Some developing nations accept computer piracy Eastern countries often may tolerate . software copying By Doug Kouma Staff Reporter Computer software piracy, the copying of programs from one com puter to another, is more than just a ( legal issue, one University of Ne braska-Lincoln business professor said. Ronald Hampton, who has been researching the topic, said that while Western civilization typically re garded computer piracy as a crime, the act was seen as an ethical issue in many Eastern cultures. “Perceptions of whether this is right or wrong depends on the culture and belief system that is invoked in a particular society,” Hampton said. In many developing nations, such as China and India, computer piracy is widespread and accepted by the populations, Hampton said. “As a culture, they arc disadvan taged because of the prices that arc charged in this society,” Hampton said. Madhavan Parthasarathy, a gradu ate student researching the topic with Hampton, said some cultures re spected sharing technology. These differences in attitudes have spurred an ethical debate in Western culture regarding the costs manufac turers place on software, Hampton said. “Often, the time taken to develop a software program is no more than the time it takes to write a typical text book,” Hampton said. Computer software, however, is priced much higher, he said. A word processing program can cost as much as $400, while the actual cost to the manufacturer is usually.only a smal? fraction of that cost. -A 44 software and those who pirate simply because the software is available. Manufacturers are not hurt by the second group, he said, because those people would never have actually purchased the software. Hampton said manufacturers actu ally could use software piracy to their advantage, but fifst, they must ac knowledge how widespread piracy is. Hampton said manufacturers must Often, the time taken to develop a software program is no more than the time it takes to write a typical textbook. —Hampton business professor -—- •• — Parihasaralhy said many people also were questioning the morality of copyrighting “intellectual property.” Computer software is nothing more than somcone’s“idca transformed into a series of magnetic pulses,” he said. This intangible aspect of computer software makes it difficult for people to see it as an actual possession, he said. Parihasaralhy said students could, in a sense, be considered a “develop ing culture.” While they often lack the resources to buy these software programs, their need for them is often great. Computer pirates fall into two major groups, Hampton said: those who must obtain a certain piece of W V “accept the fact that it does exist, and, given that, look at what they can do to improve the purchase of a product.” Some manufacturers have already introduced programs to benefit stu dents, Hampton said. The manufac turer of SPSSX, one of the most com mon statistics programs used at UNL, has offered, for a small cost, to up grade students’ copies even if they were pirated, he said. Byofferingsucha program .Hamp ton said, the manufacturer still can benefit. As more copies of software pro grams arc circulated, Hampton said, manufacturers benefit from increased sales of accessories such as upgrades and program manuals. Unions granted increase in student fee allocation Health center’s fee request same as prior year’s By Doug Kouma Staff Reporter The Committee for Fees Allo cation unanimously votetf Monday night to allocate $1,641,114 in stu dent fees to the Nebraska Unions, a 2.1 percent increase over last year’s r allocation. The committee recommended that the full amount re quested by the unions be allo cated in light of rising energy an^l utility costs. CFA members also discussed the possibility of reinstating a ser vice charge for all non-student fee using accounts participating in Stu dent Activities Financial Services. Currently, all studentgroups par ticipating in SAFS arc assessed 10 cents for each disbursement made from their accounts. The commit tee, however, voted against rein stating the fees on the basis that money generated would be mini mal. Kunle Ojikutu, director of the University Health Center, said the center was requesting no increase over last year’s allocation. Pro jected income would increase 2.66 percent over last year, he said, offsetting an increase in expendi tures. ( - -— 1 .m Much of the health center’s ex penditure increase could be attrib uted to added services, such as the newly added diabetic clinic and a new computer systeip. Ojikutu said the health center faced special difficulties in bud geting because inflation in the medical field is at approximately 15 percent, compared to 2 or 3 percent for the general economy. He said many of the projected increases in expenditures, such as maintenance and utility costs, were out of the control of health center officials. Other expenses, such as malpractice insurance and training for employees, were also on the rise, he said. -44 / think the students are finding out that we’re a bargain. — Ojikutu University Health Center director -ft - “In health care, you arc required to have continuing education in order to maintain your license,” Ojikutu said. He said the health center also expected an increase in the number of students using the center’s vari ous programs. “I think the students arc finding )ut that we’re a bargain,” he said. ***••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ♦ • • • • A gi ft that will make your Valentine I • Jeel good long after they re opened it. I Gift certificate.' • m • • Imagine the look on your Valentine’s face when they slip • • into a new pair of Birkenstocks.® With a contoured fit and * • shock absorbing sole, they’re enough to make anyone smile. • Blikeiuiocki • The original <