Piracy: A general discussion

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Originally posted by Mini D
If a drop in sales corresponded to a drop in piracy, you'd be right. But when a drop in sales corresponds to an increase in piracy, you don't have a leg to stand on.

You are starting to slowly grasp the concept of cause and effect. Eventually you will even understand why piracy gives the RIAA the power to get any legislation passed they deam necessary to "protect their product".

If consumption was dropping with sales they wouldn't have an argument.

Prove to me that the drop in sales was caused by piracy. Because I have data for you that shows a direct correspondence between drop in sales and increased prices. This goes according to every natural law of market.

But for some reason all the Mini D:s of this planet scream murder when they can't raise their profit infinately just by boosting up product prices.

Hint: When sales numbers go down, any REASONABLE business drops price to get volume.

[Mini D]

Now why would I need to prove that to you? That's the part that you simply do not understand.

1) Is there piracy?
2) Is there a drop in sales?

You can cite other reasons for a drop in sales all you want, you cannot dismiss that piracy impacts it. Any attempt to do so comes off as apologetic. Once again, this is why the RIAA is able to get legislation passed.

[republic]

Originally posted by Mini D
Let's give this a try:

Is there any music or video that you cannot download for free from the internet?
 

Show me something in real life that can't be stolen?  Other than say...a building.  Real life objects have DRM of a kind.  Your car needs a key, stores have the little magnetic devices to detect if your stealing.

What I'm saying is, should we have to provide our SSN, Fingerprint, retinal scan, voice imprint, and blood test every time we want to start our car?  Must we have a full body cavity search every time we exit a store?  That is a real life representation of what intrusive DRM does.

Simply because something CAN be done, doesn't mean we need a wide ranging law/policy to make sure it never ever happens.  I can use a gun to kill someone, outlaw guns/special restriction on guns?  Hey, I can use a fork too...outlaw fork/special restrictions on fork purchases?  So now I'll be put on homeland security lists because I've purchased 2 boxes of flatware within a month?

Ridiculous?  Very.  But if you are to apply real world ideas to the digital world...why not apply them back?


And again we go around the real issue.  DRM...what is acceptable, what is too intrusive?

[LePaul]

MiniD

How is it others have to provide evidence yet you seldom do?  You make sweeping comments yet fail to back them up.

[LePaul]

If the Record Companies are going under, its based on their own poor sales, not anything Napster or the like did.

Just read the Entertainment side of the news from time to time, you'll see all the bad investments these companies make.  They gave Whitney Huston a huge advance a while back, in the millions...and her CD was a flop.

And those who buy CDs...well, Sony gave them a nice Trojan a while back.

You do have some good performers out there that do sell records.  But you also have a lot out there that land huge record contracts and dont sell.  Or, big executives who get large salaries yet do not produce.

iTunes is something I took a while to warm up to.  I'd rather pay 99 cents for the songs I like versus $16 for a CD with one song i like on it.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Originally posted by Mini D
Now why would I need to prove that to you? That's the part that you simply do not understand.

1) Is there piracy?
2) Is there a drop in sales?

You can cite other reasons for a drop in sales all you want, you cannot dismiss that piracy impacts it. Any attempt to do so comes off as apologetic. Once again, this is why the RIAA is able to get legislation passed.

That's just the point - the record companies are losing billions in sales because of 'piracy' at the same time the sales grow each year. Read especially the part that says 'grow'.

The growth has declined a tiny bit after the price raises - but the number is not even near the 'billion' number the industry is 'losing' because of 'piracy'.

In answer to your question 1: There is piracy. Just recently a UN cargo vessel got hijacked on African coast. File sharing is not piracy.

2) There is a slight decline in growth of sales, triggered by quite heavy price raises in both movie booths and digital media. If the 'lost' numbers of filesharing would be added to current sales rate, a miraculous 50% boost would be seen. Which is a direct indication that the numbers are far from realistic if even true at all.

[Grimm]

Personaly,  I think the Record industries problems are not so much illegal activities, but the fact that there product is to expensive.  

Somewhere in time,  it became the norm, if a person  has a hit song,  they seem to feel that they deserve to live the life of a sultant.   Mansions, Servants, expensive cars, world travel.     The Music Execs want a large share of the wealth as well.  

Why is that I can buy a hit movie for $10 that costs Millions to produce,  Yet if I want a CD of a so-so average band,  its going to cost me $15-20.   That CD could be produced for well under a dollar.  

Most folks I know,  Even if they have the ability to aquire a free copy of a movie, will op to buy it from the store.  it comes with the packaging, booklet and anything else.   Its worth the money.  

Same goes for Software,  Most folks will buy what they want and get all the documention and manuals and such,  again its worth the money.

Music, Well... Personaly I dont think its worth the money.   If they lowered the cost of a music CD to say a few bucks,  Most people would just buy it,  and get the case, and all the extras.   Sales would go thru the roof.   (think of HTC  when it lowered its price)

As I have read thru this I was thinking about  Bottled Water.  How does that compair to Digital Media.   Its something I can get for Free from Nature. Yet many pay for it.   If I drink a glass from the Tap,  am I stealing profits from the bottled water company?   If I refill the bottle and put it in my fridge, am I making Illegal copys?   What if I give a refilled bottle to a friend?   What If I let the MailMan drink from my Tap,  am I sharing illegaly??     Mind Boggleing  

This is a good thread and inspires thought.   I dont think DMA is the best answer to the issues of file sharing and piracy.   I think providing content at a resonable price would do more.