DVDs and software

This link shows Sony proclaiming that pirated Spiderman 3 DVDs in China are indeed, fake. Though I was looking for that first laugh, you can follow the link and still have the second, more appropriate laugh. Anyway, they boast that pirated DVDs are available for less than $1. Well, here in Jakarta, look long enough or ask around far enough, you'll find that DVDs are sold for $0.67, free a DVD for each 10 purchases. You can't blame the demand, here. Everybody in the world would love to get some DVDs for cheaper prices; I know that because I've seen some expatriate wondering around with amazed and hunger eyes scavenging in pirated software and DVD stores. Blame the supply and all the enabling factors. And no more "It's too expensive, we can't afford it." I've seen older DVDs sold for $1.67—count them, one point six seven US dollars or fifteen thousand rupiahs—in Disc Tarra's. Sure, newer ones are about ten times the price, but the prices decreases to the said price. I'm sure the government would like to get some tax from DVD movies and CD software, and there isn't a price too cheap for the DVD distributors and software maker, it is a lot better than getting ripped off. And we could get around to appreciating everybody's effort, including our own software house, such as Andal, or animations of folk stories from Elex Media Komputindo. I'm sure we have more of those, and I think now is the best time ever to start appreciating them and paying them the respect they deserve. Computers are getting cheaper; we sell more laptop than branded PC. You can't force people to spend something they don't have, but give them reasonable price; most people would do the right thing.