I was thinking about piracy and one of the main questions I had was how often are people sued for pirating? Is this something people should actually fear? I think it is. I personally don't know anyone that has been sued for pirating but from what I have read this might change soon. I have not exactly found a definite answer to the frequency of pirating suits but, it does seem as though people are tired of their work being stolen and they are starting to fight back. One way they are starting to do this is through the new "Six Strike" program I discussed in my
last post. As I stated before I don't think this program will have much impact, as it is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. The threat of a lawsuit however, I think will have a much greater effect. If people don't want to pay the original price for a product I can't imagine they would want to pay thousands more than what it is actually worth because they illegally downloaded. Well this is what
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is happening. A growing number of "Copyright Trolls" are searching file sharing sites for illegal sharing of copyrighted material. These copyright trolls then work with the owner of the material to go after the alleged offenders. So far, thousands of people have been sued and as the number of businesses monitoring sites for illegal file sharing continues to grow so will the number of people being sued. I know I don't want to pay thousands of dollars for a song. If you don't want to pay that much either you should probably think twice next time you are about to illegally download something. There could be a troll waiting to catch you.
Sources:
http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/helpmehoward/mi95730/
http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/helpmehoward/mi95730
http://phys.org/news/2012-07-bittorrent-popularity-mass-copyright-litigation.html
I think that sadly people will still continue with pirating, maybe not as much but it will still continue to happen even with a lager punishment to the six strike program. Looking at the reasoning that people think it won't happen to them like many things in life because personally when I see something like a major lawsuit and/or jail time for someone illegally downloading music/media I just assume they did it a lot and often and were probably someone how making a profit off it and that is how they go caught. Although, I see your point because I wouldn't want to get something free now and majorly pay for it later either!
ReplyDeleteI believe that pirating will continue to thrive. Whenever one free music programs or website gets comprimised, anothe comes up to take its place. There are many ways to pirate other then that aswell through burnt CD's and other sorts. People will continue to pirate unless we see instant ramifications, for instance, whenever you click download song, you are instantly charged with pirating. Until that becomes reality people will still continue to pirate without hesitation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hector. Until something is done to shake people up and strike fear in them piracy will continue.
ReplyDeleteJohn Pyles
I also agree with Hector. Something I would also add is an idea that instead of focusing on picking certain offenders out of the thousands and blowing the cases into lawsuits worth thousands of dollars, possibly try to lower the fine and increase the convictions. The threat of being instantly charged for say, $500, at a more probable rate would most likely deter criminals more effectively than the current methods.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is fair, to the artists, for lawsuits to settle piracy disputes. This favors large producers who can afford expensive lawyers. Independent producers and small-time artists can not afford expensive court cases and do not get the same chance. Lawsuits over piracy only give the big-time producers, Hollywood, corporations, and mass media power over innovative, creative, and genuine artists.
ReplyDeleteOver time, some of the illgal websites that let you download music will be cought. If the website is very good at attracting a large number of downloades, then eventually this information will spread, and get into the hands of lawmakers. Possible lawsuites such as those you presented will be enforced, and more and more people will try and find another source to illegally download music, possibly repeating the cycle. While a lot of users do not get caught, maybe the "CopyRight Trolls" can scare them away. I have know a few people who have downloaded illegal music online, and they still continued to engage in downloading illegal music for a period of time.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Smith
Until the producers of media use these "trolls" to shut down the distribution of pirated material I believe the general public will continue to use and access it. The solution to this is for TV networks and movie production companies to offer all their shows and movies online. Consumers like their product and they can still profit from it by offering it in the form they want it in. Charging a small fee or using advertising online will allow producers to profit and consumers to have the material legally.
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