[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Personally, I don't, for a couple of reasons. First, I have horrible luck, and if anyone is going to get busted and fined for it, it's me. They might decide to go after one person in the whole world, and it would just happen to be yours truly.

The other big reason is this. If piracy ever gets so bad that making movies/music/shows/games is no longer profitable, or even less profitable, they're going to spend less money producing these things, leading to a decrease in both quantity and quality.

Also, I'm a little anal in that I generally try to do what's legal when I can, and it just seems wrong.

It's not like I think I'm going to make a difference. Like many other things, such as voting, recycling, and being polite to strangers, I know I am not going to change anything by myself. However, with all of these things, I'd rather be on what i consider the right side of the situation.

So how about you? Do you rip stuff off of the internets at every opportunity? On special occasions? Never? Why?

[Tremolo]

I used to rip a lot and didnt have a care in the world. But then I got a job and an income, so I decided that whenever I liked what I downloaded I would then buy it in support of the artist(s).

I too am abit anal about being nice to other ppl and upholding the law although I do occasionally cross the street even though it's red light.

[Aptorian]

Have you ever seen that campaign commercial about piracy where they make a list of crimes and compare them with piracy?

You wouldn't steal a car would you?
You wouldn't steal from a shop would you?
etc, etc.

Well, if it was as easy and as simple as it was "stealing from the internet". I'd be driving sportscars and sitting top of a mountain of consumerproducts laughing my ass off.

Generally "the only" piracy I commit is using streaming sites. There's a ton of television series that don't come out in Denmark which I elect to catch on the the internet instead. I don't actually jave a televison, so what ever TV I watch comes from these sites.

I don't really know what to think of piracy. I don't have any statistics or numbers to go by, but my impression is that a lot of the early reasons for piracy taking place was peoples interest in Mp3 files. Now a days there's a hundred shops and different services that supply television and music and even games over the internet. I think that makes a big difference.

[Mezla PigDog]

You're funding terrorism, Apt! Shame on you.

I don't download anything. Mainly because I don't have that kind of internet lifestyle but I do believe in paying for the services you use.

[Slum]

I like things more when they're free.

[relentless]

I do download some things mostly because it's just so convenient.

I could go to a music shop and listen to the whole album, and most bookshops have a couch where you can read large portions of a book. So instead of having to go to a shop I just check it out on the internet. That way I don't have to hunt for reviews and I'm never disappointed when I buy a book/CD.

It's illegal, yes, but I don't see how there's any victim. I don't share what I download, so I'm not responsible for what others do, and if I like a book/CD, I then go out and buy it. In fact, without the internet I'd probably be buying fewer books/CDs.

I also think the piracy thing is wildly exaggerated. When record companies point at some 15 year old who downloads 1000 albums and then claim they just lost 10,000$ in revenue... right. Like that 15 year old would have bought those 1000 albums if it wasn't for the internet.

[dktorode]

[Cougar]

If I ever wanted to listen to a coldplay album or something I'd quite happily nick it. I don't worry about taking money out of Chris Martins pocket. However, it would concern me that I was damaging the prospects of smaller artists, so I wouldn't really do it for anything but the biggest acts. Film wise, I've seen hundereds of dodgy DVDs and it doesn't bother me at all.

I'm pretty amoral though so...

[Gothos]

you're not really damaging the artist in the vast majority of cases, what they get is a small portion of the profits, most of which go to the retailer.

quite frankly, I used to do this quite a lot 'cause of the money vs price vs availability ratio in this country at that time, and believe me the prices were honestly insane. trying to convert it into something you'd be able to relate to, imagine buying a new game for 160 quid minimum...
nowdays, when we're at least with one foot in the "good" Europe, I can afford to buy my games at least.
even with music and movies/series, I do it scarcely. usually leading to buying them at some point later.

[Cougar]

Having produced and distributed my own band some years ago, it's hard enough to finance anything when you are getting started, so I think there is a fair chance that for smaller artists/studios/manufacturers you are having a significant impact on their finances if you download illegally. However, when it comes to big acts, popular films and games yeah screw em it's a victimless crime.

Incidentally in the UK we are subjected to the stupidest commercials featuring a character called 'Knock of Nigel' where it is insinuated that anyone who buys dodgy DVDs, or downloads films etc is a grubby little character who would steal from their friends and is something similar to a rapist or a paedo who will incur the eternal disapproval of his better looking morally superior collegues/society.

[Obdigore]

I only pirate things that I already own.

Such as a dvd getting all scratched up because I watch it so much, I will DL a pirated copy and burn it to DVD so I can keep watching it. Do the same thing for CD's.

I buy all music/dvds/games, although I am sometimes very disappointed. A lot of the music/movie piracy came from the fact that the stuff is so much more expensive than it needs to be, and people feel that these industries have been price gouging for years.

I can understand that sentiment, since I see movies make 150million on opening weekend, and then they are sold for 30$ for the dvds. Oh well.

[Bent]

One word.....

ARRRRRR!!!!!!


As a self proclaimed pirate of the seven seas(I even wear an eye patch), I take anything and everything I can get my hands on. Its not stealing, its SHARING! If a friend of mine(yes I have friends outside of the forum!) has a CD that I like, I rip it and make it my own. If I were to buy it, that would only make the distributors money as someone else already stated. If I hear a song on the radio I like, I hop on a file sharing site, and download it. Why buy the whole CD for one song? If a movie just came out in the theater, and I go watch it, and enjoy it, I hop on said file sharing site and burn it so that my friends wont have to drop 10 bucks each to see it. I don't sell copies, because THAT is wrong. But If I buy a CD and give it to you for free, then its not at all immoral. I guess the thought of helping the rich get richer pisses me off a bit.

