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I write software for free and as a living, so I surely take it seriously. How can a software developer justify stealing software, unless they're trapped in a poor or technologically restricted situation (Cuba)?

EDIT: There's some confusion as to what I replied to:

My reply is to this

    Who actually takes software licenses seriously in their own home?
If this doesn't imply one's okay with stealing, then I take my comment back.

josteink
> How can a software developer justify stealing software

Oh come on. Running a legally obtained OSX installation on hardware you own is hardly stealing.

I don't see why OSX "fanboys" constantly bring up this tiresome meme about OSX being this near "holy" OS which cannot run on anything but this similarly holy Apple hardware.

It's a generic consumer OS designed to work on what is mostly run of the mill X86 hardware. Get with the times.

cm3 OP
My reply is to this

    Who actually takes software licenses seriously in their own home?
If this doesn't imply one's okay with stealing, then I take my comment back.

Because you seem to assume I use a mac, I must confess to not owning one and therefore not using macos.

josteink
I read it as "who cares about obscure constraints which if violated will severely limit my ability to get support should I need it", not as a blanket licence to pirate software.

Obviously in a professional context, you will care about things like support. But probably not for your lets have fun hackety hack project at home.

gakada
Think you're reading too much into it. Most software license agreements have silly rules and restrictions that nobody takes any notice of - at home. Businesses have to be more careful.
FreakyT
It's not "stealing" if you paid for a license. By your logic, jailbreaking an iPhone would constitute theft.
manarth
It's more akin to installing iOS on a Nexus phone.
FreakyT
Which, in turn, would be a pretty impressive achievement, and certainly worthy of an HN story.
n_yuichi
Agreed.

I am surprised at how many people on HN show negative attitude toward compliancy with the EULA. I thought HNers had a respect for software license.

FreakyT
I would hope that most people on HN are knowledgeable enough to agree with the EFF's take on EULAs -- they are of questionable legality, and "dangerous for consumers and innovators alike"[1].

[1]: https://www.eff.org/wp/dangerous-terms-users-guide-eulas

prodigal_erik
When a tool dictates how and where its human owner is allowed to use it, that's too dystopian for me to support.

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