Poll: Where do you draw the line on illegal downloads?

[megfilmworks]

The previous poster baffles me. I can't believe you don't see that theft of intellectual property is morally wrong; the hard work of writing a song, playing for free, sometimes for years, all the odds against you. And then maybe, you finally sell some of your music, only to have your paycheck stolen from you...It is money plain and simple, if you don't understand it then you may never, but you are worse than any agent, lawyer or record label. You are worse than "greedy corporate America" or "the man".
A fan is supposed to be the friend of the artist not a sycophant.
And don't tell me it helps them make money touring. No band makes money touring, unless you are some old mega rock act like the Stones. Bands today tour at a big loss, hoping you will like them and buy their album. And instead you steal it. What a sad world.

 

[Marble]

Sycophant?

Look—it's an interesting issue. Just because I'm interested in the subject of piracy doesn't mean I am promoting it or that I even do it. Where I draw the line on piracy is, for the purposes of this thread, an academic question that shouldn't be used to assassinate my character.

Doesn't anyone else who's thought about it think piracy is more than just opportunism?

 

[megfilmworks]

Look—it's an interesting issue. Just because I'm interested in the subject of piracy doesn't mean I am promoting it or that I even do it. Where I draw the line on piracy is, for the purposes of this thread, an academic question that shouldn't be used to assassinate my character.

Doesn't anyone else who's thought about it think piracy is more than just opportunism?

It is not an academic question. It is black and white, both morally, legally, and civilly. It is stealing plain and simple. I doubt if someone stole your paycheck you would call it "an interesting academic issue"
You may be a wonderful person in other areas of your life, but when you steal then you are a thief.

 

[mahashel]

..Hey, I don't like the price of that plasma tv at Best Buy, guess I should go down smash a window and take it, sounds logical. If you don't want to pay the price, don't buy..

I believe the only way downloading a file is anything like smashing the windows of a Best Buy and strutting off with a plasma is in a purely legal sense.
The reality of piracy is that Joe Sixpack has a number of anonymous people offering him FREE plasma TVs that he doesn't even have to move his fat duff to acquire. He doesn't even have to go pick it up. A couple clicks and the thing is in his living room. Zero cost. Zero effort. Zero perceived real threat.
Whether it's legal or not, I find it difficult to believe that the majority of humans will shun this kind of activity out of sheer nobility.
Piracy is easier.. physically and financially
Buying legit is harder.. physically and financially
Until this imbalance is addressed piracy will be rampant. No level of hand-wringing and legal saber-rattling will slow it down. People take the easiest path as long as they possibly can. It's human nature.

(Quasi-legitimacy disclaimer: I'm in a local band whose material has popped up on several p2p networks. We've obviously lost money due to piracy, but I feel it would be both futile and inflammatory to try and put a stop to it. I don't need to sue my nephew for my cut of the "lost sale". I prefer to spend my time writing music rather than becoming a lawyer. Not to mention the p2p network is probably more effective at distribution than our label.. lol)

 

[megfilmworks]

I agree, legislation is not the answer, common, human morals are.
It's hard enough, as you know to make any money in this business without being ripped off. I think iTunes has had a tremendous positive impact on music and has helped to bring the money to songwriters and artists.
This is the path IMHO.

 

[shu82]

My common answer for the past decade this has been going on is: When you provide a means of legally obtaining the product that is as easy and provides the same quality product, illegal sourcing of that product will go down. I used napster in college, now I use itunes. Now with TV, I still prefer versions of better quality than what comes from cable or itunes. I watch it once and thats it. Sorry! I did a cost/benefit analysis on this in grad school. TV shows should cost about 80 cents and movies should be around $2 for all pirates to be absorbed into the mainstream.

For movies I have Netflix.

Cable is dead.

As for software...I'm not a gamer, the ilife software is great, and Screw Microsoft!!! I paid for Windows ME!! They owe me more than money, more like the two worst years of my life back

 

[wyatt23]

i stop downloading when things when i get a job with a salary.


it will also help when the riaa stops suing the pants off of little girls and grandma's.

 

[mahashel]

..I think iTunes has had a tremendous positive impact on music and has helped to bring the money to songwriters and artists.
This is the path IMHO.

I think pretty much everyone could agree that Apple has done incredible work with the iTMS. Pretty safe bet, really, since we're on an Apple forum.
The direct-download model looks to be the brightest future for the entertainment industry. This removes the critical "buying legit is harder" excuse. (because let's face it, going out and buying CDs really *is* harder than clicking Download)
..Now if only I can convince Steve-o to offer lossless audio for the same price. heh

 

[megfilmworks]

And with that lossless I'd like to see them expand into HD content

 

[it5five]

T I can't believe you don't see that theft of intellectual property is morally wrong; the hard work of writing a song, playing for free, sometimes for years, all the odds against you. And then maybe, you finally sell some of your music, only to have your paycheck stolen from you...by the record company.

