I was talking to my dearest cousin and she was telling me all about www.stealthisfilm.com and how she agrees with their philosophy. That is their philosophy that current copyright laws are wrong and that 'file sharing' copyrighted files should not be prevented, they then claim this comes into the arena of free speech and freedoms afforded to you as a human being.
All these issues are based around a raid made upon a basement where servers, being used to host a file sharing website, were being kept. To cut a long story short- the website didn't exactly break the law and American companies pulled some strings to get action from the police in Sweden where the website was being hosted. The American film industry ended up being able to do nothing to shut the website down. All the while, the Swedish people hosting the website cried injustice as the police tore through their basement.
I suggest you go watch the film and read the website.
I'm sure many of us have downloaded movies and music from file sharing sources. And I think most of us aren't in any doubt that it is a form of stealing, thus illegal. We know its wrong, it doesn't do that much harm- the music industry is still alive let's face it. But the chances of getting caught are extremely slim and everyone does it so we feel fairly guilt free and safe in doing it. However, its not this that annoys me greatly, its when people claim they are entitled to download copyright, that the media industry is evil for making examples of innocent file sharers and that they are upholding human rights and freedom of information through their actions.
To put it plainly, they are choosing to get music and video from peer to peer networks because its free and requires a lot less effort than going out to buy CDs or get a job to pay for legally downloaded music. In the spirit of being outspoken let me just say this- I don't care what a bunch of greasy, ethnic-peace bicycle-riding, jobless hippies have to say. Its just annoying that they decide to get all self righteous, when really they're just being cheapskates. Be cheapskates by all means, but don't get preachy and try to justify theft, whilst hiding behind differences in international laws. Then you're not so much of a hippy, but a prick.
The industries are complaining because, quite simply, every time someone illegally downloads a music track or film, they lose out financially. That's profit from the fruit of their labours that people are simply taking for free. It might not put them out of business, but if people stole 10% of a greengrocers produce, you can imagine he would get pretty pissed. And quite right too, theft is theft, no matter how you dress it up or whether you get caught. Its not so much a case of 'save the dying media industry' but 'don't complain when they try to stop people stealing from them'. Don't moralise and try to say you did it for the good of the people, you didn't and if you thought you were then you are rather simple.
The film claims that the media industry kicked up a fuss when video recorders were introduced, saying the video recorders would destroy them. It didn't. The industry adapted and eventually made money by selling cassette and video tapes. But this isn't a logical justification for stealing, no matter how you phrase it.
They are well within their rights to prevent stealing through legal and technological means. Nowadays many DVD recorders detect and stop recording copyright material. Its very annoying but fair play, they used the law and technology to stay one step ahead of the game. So now when the hippies tell the industry 'tough luck if we steal, you have to adapt' the industry can smile politely and walk away. Whilst listening for the angry shouts from the living room as someone tries to record Pirates of the Caribbean onto DVD. Its not really that fair that the industry has to adapt because it can't rely on the law to prevent theft. But then life's not fair.
I don't think file sharing illegally will ever really go away completely. People will always try to get something for free, easily. And that's just what illegal downloading is. It takes a fair amount of money away from the industry but, for the moment at least, the industry is doing fine. It is also legally and for most, morally wrong. However, we aren't stabbing someone or setting fire to a pile of newborn kittens and puppies when we download copyright, it is a comparatively minor offence. But the next time Madonna's latest track is illegally downloading to your ipod, don't think of yourself as doing your bit for the freedom of speech or human rights- you're just cutting costs. Its like going around stabbing arthritic pensioners, claiming you're doing your bit for compassionate euthanasia. You're not!
No comments:
Post a Comment