ZX Interview - Predrag Đenadić, known as PIRAT No.1, discusses how he became a software pirate

ZX Interview: Predrag Đenadić, PIRAT No.1

Predrag Đenadić, or simply PIRAT No.1, is one of the notable pirates in Yugoslavia. He gladly agreed to be interviewed by our contributor Miroslav Dobronjovski from S. Pazova. From their conversation, we learned that he is 27, a final-year mechanical engineering student, and that he began pirating five years ago.

ZX REVIJA:

How did you become a PIRATE?

Đenadić:

It happened quite by chance.

Five years ago, I bought a Spectrum. I started acquiring programs, modifying them and making copies. I watched how others did it and placed adverts—first small ones, then bigger ones. First I got one twin-deck cassette recorder, then two, then three, so now I have several twin-deck recorders that meet my needs.

ZX REVIJA:

Tell us something about your motivation for pirating.

Đenadić:

My motivation is that I can earn a little money, enough for pocket money. I don't even know how many programs I've sold, but there have been a great many.

Doing this work has given me a decent education, which is very hard to get by doing some other job.

ZX REVIJA:

How do you react to attempts to abolish piracy?

Đenadić:

There have been attempts to shut down video clubs, but they have not succeeded. People interested in programs and video games always find another way to get them. There is always the option of renting or swapping cassette tapes and floppy disks. Those who would like to shut down both video clubs and pirates should ask themselves: “What level would we be at if pirates were abolished?”

ZX REVIJA:

What message do you have for young computer owners?

Đenadić:

My message to young computer owners would be that they should not only play games, but also take up programming and educate themselves.

For its next issue, ZX Revija is planning an interview with Joško Bilić, the author of TURBO LOAD, presented in this issue.