my advice and you can't go wrong, but good luck anyway.

:MILD:

 

Yep, I wish it wasn't so as I don't agree in principle with piracy but I am student and I can't afford to spend £1000's a year on software even with the student discounts.

My operating system is legal, it costs £60 for the OEM version of XP and I don't mind paying that as it seems reasonable, its the £500+ software designed for commerical usage I don't see how the average home owner can afford.

I always try and make a point of using freeware software too.

 

Nice one Sid, either of those two suggestions would indeed have a great effect at my workplace. The effect of being escorted out of the building and being told my P45 would be in the post and someone will collect my personal effects in a box and deliver them to me later

It's called sexual harrasment and is most employers take a pretty dim view of it. It would be like if you had a black boss who you didn't get on with and asking them if they felt they were getting their own back for the slave trade or something. Instant dismissal at my employer and rightly so. Those kinds of attitudes must not be tolerated.

nsherin, whatever you do, do NOT follow Sid's suggestions!

Michael.

 

Sorry to hear about that nsherin, I hate grassing wankers like that to be honest, fair enough what you did was wrong, but most people in IT do stuff like that, and theres no need to be a dick about it like this person has been.

I really dont like grasses at all, they've obviously not got any life.

I think Sid's comment was tongue in cheek though, but if somebody tried to get me sacked, I'd make sure they regretted it.

 

Not completely disagreeing with your point Michael, whatever your view it's still infringement of someone eleses property, but using drugs like heroin would be Much more detrimental to your employer, your performance would suffer and you would be a danger to yourself and others, that is why drug testing is done by so many companies now. Software piracy is hardly in the same league, but I'm with Sid (not his sexist comments), but the onus is on them to prove it, as you haven't done this "crime" with their resources, they will find this very hard to prove, you'll prolly get a verbal and told not to do/tal about these things at work again, If I was the HR Manager I would be asking what motives your TL has for bringing this to their attention, as after all in the grande scheme of things your crime is surely a misdemeanor.

Deny it say you thought it was word files or something,but you gave him your backup copy of a program by mistake, or deny it and say nothing, you don't know what she is talking about.

Good luck

 

Just out of interest just to twist this a little would you tell your employer if you cought a collegue steeling from him?

 

I'd certainly agree with that.

Michael.

 

Unless I hated this colleague, no I would not.