I'm not standing up for the crime, but isn't the punishment supposed to match it?
Let me guess--you're one of those people who thinks that corporate executives should get many years in prison rather than fines because of the economic damage their misdeeds cause.
Well, movie pirates likewise cause millions in economic damage.
"Let me guess--you're one of those people who thinks that corporate executives should get many years in prison rather than fines because of the economic damage their misdeeds cause." There is real, measurable damage when some clown in a business suit robs someone of their retirement fund. They destroy lives. I'm yet to see a poor starving industry executive begging me for money when I buy my groceries because some kid downloaded a copy of "Crossroads".
"Well, movie pirates likewise cause millions in economic damage."
If I hadn't been able to download a few episodes of The Sopranos, I never would have bought the entire DVD collection. Viewing times just don't suit my work habits unfortunately, and I'm not abou to shell out $100 on something that might just be garbage.
But wait, you're talking about those poor unfortunate people like set builders and painters, the hard workers who make their living supporting the movie industry, and I'm hurting them, right?
If that's the case, they'd have a big complaint to lodge with those behind Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow. The whole movie filmed without a single set being built, everything CG apart from the main actors.
The movie industry is playing catch-up to consumer demands. They either adapt, of their business model dies.
Is it really that hard to grasp?
There is real, measurable damage when some clown in a business suit robs someone of their retirement fund
Sigh. Would it be too much to ask you to think for one minute before posting? What the hell do you think 'retirement funds' invest in? That's right - for profit businesses! So when you hurt for-profit companies, you hurt the poor old people with the retirement funds AND ultimately the set painters and whatever other lovable tramp characters you want to put in your menagerie.
So you're saying that somebody distributing film has the same adverse affect on a retirement fund as misreporting of figures and stealing from the shareholders?
Can you come over and do my taxes? You appear to be better with magical numbers than my accountant.
The existence of bricks don't obsolete car windows or cause us to scream about how the car window manufacturers need to come up with new brick-resistant windows or go out of business. Rather, we say "find the idiots who are throwing bricks through windows."
That's a wonderful analogy. The recording industry wants to outlaw the bricks themselves (i.e. P2P). Then we couldn't use them to build houses and pave driveways (share noninfringing files).
Would it be too much to ask you to think for one minute before posting?
Troll
So when you hurt for-profit companies, you hurt the poor old people with the retirement funds
Troll. What you say is true, but you chose to ignore the fact that your example does not have immediate collateral damage. Don't pretend they are the same just to sound like you have a better argument.
There is a difference between a real technological shift and new methods of crime.
at the end of the day, IN AGGREGATE, that kid IS hurting your hypothetical retirement fund
You're completely ignoring the parent's first point: If I hadn't been able to download a few episodes of The Sopranos, I never would have bought the entire DVD collection
Piracy is paradoxical in that it hurts, but it also helps. It's hard to determine whether in aggregate the effect is positive, negative, or nuetral. Some argue that piracy killed the Dreamcast, while others say it propelled the Playstation to th
On the other hand, the suit who robs the pension fund has caused harm, no question about it. These are the type of greedy bastards behind this kind of law, and when they get caught robbing the pension fund, they typically pay a fine equivelent to around 10% of what they stole -- and no jail time in most cases. Can you imagine their outrage if people convicted of piracy were routinely fined 10% of the value of what they were caught with?
It's rather easier to work out what 10% of the money someone stole fro
Being able to download Sopranos (which is on HBO btw) is a night/day difference than some punk ass kid walking into a movie theater with a camera. This is a braindead law and anyone actually getting caught doing this deserves the crime.
You can wait 5 months for it to come out on dvd and rent it like every other human being. Then buy it if you like. Being a cheap ass doesn't make it more *justifiable*.
"If I hadn't been able to download a few episodes of The Sopranos, I never would have bought the entire DVD collection. Viewing times just don't suit my work habits unfortunately, and I'm not abou to shell out $100 on something that might just be garbage."
And if I hadn't shoplifted this copy of The Economist from the newstands the other day, I would never have seen how good it was and subscribed to the magazine.
And if I hadn't shoplifted this copy of The Economist from the newstands the other day, I would never have seen how good it was and subscribed to the magazine.
