Google is much cleverer than the pirates are. The GooglePlan seems to be to create a range of irresistible applications that people can't live without.

This is unlikely the Microsoft approach, which is based on producing barely functional products from a position of aggressive contempt for the customer base, and throwing marketing at them until they stick to the wall.

But anyway.

Google is taking the long view. Google apps are just starting their play for world domination. Five years from now they'll be more obvious. Ten years from now they'll be more obvious still - while Microsoft will be struggling. Fifteen years from, if there's still an Internet, people will be running live Google apps on the distributed GoogleGrid.

The Pirates just want stuff for free because they want it. They don't really contribute anything. Are they responsible for Firefox and the rest? Not really, no.

Which is better? Neither. What the world needs is file sharing with micropayments. Download, pay a tiny sum. Cut out the record companies, and support creative artists directly.  

Will that happen? No. Because rewarding creative effort isn't something the pirates are interested in. Artists are supposed to be flattered that they have been deemed worthy of dowload and iPodification. Having to eat - not so important.

So the pirates are more interested in appearing to be rebels for the sake of it.

Only - you know - downloading MP3s really isn't the last word in social dissent, exactly.