Thursday, March 7, 2013
Copycat
This post is property of Thomas Wilkinson, and is a trademark of the fictitious company Thomas Wilkinson Productions. Copy-write laws and Internet Piracy are a big deal in the world we live in today. Not only do you read about it online in various places but it's creeping into our lives. A couple Sundays ago, I was in a hall meeting with the men on my floor. The RA was conducting. We played this little game, where if we agreed with something, we would be on one side of the room, and if we didn't, the other. One of the statements proposed that internet piracy was alright. Most of the room disagreed, but some agreed. The ones who agreed looked us in the eye and asked which of us hadn't participated in it at all, and we should practice what we preach. I stood there happy, never having to deal with it, but I was astonished as I looked around and saw my friends looking ashamedly down at their feet. It reminded me of the movie Transformers in which there is a computer nerd that gets arrested. When he is interrogated, he starts asking about the crimes he committed that caused him to be arrested. He says: "Sure, I've downloaded a few thousand songs, but, who hasn't?!" This statement is more true than we realize. This is a serious issue, but, who is the issue serious for? The companies who own the music freak out about it, but they themselves are also stealing from those who actually created the music or creative work that is being pirated. It's a two-sided coin full of hypocrites...
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Your last point is interesting. While the label companies may be "stealing" from the artists with regards to the fact that they are not paying the creators of the content what we feel is appropriate, their conduct is legal and binding and set forth in a contract. Piracy is just flat out against the law. And as it turns out, stealing from a thief is still stealing
ReplyDeleteJust because something got into some contracts doesn't make it morally or ethically justifiable - and isn't a little civil disobedience every now and then what keeps the world going round? Just be aware of who you're trying to punk.
ReplyDeleteOkay - so on the "practice what you preach" bit - what the crap is the point they're trying to make? I mean, what kind of five year old argues "if you've ever ________, then you can never be against it ever even if later you grow up and learn from your mistakes. Practice what you preach, bro!" Now, if they're making an argument that it's similar to speeding, in that lots of people have done it and it shouldn't entail a death sentence (usually), fine. But trying to use that as an argument for outright justification is moronic.
I have a difficult time throwing record companies under the bus. If they are doing something illegal then the law will, in time, catch up to them. Record companies can do a lot for artists (publicity, connections, let them focus on the art, etc.). Internet piracy on the other hand is completely unethical and illegal. I believe there needs to be changes made in IP law, but the need for change does not constitute illegal activity (especially by BYU students).
ReplyDeletePeople are always painting the record companies as these terrible leaches on the artist so they won't feel bad about pirating. The "niceness" of the record companies has nothing to do with it. It's still illegal to murder a jerk.
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