Most bands earn their money on tour. I consider what I do for them free advertising. If a friend hasn't heard of the band, and I give them a copy of the "Stolen" CD, and they like it, then they are more apt to go to a show. Anyway, theres my 2 cents.

[Zanth13]

This thread fills like a trap....

but I like the variety you can find, plus stuff you cant get anywhere else such as mixed songs ect,

plus alot of old songs are not protected any more...

I dont feel it is a big issue, they allow us to buy boot leg DVDs so it cant be to big of a deal.

[Gothos]

Cougar;360589 said:

Having produced and distributed my own band some years ago, it's hard enough to finance anything when you are getting started, so I think there is a fair chance that for smaller artists/studios/manufacturers you are having a significant impact on their finances if you download illegally. However, when it comes to big acts, popular films and games yeah screw em it's a victimless crime.

Incidentally in the UK we are subjected to the stupidest commercials featuring a character called 'Knock of Nigel' where it is insinuated that anyone who buys dodgy DVDs, or downloads films etc is a grubby little character who would steal from their friends and is something similar to a rapist or a paedo who will incur the eternal disapproval of his better looking morally superior collegues/society.

don't copy that floppy?

Obdigore;360591 said:

I only pirate things that I already own.

Such as a dvd getting all scratched up because I watch it so much, I will DL a pirated copy and burn it to DVD so I can keep watching it. Do the same thing for CD's.

ns, I've lost several games and music CDs in the past just due to "overuse" (to name a few, Unreal Tournament, Diablo II and Quake II)



anyway, what I wanted to add is, the main difference between stealing through file sharing and hijacking is that with hijacking a real, physical product of work and resources is lost, while file sharing doesn't take property away from the stolen-from, just shares it around...
of course then there's intellectual value.

[Binder of Demons]

One of the biggest reasons for piracy is something that is instituted by the commercial powers themselves. Licensing differences.

I mean, why should there ever have been a delay in the release of a movie outside of the US market. I remember having to wait for anywhere between 3-6 months for a big movie to come to the cinema in Ireland after it had been released in the US. Now people don't have to wait. They just say screw it, I'll download it instead.

Same with TV shows. I see you guys all mention shows that aren't on TV here in NZ yet, and unlikely to be for months to come. I wish i had a good internet connection to be able to DL stuff. I was able to buy a box set (including season3) of Battlestar Galactica before the show even finished Season3 on NZ tv. For a show I like, I'm more than hapy to buy it, but then I expect there to be some extras as well. I've bought FIREFLY on DVD twice now (once in Ireland, and once in NZ since I left the other at home). Make it good enough and I'll buy it.

As far as CD's go, I'm more than happy to buy an album or single if it's good enough and at a sane price. I'll happily wait for it to be reduced though, or get it second hand. And I'd be happy to listen to it pirated until that happens. I guess i'm fortunate in that a lot of the music i like is produced by smaller record labels who like to give away sample MP3's for new albums. This can work for and against them. If the album is good I'll get it. But if the overall album isn't strong, I'll just keep the free MP3's thank you very much. Last "Shins" album was a case in point, where they gave away the best 2 songs free, and so i couldn't justify paying nearly nz$35 for 8 other songs that didn't really grab me. But i've heard several good tracks off the "New Pornographers" album "Challengers" and so i'll eventually buy it when the price is right. Piracy is so tempting in these instances.

[RodeoRanch]

Loads of music, aye.

Games and movies, not so much.

[bwgan]

I'm confused now.

I am a VERY honest law abiding sort of person and I would NEVER indulge in piracy...but I have paid to download songs...is that illegal then??? I thought it was OK especially as I only buy from 'reputable' companies...am I getting my wires crossed?

I never share the songs with anyone, except on the pc or laptop to which it's been downloaded...so my children and other half can listen to them. I only ever rip from cds I own, just to listen to in the car, so I only have the songs I like...are you now telling me that I'm a criminal? :eek:

Seriously I don't know a lot about these things and I really need to know that I'm not doing something wrong...I'm a good girl I am.


(Eliza Doolittle's got nothing on me...and if you get that reference then you are nowhere near as cool as you are pretending to be! )

[frookenhauer]

I would not watch a pirate movie iff the picture quality and sound were rubbish, or it is a top rated movie.

I have, on occasion listened to music files obtained from sharing sites.

There are instances in my life where the use of pirated software has taken place.

If the internet were roughly human shaped, I may want to hug it.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

bwgan;360900 said:

I'm confused now.

I am a VERY honest law abiding sort of person and I would NEVER indulge in piracy...but I have paid to download songs...is that illegal then??? I thought it was OK especially as I only buy from 'reputable' companies...am I getting my wires crossed?

I never share the songs with anyone, except on the pc or laptop to which it's been downloaded...so my children and other half can listen to them. I only ever rip from cds I own, just to listen to in the car, so I only have the songs I like...are you now telling me that I'm a criminal? :eek:

Seriously I don't know a lot about these things and I really need to know that I'm not doing something wrong...I'm a good girl I am.


(Eliza Doolittle's got nothing on me...and if you get that reference then you are nowhere near as cool as you are pretending to be! )

If you pay for it chances are it was legal.

[Yellow]

I was going to post a big thing about attitudes towards piracy these days, but I can't be bothered.

I am similar to Bent. And it hurts to say that.

Sharing is not stealing. It's copyright violation. Which doesn't really set anyone's panties on fire, does it?