Why people pirate music and don’t care

[Archived in Entry]

[GoldSounds] Following on from my earlier rant post about why it’s hard to make money as an artist, I was inspired by yet another insightful mini-article at ArsTechnica. The premise of the article (based on an LA Times article that requires registration to view) is that the US FBI is reluctant to prosecute P2P copyright violators. Specifically, author Charles Jade finishes with the following paragraph:

Some slightly related from Technorati and Google.

[Goldsounds.com] GoldSounds: As for the assertation that bloggers themselves are more likely to follow MSM topics than report the issues, I would direct one’s attention to the way the mainstream media has followed topics for as long as I can remember, which is that a small handful of publications (the New York Times, Fox News, CNN) set the agenda for the day, and most other publications around the world follow along like sheep. Sure, they may investigate the issues in a deep and professional manner, but their agenda is set by the leaders of the pack, and woebetide anyone who skews into new territory. I view this aggregate behaviour as just as great a shortcoming as the “buzz-following” amongst bloggers, and certainly far more entrenched.

[Goldsounds.com] GoldSounds: In a farcical display of opportunistic politicking, a the Senate Homeland Security Committee has heard from a police lieutenant that DVD piracy may be used to fund individuals that are alleged to sympathise with a terrorist group who have never attacked America, but could. ArsTechnica has a great tongue-in-cheek writeup in which they point out the obvious logical fallacy in this: supporters of Hezbollah work in a range of industries, from gas stations to supermarkets. Are the petroleum and consumer goods industries supporting terrorism? We must stamp them out, whatever it takes!

[Goldsounds.com] GoldSounds » general: In a farcical display of opportunistic politicking, a the Senate Homeland Security Committee has heard from a police lieutenant that DVD piracy may be used to fund individuals that are alleged to sympathise with a terrorist group who have never attacked America, but could. ArsTechnica has a great tongue-in-cheek writeup in which they point out the obvious logical fallacy in this: supporters of Hezbollah work in a range of industries, from gas stations to supermarkets. Are the petroleum and consumer goods industries supporting terrorism? We must stamp them out, whatever it takes!

[Goldsounds.com] GoldSounds » 2005 » May: As Slyck.com points out, this completely ignores the fact that BitTorrent has many legitimate uses, including distributing the Linux operating system. The press release also avoids mention of the fact that, unlike other P2P systems, BitTorrent requires the publisher to offer their file as a specific download on an open website, severely limiting its appeal as a mechanism to aid in copyright violations (essentially, it’s a huge red arrow pointing right at your house).

[Goldsounds.com] GoldSounds » nerdy: I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Linking p2p applications to the theft of personal information is like linking owning a Holden Monaro to being run off the road. Sure, you’re kind of asking for it, but there’s nothing innately special about that car that makes it the only target. They might as well say “Is having your computer send spurious virus-laden e-mails to your friends and co-workers worth using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Update, AIM, MSN Messenger, IIS, or Internet Explorer?”.

Reflected tags on Technorati: Blog, Riaa, DVD Recorder Info

Posted at June 02, 2005 09:09 AM