Why pirating an electronic file does not equate to borrowing a hard copy of media

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#1

Why pirating an electronic file does not equate to borrowing a hard copy of media.

[newsimage]http://static.rankone.nl/images_posts/2010/09/mLWQEm.jpg[/newsimage]While completing a lot of research lately about copyright laws and DRM, I’ve noticed that many people seem to think that piracy shouldn’t be taken so seriously because downloading a file online for free is no different than borrowing a book, CD, or movie from your local library. Unfortunately, while it sounds like a great metaphor, it’s not exactly a fair comparison to make.


Read the full article here: [http://www.myce.com/news/why-pirating-an-electronic-file-does-not-equate-to-borrowing-a-hard-copy-of-media-34217/](http://www.myce.com/news/why-pirating-an-electronic-file-does-not-equate-to-borrowing-a-hard-copy-of-media-34217/)


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#2

I think the emotional attachement that people have with the physical media is valid.

However, back in those days there never was a choice. If you wanted to read a book, you needed a printed book. If you wanted listen to music, you needed a performer or a record. If you wanted to see a movie, you needed to go to the cinema. The sources of availability were very limited and controlled.

Gradually the creators started using digital technology to store their works. Later on the people were giving almost the same kind of digital technology to store their works on. Seems the digital technology doesn’t really care who the creator is, because nowadays everybody can store everybody’s work, no matter if you are the creator or the consumer. The sources are endless and there is almost no control.

With the gradual upcoming of the PDF, the MP3 and public available technology, all people now have a choiche.

The people no longer need books, records and cinema’s. They can get it all (digitally) from other people, and thus other, endless, sources.

On top of that, the people have been given the methods to transform all kinds digital data into physical information by themselves!

This gives benefits. Imagine if the libary of Alexandria were to have backups all over the world. Everybody could have all that valuable information!

This gives drawbacks: The sources are endless and not controlled. There is no knowledge if the information was tampered. Everybody has the same information and thus it has no real value.

If you give them fire, don’t expect never to get burnt by them.

#3

There are no quick or easy solutions because we have created something that is like nothing that has ever existed.

I thought the quick and easy solution was for the MPAA and RIAA to sue, sue, sue . . .

#4

Give it a rest MYCE!

Are you on the RIAA and MPAA payroll now?

#5

The problem is new in fact.

We now have the means to possess, store, interact with, material which has an intellectual property right…the owner´s rights, we are technically able to do as we will with this.

The real question therefore is, how are we to deal with this? If no-one paid, would this be the death of the film and music industry? Maybe the result would be nothing to copy or share…?

Strange problem. It certainly needs a new solution…one we don´t have at the moment!

#6

[QUOTE=deanimator;2543679
The real question therefore is, how are we to deal with this? If no-one paid, would this be the death of the film and music industry? Maybe the result would be nothing to copy or share…?

Strange problem. It certainly needs a new solution…one we don´t have at the moment![/QUOTE]

Not quite true. For well over a half a century Television viewers and Radio listeners never paid a penny for what they heard and saw. Producers of this material were compensated handsomely, while Society was conditioned to believe that it was there right to receive this material at no cost.

NOW the Holy Grail of the produceers is"pay per view". This is obviously being rejected wholeheartedly by the cosumer. MAYBE is is time to rethink how the producers are compensated. MAYBE we should go back to the model of it being paid for by those who benefit from your exposure to this material.