Downloading music and movies has become a lifestyle normality; even I am willing to forgo the “big screen” and high-quality mastering experience of dolby surround sound.
As technology evolves and internet connections become faster, more people are succumbing to downloading copyrighted material for free!
I spend most of my time surfing the internet in search of music and movie reviews. With the name of a film and song in mind, I then proceed to double-click on BitTorrent and LimeWire…
The Popularity of File-sharing
The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing has become one of the most common online activities on the internet.
Youths are largely responsible for the dramatic growth of file-sharing (we’re so guilty of it). A survey shows over 60 million Americans above the age of twelve have downloaded music!
I guess we’re all too used to downloading copyright protected media like movies, images, e-books, software and especially music. Besides, file-sharing is like the ideal cost-saving option for the cash-strapped.
Nevertheless, cash poor or not, we are downloading all those files without the copyright holder’s consent.
It’s illegal?
Yes, piracy is illegal! In the eyes of the law and creators in the digital world, this is considered as theft of intellectual property (Stealing something that doesn’t belong to you!) or otherwise known as copyright infringement.
Don’t Get Caught!
In Singapore’s first online piracy case, three people were arrested for having at least 20,000 MP3 files on their computers! Under the Singapore Copyright Act, fines are up to SGD 100,000 per song or a maximum sentence of up to five years – yikes!
But don’t pass out yet! That’s just one of those extreme cases.
Overseas, offenders in France are slammed with a hefty fine of up to 300,000 euros and three years in jail! The French government ain’t takin’ it easy on the violation of copyright laws.
France also has an anti-piracy body that receives information from ISPs on users who repeatedly share files online. These users will get an internet suspension if they do not heed two e-mail warnings.
Can Online Piracy Be Stopped?
Putting an end to online piracy is virtually impossible; it can only be reduced or prevented. Penalties and piracy laws can only do that much to curb the growth of online piracy.
Even some musicians are disagreeing with the recording industries efforts to stop the free sharing of music on the internet. It’s really a waste of effort and money! Don't you think so?
Like what Quentin Delafon from indie band The Teenagers said
"If companies try to stop kids from file sharing, they're just going to figure out another way to do it."
Fight Fire with Fire
One of my favourite bands has set the perfect example of perceiving a problem as an advantage.
Radiohead (with their In Rainbows album) employed the ‘pay-what-you-will’ (letting people name their own price) digital download and actually made profits from successful results - (Radiohead, you rock my world)!
Companies should consider online piracy as a creative and flexible marketing strategy for generating publicity on the Internet!
Limited Effects of Piracy
Online piracy and music downloading barely affects overall sales at all, as shown in a study by two professors. This is despite music and film companies claiming to be losing millions in terms of lost revenue and filing lawsuits due to online piracy in the media industry.
Even musicians are saying free-downloading has helped their careers. According to a musician web-survey:
“83% (of musicians) have provided free samples of their work online and significant numbers say free downloading has helped them sell CDs and increase the crowds at concerts”.
Online Piracy isn’t all bad
Musicians, film makers and citizens can all benefit from file-sharing on the Internet as long as they keep an open mindset to the social benefits of online piracy.
With the internet as a tool for worldwide communication, online piracy can be an innovative business model rather than a threat!
So everyone, let’s just deal with it, online piracy is here to stay! Do you agree?
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