"You wouldn't steal a car.." - I would if i could download it

"You wouldn't steal a car.."- I would if I could download it.

I wish I could say that I thought up this gem but I can't, but it's a Facebook group that not only comments on the annoyance and irrelevance of the anti-pirating message that we have all seen played in the movies and when watching DVDs, but also where users can post tips on where to get pirated music films and software.

The crux of the group: that stealing a tangible object such as a car is an ineffectual comparison to illegal downloading on the Internet.

I also think it comments on the weariness of this piracy campaign. As piracy becomes more frequent, the less relevant this ad will become.

Also, watch this video by Weird Al, Don't Download This Song. I tried to embed this video, but I couldn't get the code.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEmTbpvj9fM

The song provides a similar commentary on the moral panic used to suppress downloading on the Internet and the dominant attitudes by the public toward it.

"Cause you start out stealing songs

Then you’re robbing liquor stores

And selling Crack

And running over school kids with your car..

"Don’t take away money

From artists just like me

How else can I afford another solid gold Humvee

And diamond studded swimming pools

These things don’t grow on trees"

Piracy be gone!

The article in the reader about the rhetorics and myths of anti-piracy campaigns quite intrigued me. The article talks about how piracy is being tackled by appealing to the moral conscience. But does that really work?

During the lecture a lot of people agreed to buying their music or software legally, which made me think about how 'others' should be doing that too. Somehow, the trend towards legal downloading of content on the internet isn't quite there yet.

Just yesterday, someone I know owned up to having used torrents and being caught! And then there was another person who owned up to having downloaded an absolutely large amount of content from torrents, which any sort of guilt associated to it what-so-ever. Which brings me to a point made in the article regarding the "inverse relationship between age and the propensity to commit copyright offenses." Both of the persons that have been mentioned above are in their 20s. The one who was caught and seemed gulity for what he had done, is in his early 20s and the other one in his late 20s. However, unlike what the copyright industries might think, the older one wasn't exactly guilty concerning the offense.

This brings me to the second point made in the article, about the problematization of the youth. The article presents a view that the reason why the youth does not think it wrong to download content off the internet illegaly is because of the longwithstanding association of youth with 'crime' and 'delinquency.' This could sure be a reason, but looking at it from a simpler perspective, based on the survey results that the article shows, couldn't this be a result of the lack of disposable income? Just considering the 18 - 29 year olds, some of who might be university students or recent gradute, already have enough expenses to deal with than having to add another load on. It does seem much like a matter of common sense to say that not everyone in their youth has criminal and delinquint tendencies or even be dealing with emotional and psychological turmoil.

Internet piracy

Up to the present, there are so many controversies on the internet piracy. What is internet piracy? The term of internet piracy is commonly used to refer to unauthorized uses of content or copying patented material on the internet. Last few years, Internet piracy has been increased enormously. It has become such a worldwide problem. Then why there is piracy on the internet? Why a lot of people continually committed internet piracy? There must be some reasons for this act. Mostly, a lot of people download music, videos, games and software piracy from the internet because they want to enjoy the services and share the contents with spending less money. Many teenagers are more likely to downloading free music than purchasing physical CD on record shops. Also, people use software piracy and peer to peer filesharing websites. Furthermore, some people engage in internet piracy for commercial reasons. It financially derives great benefit them from their activity. They sell and advertise the pirated materials at competitive prices on the internet. Generally, it is hard to make people pay to download or listen to music and stop from purchasing illegal pirated software programs.

In order to prevent the internet piracy, there are many anti-piracy campaigns especially for youngers in most of the Europe and Asian countries. Also, some new system for detection of online music and online video piracy (DIF) has been introduced recently. Now People are continually making efforts to reduce the rate of internet piracy and software piracy. However, I think internet privacy will not be completely removed. Though, we can still reduce the rate of internet piracy.