Piracy is Killing them!

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by -tronski-
oppressive encryption?

 Tronsky

I can only imagine they are referring to the region codes.  Other than that, I dont know.

EDIT:

I just feel that if I buy a movie/CD I should be able to copy it all I want.  Back in the early 90's I couldnt count how many times I baught the same album because it got scratched.  As long as I'm not giving it away to somone else (illegal) than my copy should in fact be mine.

I think the RIAA is as corrupt as they come.  All you have to do is look at how they treat radio stations that arent owned by clear channle.

[Pei]

What almost everyone has failed to realize is that we have been paying for the media (be it vinyl, tape or CDs) while what we actually wanted was the information.  Until recently there was effectively no difference because there was no practical way of seperating the information from the medium it was on. Then along came video tape recorders and the movie industry tried to crush them, but luckily there were some sensible judges around the world who realised that people who had bought tapes had actually also bought the right to use the information contained on them for their own personal use. Somehow the movie industry survived. The emergence of cheap home computers and an affordable high bandwidth internet has totally freed us from the tyranny of the physical media: anyone can copy, download and upload any piece of information.
The industry has a right to be worried - their business model is like the fabled dinosaur: it's been killed but it's taking a while for the message to reach the brain. They need to find a new one quickly - or just get their tame politicos to change the law so they tie the information back to the medium it's on. It's like the horse breeders getting the government to ban mechanical engines.

The ultimate question we have to face is: are people willing to pay for just the information?

I suspect the answer is yes, but only with the proviso that they aren't willing to pay for the information plus a premium to support the old style media business. I think prices will have to come down to a level where most people are willing to pay rather than pirate (provided we don't end up living in police states where we need permission to look at and copy information we have purchased, of course).

[Siaf__csf]

RIAA and other independent record labels are infringing several national laws when they try to prohibit people from copying media to thier own use.

The labels were spoiled with analog medias because it forced everyone to continue buying copies again and again even though the license clearly states the buyer is buying a right to use a certain _immaterial_ product, not the media.

According to thier OWN declaration anyone who ever bought an elvis record (LP or CD) is entitled to purchase a fresh copy FOR THE SOLE PRICE OF A BLANK MEDIA. That is because the 'right to use' has been previously purchased.

They're therefore violating thier own licensing continuously.

It's like HTC would be selling boxed sets with subscriptions and force you to pay the boxed price even though you're subscribed but just lost the media.

[Saintaw]

Holden == Robin Hood!!!!

[Sixpence]

Remember the good ol days, when we recorded from the radio to cassette tape? Then make copies for our buddies? I wouldn't consider that piracy. It didn't hurt them then, and it does not seem to be hurting them now.

[Mini D]

Hey... whatever you guys need to tell yourselves to sleep better at night.

Some people might comprehend the concept that if you don't like the prices a company charges or the company's buisness practices or the product they're selling then you would make it quite clear it's a product you are willing to do without. Stealing a product just legitimizes the company's practices and establishes the value of the product. Piracy is effectively empowering companies.

There is no excuse for piracy. If you're chosing to do it, you are the one that deserves what they get, not the company you are stealing from. It really is that simple.

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by ASTAC
Yup sounds like piracy is really hurting them....I hate it when people have huge amounts of money and ***** that someone is maybe taking 1 tenth of one percent of it..they probrably wouldn't even notice the difference if piracy stiopped all together....FIGHT THE POWER! RIP AND BURN!!

Hmm, and this coming from the same person who said it is ok for MS to be a monopoly as that is what free enterprise is all about.
Ever looked at the profit margins MS has?

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by Mini D
I can't say I go out and dog those that are keen on the whole piracy thing... Right up until they start trying to argue about how much someone deserves to have stuff stolen from them.

Nobody needs DvDs. Nobody needs software. It is beyond me why luxuries are somehow deemed entitlements and anyone evil enough to charge money for them deserves what they get.

Well said.

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by Mini D
Hey... whatever you guys need to tell yourselves to sleep better at night.

Some people might comprehend the concept that if you don't like the prices a company charges or the company's buisness practices or the product they're selling then you would make it quite clear it's a product you are willing to do without. Stealing a product just legitimizes the company's practices and establishes the value of the product. Piracy is effectively empowering companies.

There is no excuse for piracy. If you're chosing to do it, you are the one that deserves what they get, not the company you are stealing from. It really is that simple.

Again, well said.

[Nilsen]

The quality of tunes and movies found on the net is not good enough for me so i'll leave them were they are. I have however dl music that i already own on my old LP's, because i dont have the equipment nor the patience to transefer them myself.

Movies are good @ the cinema, and if i love it enough to wanna keep it then i love it enought to get it in good quality on a dvd too.

I must confess tho that I have a pirated MS office cd around but I dont use it after i started using open office.

[Holden McGroin]

Originally posted by Saintaw
Holden == Robin Hood!!!!

Who says I'm giving anything to anybody?  It should just be okay to steal if you only steal from those who are ethically challenged and rich.  Especially if you only steal from faceless evil corporations.

Course if that's okay, then why do we hate Bernard Ebbers?

[Siaf__csf]

Maybe because he bankrupted the whole corporation, something that will never happen through p2p.

[Sandman]

Sure... piracy sucks, but the sad part of it all is that the security measures are largely ineffective. Unfortunately, the consumers are the ones that end up paying for it in time, frustration, added costs, etc.

As an example, I just recently bought a DVD burner. I had no idea of the level of restrictions imposed on these devices compared to CD burners.

[ASTAC]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Hmm, and this coming from the same person who said it is ok for MS to be a monopoly as that is what free enterprise is all about.
Ever looked at the profit margins MS has?

You will find I often contradict myself on some issues... ...but MS has "lost money" to me and probrably will continue to...how do you think I do my work on word and excel at home?

The contradiction often comes not from my REAL beliefs...but to see a debate continue.

[FiLtH]

I dont know if its because of piracy, but the PC corner in my local game store is getting smaller and smaller. And the games that are out there for the most part suck. I had more enjoyment on my C64 than I get from most of the PC games I have now. There are a few acceptions..AH being one of them, but that doesnt count, because its online, and it takes alot from an offline game to measure up to an online one.