T.W.
Wednesday 28th October 2009 5:06pm [Edited]
15,786 posts
Quote: Aaron @ October 28 2009, 1:55 PM BST
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8328820.stm
Unlikely to go anywhere as-is being reported, but a good indicator of the Government's priorities and where they want things to go. Take note, guys.
It won't solve the problem. But there is a problem of perception that anything that can be digitalised is fair game to steal. Most people wouldn't feel morally OK about going into their local supermarket and stealing a packet of sausages and a bottle of gin, yet to steal products via the internet is deemed OK.
When it comes to arts and media, what is the point of people spending long hours and big amounts of money producing content only for people to feel that it's fair game to steal it? This is a real problem. People who write or create for a living surely deserve to be able to reap the rewards for their work. If you can't own the rights to your own work, then frankly what's the point?
The whole issue is perceived too often as an "us and them" issue, i.e. the poor internet user versus the government and the multi-nationals, when in truth internet piracy affects the prospects of even the lowliest musician or writer, because less profits from successful stuff means less money to develop new talent. And real people's real jobs are dependent on earning money from content, it is not a "victimless crime". The idea that everything on the internet should be free is not only idealistic, it is unfair and counter-productive. Illegal file sharers should ask themselves how morally acceptable are their actions.
Rant over. 