You mean, "And if I hadn't stood at the Newstand and read the Economist, then put it back on the shelf, I would never have seen how good it was and subscribed to the magazine."
I'm not going to advocate piracy, but if you're going to insist on using silly analogies to try to condemn (or support) it, at least put some effort into it.
You know you, can...oh, what's it called...oh yeah, *rent* seasons of the Sopranos along with other movies. This is legal and lets you try before you buy your own copy. You'll also be supporting video rental stores that let you try before you buy for a very reasonable price. Console games too! And some even sell popcorn and drinks. <HOMER>Mmmmm...popcorn.</HOMER> They've been renting videos (and games) for quite a few years now; I'm surprised you haven't heard of it.
In all seriousness, yo
"Be there. Aloha."
-- Steve McGarret, _Hawaii Five-Oh_
You'd get less time... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not standing up for the crime, but isn't the punishment supposed to match it?
Sickening...
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:1)
Let me guess--you're one of those people who thinks that corporate executives should get many years in prison rather than fines because of the economic damage their misdeeds cause.
Well, movie pirates likewise cause millions in economic damage.
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:5, Insightful)
There is real, measurable damage when some clown in a business suit robs someone of their retirement fund. They destroy lives. I'm yet to see a poor starving industry executive begging me for money when I buy my groceries because some kid downloaded a copy of "Crossroads".
"Well, movie pirates likewise cause millions in economic damage."
If I hadn't been able to download a few episodes of The Sopranos, I never would have bought the entire DVD collection. Viewing times just don't suit my work habits unfortunately, and I'm not abou to shell out $100 on something that might just be garbage.
But wait, you're talking about those poor unfortunate people like set builders and painters, the hard workers who make their living supporting the movie industry, and I'm hurting them, right?
If that's the case, they'd have a big complaint to lodge with those behind Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow. The whole movie filmed without a single set being built, everything CG apart from the main actors.
The movie industry is playing catch-up to consumer demands. They either adapt, of their business model dies.
Is it really that hard to grasp?
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:2, Insightful)
Sigh. Would it be too much to ask you to think for one minute before posting? What the hell do you think 'retirement funds' invest in? That's right - for profit businesses! So when you hurt for-profit companies, you hurt the poor old people with the retirement funds AND ultimately the set painters and whatever other lovable tramp characters you want to put in your menagerie.
The "Adapt or your bus
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:3, Interesting)
Can you come over and do my taxes? You appear to be better with magical numbers than my accountant.
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:4, Insightful)
That's a wonderful analogy. The recording industry wants to outlaw the bricks themselves (i.e. P2P). Then we couldn't use them to build houses and pave driveways (share noninfringing files).
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:0)
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:0)
nice try in trying to change the subject though!
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:1)
Troll
Troll. What you say is true, but you chose to ignore the fact that your example does not have immediate collateral damage. Don't pretend they are the same just to sound like you have a better argument.
Stupid analogy. Bricks aren't outlawed. And th
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:1, Insightful)
You're completely ignoring the parent's first point: If I hadn't been able to download a few episodes of The Sopranos, I never would have bought the entire DVD collection
Piracy is paradoxical in that it hurts, but it also helps. It's hard to determine whether in aggregate the effect is positive, negative, or nuetral. Some argue that piracy killed the Dreamcast, while others say it propelled the Playstation to th
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:2)
It's rather easier to work out what 10% of the money someone stole fro
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:0)
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:0)
Being able to download Sopranos (which is on HBO btw) is a night/day difference than some punk ass kid walking into a movie theater with a camera. This is a braindead law and anyone actually getting caught doing this deserves the crime.
You can wait 5 months for it to come out on dvd and rent it like every other human being. Then buy it if you like. Being a cheap ass doesn't make it more *justifiable*.
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:1)
And if I hadn't shoplifted this copy of The Economist from the newstands the other day, I would never have seen how good it was and subscribed to the magazine.
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:1)
You mean, "And if I hadn't stood at the Newstand and read the Economist, then put it back on the shelf, I would never have seen how good it was and subscribed to the magazine."
I'm not going to advocate piracy, but if you're going to insist on using silly analogies to try to condemn (or support) it, at least put some effort into it.
Re:You'd get less time... (Score:2)
In all seriousness, yo