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'Don't Copy That Floppy' Sequel Warns of Piracy; Includes id Software Cameo, Klingons

by Chris Faylor, Sep 09, 2009 7:38am PDT
Related Topics – Trailer, id software, Piracy

In an effort to educate "a new generation of would-be pirates," the Software & Information Industry Association (previously the Software Publishers Association) has released a modern sequel to its classic 1992 anti-piracy music video, "Don't Copy That Floppy."

As "MC Double Def DP" raps "turn your talent and your passion into a career" at the 3:25 mark, the video provides a quick look at some models from id's shooter RAGE, an appearance from id CEO and outspoken anti-piracy advocate Todd Hollenshead, and a glimpse of the monsters that lurk behind desks at the studio known for DOOM.

"'Don't Copy That 2' uses humor to bring a serious message to today's youth and remind us all that copyright piracy is a crime," explained SIAA Intellectual Property Policy & Enforcement SVP Keith Kupferschmid, who then added:

The video is intended to be fun to watch while also conveying the message that pirating software and content carries stiff penalties and can ruin your life. We hope 'Don't Copy That 2' will prevent piracy by helping people, young and old, make better choices when it comes to downloading or purchasing copyrighted works. People may think they can save or make money by engaging in piracy. But, as demonstrated in the video, it's really a game of Russian roulette with serious consequences.

Said the SIIA: "When DP [Digital Protector] discovers a website selling pirated 'tunes, games and apps' run by a college student named Jason, he uses a catchy hip-hop song and a startling dream sequence to teach Jason about the costs of engaging in piracy."

Free downloads of the new song and video are available through iTunes, with the poorly-named official site (DP's Lair) offering lyrics and behind-the-scenes photos.

Along with today's online release, the SIAA will be providing a "modified and extended educational version" of Don't Copy That 2 to classrooms later in the fall.

In case you need a refresher on the original "Don't Copy That Floppy," see below:

Lastly, if you're still around, here's what the SIAA had to say about "convicted software pirate Jeremiah Mondello," who appears towards the end of Don't Copy That 2:

Mondello, 24, is currently serving a 48-month federal sentence for using stolen bank account information to create fictitious eBay and PayPal identities in order to sell pirated software via eBay. SIIA initiated and worked with the U.S. Department of Justice on the investigation that led to his conviction.


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46 Threads* | 126 Comments
  • #107
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    By: StriderKuja x
    Reply
    "'Cause you don't want to spend a couple dollas"... a couple dollars? what are they smokin'? I, as a whole, never pirate anything. Every game I own, I've purchased... albeit I only buy used since I don't have the money... but even used isn't "a couple dollas". I even purchase every copy of Windows for my computers. Many years ago when I was still a kid I did pirate some software, but good grief, it was a $15,000 program. I have seen a lot of people pirate games and stuff, but most pirated programs I've seen exchange hands at school and other places retail in excess of $1000.

    Honestly, I don't know who they are targeting... Most people in my school were pirates, but none of them every bought or sold software.
    Sep 09, 2009 7:35pm PDT
  • #104
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    By: TrustAvidity x
    Reply
    I posted this below so don't mind the repeat but there's a point a lot of people are not getting. You are correct in that used game sales revenue does not go back to the developer. What you are forgetting is that used games exist because people trade them in. Those trade-ins are a form of currency for people to purchase brand new games. Millions-upon-millions of brand new game sales are a result of people trading in their old to get the new. If you take away the used game business, you put the new game business far out of reach of a LOT of consumers. Developers do not make money on used sales but used sales majorly increase new sales.
    Sep 09, 2009 6:43pm PDT
  • #101
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    By: darksied x
    Reply
    I won't lie and say I haven't ever touched a piece of pirated software or copied software, but I don't anymore. What really amazed me, and still gets me though (for games at least) is how digital copies are stolen, then pirated and released much earlier than or right on the street date. That's insane in my opinion. Think about it, every single game (and maybe software too, not sure about that) is pirated and released early or exactly on the street date (with some exceptions I'm sure). Now, I'm definitely not an expert, and I have only the vaguest idea of how the whole process works when they complete a game and send it to production and all that, but how in the hell is every game stolen early? You would think by now these companies that make the digital copies to sell in stores would have gone out of business by now because every single game that is sent their way has a digital copy "lost" and is now floating around ready to be hacked/cracked and put on the web.

    If they would crack down on the actual theft of their material in the first place, then that would at least halt maybe half of the illegal downlods, in my opinion; because when the initial demand is there, the game would NOT be available for an illegal download online, and so many people would be forced to wait or buy it.
    Sep 09, 2009 6:29pm PDT