Fixed for reality.

 

[beate]

OK, I'll admit it, I haven't read every post - 6 pages and it's late, someone may have already posted my "stealing" limits.

I am heavily involved with the recording industry so I'm sensitive to illegal downloads. I also like to think that I am of strong moral character...but...

I buy from iTunes when not buying the CD - for convenience and when I want just one song.
I often also download the same song illegally. I want to be able to do what I want with the music I buy. I use many computers and just having a limit makes me crazy. It's like a ticking clock. I don't think I've ever needed the illegal version but still...

And as a note - A few months ago I was visiting a friend in another state. She wanted a "clean" version of a song I had...she had the dirty one and it was inappropriate for her daughter. I logged onto my iTunes account and bought the song for a second time (for her). iTunes took it from my alloted uses as if I hadn't paid for "another" set of uses.
Sometimes you get d*ck for going the right thing. Grrrrrrr
Then again, maybe it's Karma.

 

[beate]

Actually when you steal music you are rocking out with the man.
The agent steals, the manger steals, the lawyer steals, the record label steals, and now the fan steals.
Rockin' and stealin' with the man!

Funnnnny!

But nonetheless, there are some managers & record labels - few maybe, but I know some that are genuinely interested and supportive of their artists. Of course, they ain't making much money either....

 

[MaskedPhantom]

I notice that the majority has picked "I draw the line nowhere!"

Hmm?

 

[-::ubermann::-]

I don't mind downloading anything illegally, mp3,movies, whatever else
for applications, I use mostly open source apps, with some exceptions
anyways in this country software usually costs more than twice than in USA

 

[yg17]

Here's what I'll never understand...

If I walk into Best Buy, shove a CD under my shirt, run out, and get caught, I'll get a slap on the wrist. Most stores won't even bother prosecuting for theft under a certain amount of dollars. If I do get charged, I'll get a small fine, possibly community service, or just petty theft on my police record.

Now, if rather than stealing that CD, I download it off the internet and get caught, I'll be sued for every penny I have and then some, and may become more intimate than I'd like with my big horny cellmate named Bubba.

Same goes for movies and applications. I just don't get it and think it's absolute crap.

 

[iTeen]

i would never download any apps off of something like limewire...i use limewire for about 50% of my music collection. I buy the other half from iTunes. I dn't think there is anything wrong with that because i am basically spending 50cents per song.

 

[zap2]

i use limewire for about 50% of my music collection. I buy the other half from iTunes. I dn't think there is anything wrong with that because i am basically spending 50cents per song.

ROFL

Thanks, thats one of the funnier post I've ever read on MR

 

[yg17]

ROFL

Thanks, thats one of the funnier post I've ever read on MR

I'm guessing you haven't seen his posts in PRSI then?

 

[bradc]

The only legal stuff I download are applications from the small Apple developers like just recently RapidWeaver. I like supporting the small guys.

 

[wongulous]

a) Criminal Infringement. - Any person who infringes a copyright willfully either -

(1) for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain, or

(2) by the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000,

shall be punished as provided under section 2319 of title 18, United States Code.

...

That, my friend, is criminal copyright infringement, not "theft" (whatever you meant by that term). This is just one example of where copyright infringement can be prosecuted criminally.

One example of which neither scenario applies to me. That would have to be at least 800-1,000 tracks (or 40-50 albums) that I reproduce or distribute in a ~6 month period. I don't reproduce or distribute often, but even if I did, I don't send out 50 albums.

Furthermore, taking this by itself, mix CDs would fall under this. If you made mix CDs with 21 tracks (I average this all the time), and you made 6 or 7 mix CDs per month, you'd be committing a crime, even if you owned the albums that you were putting on them. That's crazy.

 

[2thousand9]

My thoughts

I'm 15 don't have a job and don't have much money for anything haha and I don't usually pay for anything digital. When i do have money, I do support small underground musicians and apps which are developed by small company's, but when it comes too already rich company's and huge labels, i don't give 2 *****.... They have enough money and I do not want to support capitalist greed where 90% of the money goes to greedy ass labels... id rather give the money to a homeless shelter or a starving child OR an up and coming musician with actual talent signed by an independent label.

 

[P-Worm]

I'm 15 don't have a job and don't have much money for anything haha and I don't usually pay for anything digital. When i do have money, I do support small underground musicians and apps which are developed by small company's, but when it comes too already rich company's and huge labels, i don't give 2 *****.... They have enough money and I do not want to support capitalist greed where 90% of the money goes to greedy ass labels... id rather give the money to a homeless shelter or a starving child OR an up and coming musician with actual talent signed by an independent label.

Do you give money to homeless shelters or starving children?

P-Worm

 

[iMpathetic]

I do not want to support capitalist greed

HAHAHAHAHA