Overview
Home computers made copying trivial. A few keystrokes duplicated software that cost weeks of pocket money. The result was an underground economy of copied games, organised cracking groups, and endless industry-pirate conflict. For many users, piracy was simply how software spread—the ethical debates came later, if at all.
Fast facts
- Era: 1980s-present.
- Methods: Disk copying, crackers, BBS.
- Response: Copy protection arms race.
- Culture: Cracktros, warez scene.
Copying methods
| Era | Method |
|---|
| Early 1980s | Tape duplicators |
| Mid 1980s | Disk copiers |
| Late 1980s | Cracked releases |
| 1990s | BBS/Internet |
Cracking groups
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|
| Protection removal | Enable copying |
| Cracktros | Group promotion |
| Competition | First release status |
| Distribution | BBS networks |
Copy protection evolution
| Technique | Bypass |
|---|
| Bad sectors | Specialist copiers |
| Disk checks | Crack patches |
| Manual lookups | Scanned documents |
| Dongles | Hardware emulation |
Scene culture
| Element | Function |
|---|
| Cracktros | Artistic identity |
| NFO files | Release information |
| Rankings | Prestige system |
| Handles | Pseudonymous identity |
Industry response
| Approach | Effectiveness |
|---|
| Copy protection | Temporary delays |
| Legal action | Limited deterrent |
| Education | Minimal impact |
| Price reduction | Some positive effect |
Ethical debates
| Argument | Counter |
|---|
| ”Try before buy” | Rationalisation |
| ”Too expensive” | Market reality |
| ”No lost sale” | Disputed economics |
| ”Sharing culture” | Still theft |
See also