Fight piracy by pricing software fairly I REFER to the letter, "Why turn blind eye to software piracy?", by Mr Kelvin Lim Chenhao (ST, Jan 10). He said that one reason cited commonly for buying pirated software instead of the genuine items is that prices for the latter are, typically, beyond the reach of most computer users, particularly groups such as students. On the other hand, the claim is often made that copyright owners lose millions and millions of dollars to pirated products. The assumption is that those who buy pirated products can afford and will buy the original products at inflated prices. But even if the products are affordable, intelligent consumers reserve the right to withhold purchase if they perceive that prices are unreasonably high. Copyright owners spend millions of dollars fighting piracy. The war will become less necessary if they are willing to make more reasonable profits and thereby gain greater patronage. Which consumer would not want to buy the original product if its price was less exploitative? It is understandable that international copyrightprotection organisations exert pressure on governments constantly to prosecute purveyors of pirated goods. But while copyright owners are committed to fighting piracy, it is unfortunate that there is no corresponding movement to fight against unfair prices. Where technological advances allow pirated products to match the quality of original products and then make them easily available at a fraction of the cost, it should be a wake-up call to copyright owners and consumers. Protection is justified only if there is fairness. SEBASTIAN TAN