Feb 8
Intellectual property
The other day I was listening to a discussion that started with Pirate Bay and ended up as a defense of illegal downloading of music and films. All of them were doing it, along with most of the rest of the world it seems. The last time I listened to the same discussion I had butted in and said that I pay for all my music and films, but I was left with a feeling that the others thought that I was rather stupid in doing that. So this time I didn’t say a word.
Has Internet changed our moral code so fundamentally that it has now become acceptable to acquire other people’s property without paying for it? And by acquire, I mean steal. I know that most people wouldn’t steal a CD or DVD from a shop. But when the contents of the CD or DVD are made so easily available, the concept of “other people’s property” gets a bit blurry and suddenly it becomes perfectly justifiable to download and enjoy the media - without paying an öre. The risk of getting caught for downloading is negligible compared to stealing a physical CD from a physical shop. Just because it’s easy, it doesn’t make it right. It’s a classic case of opportunity making the thief.
A few years ago I must admit that I was guilty of the same (so there goes my moral ground to stand on, I’m not a saint). Before the download age, I could sometimes borrow a CD from a friend and copy it for myself. Then later, I downloaded the occasional song that had caught my fancy. Then I got to a point in my photography where selling my pictures became a realistic option, and I finally came to realise the meaning of intellectual property. My photos are mine - if someone wants to use them, I expect to be compensated for it. I have given away photos for free a lot more often than I’ve gotten paid for them, but it has always been my choice. Someone has been nice enough to ask me, and that’s good enough for me. It’s the thought of someone taking one of my pictures without asking and then using it for whatever purpose that gets me. The copyright notice in my pictures it not just for decoration.
So if I’m so particular about my own intellectual property, then the least I can do is to respect others’ ditto. Thus, I now buy my films on DVD and download my music from iTunes. (Silly me?) I think it is also a way of showing my appreciation for their work - voting with my wallet, if you will. “Create some more of this good stuff!”
No, the entertainment industry definitely has a big problem. Most people would pay for their downloads if only they had a viable option for it. And every year that goes by without that viable option is one more year for people to learn to expect that intellectual property is not worth an öre - because that’s exactly what they are (not) paying for it.
I have to say that I see your point. But…
Movies: recently I watched a movie, afterwards I was only happy I did not pay for it, it was worse than bad (even with Anthony Hopkins et al).
Music: I download to get a “preview”. I hate it- I delete it, I like it - I must buy it on CD.
Pics? Tricky one… Don’t really know where to download those
Wanna use my pics, just ask permission and if for agreeable purpose one might even get full size TIFF or so.
Question would be, have you noticed illegal use of your images?
That’s what I meant with “justifiable”. Although in the end we do the honest thing, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re treading the grey zone at first (even if downloading per se isn’t illegal, it is benefiting from someone else’s illegal file sharing). I would love to have the option of a free preview - and I don’t mean a 30-sec snippet of a song, or a movie trailer. The full monty, and then I can decide whether or not the product is worth paying. I constantly have a dilemma when I’m thinking about buying a DVD. It’s a film I have never seen, but I think it could be something I like… so either I buy it and risk being disappointed, or not buy and risk missing a great film.
Say for example, you buy DVD, watch it, decide that you didn’t like it and take it back to the store and demand your money back. Do you think they’d accept it? The deed has already been done, and it’s got nothing to do with your taste in movies.
As for my pictures, no I have never come across illegal use. I’m just paranoid.
Joking aside, it’s just a principle. Treat others as you want to be treated!
One more thing - I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m preaching here. I’m not. I don’t think that people are morally corrupted if they download. I’m just curious about the change in our way of thinking since the arrival of the download age!
I think you make a valid point here, hence the comment
Some time ago I was reading one and only blog post my one and only “god”, mr Gary Willis thought about piratism and filesharing. I have to say that opened my eyes, in some respect at least. Great musician, only not on mainstream scene. I think I can understand his distress.
What comes to the pics then… The size of your images posted here is so small it makes no sense to attempt to copy them. Keep original PSDs or TIFFs on a secure place and you should be fine, or…? I tend to publish slightly too good quality (i.e. printable up to 10*15cm) myself, but then again my pics are just amateurish crap
I’m not worried about anyone stealing the pictures here, I’ve always posted small versions on purpose. It’s just the principle of it!
And don’t under-estimate your own work. You’d be amazed by the “amateurish crap” that gets published these days… I’m still trying to get over the tilted horizon in the February picture of the WWF 2008 calendar. I’ll be happy when I can turn over to March… OK the picture is not bad, but a tilted horizon is a truly amateurish mistake!
I’m working in the software business and I do take the copyright stuff seriously. But what about the TV-Series you can download? I think that those at least are in the grey area, honestly. If you can legitimately save programs with your darned digi-system, then why in earth you cannot download the same thig..! Yes, I know how this works, the person who shares the files commits the crime and the ones downloading those files commit the same crime by accepting the first one’s deeds. Complicated it surely is.
Minna: I do take my own pics seriously enough not to publish anything large enough to produce prints large enough…. I suppose I am still on my way towards the “enlightment”, but at least getting there
Rane: you know… Already back in the university times I kept on telling lads and lassies, why are you stealing money from your future colleagues?!? If one is studying to be one in the industry, what is the point of not paying for someone else’s work, you will only end up in the same position!
I would like to blurp out couple of other things I think of your software company and especially my own, but I think that I prefer keeping my job for now