Applied Piracy As Business Model?

One Internet publisher is coping with piracy affirmatively rather than defensively, by integrating the dark side of human nature into his basic business model. Greg Stolze, author of the game Meatbot Massacre, withheld publication of his new creation until a "ransom" was collected from potential customers within a specified time limit, or, he cautioned, the game would not be published and any money collected would be donated to charity. After Mr. Stolze received sufficient compensation for his work, and the game was published, the anticipated theft did occur, but with less damage to Mr. Stolze's profits than would have occurred using the conventional shareware model. In fact, his 'free'ware customers will be among the first to learn of his next product, from whom he will be demanding a higher ransom. Geogg Keighley, "Pay Up, or the Monster Game Gets Whacked," in Business 2.0, Sept. 2005. In the absence of effective anti-piracy legislation, SPN applauds entrepreneurs who are pressing forward to tackle piracy head on with creative new business models.