The Semantics of File Sharing

ethericalzen writes "The LA Times has published an opinion article about the legal semantics and analogies of file sharing. The article includes arguments from those who believe file sharing is theft and those who strongly disagree. As it points out, the common analogies to theft are often incomplete or inaccurate. The author states, "balancing the interests of content creators against the public's ... is a much more complicated task than erecting a legal barrier to five-fingered discounts." He recognizes that it is not a trivial concept, and that the clamoring from both camps about definitions and moral boundaries will dictate how businesses and users function in the future."

Re:Read the FA

[Wandering Wombat]

Use of those words must be granted expressly by the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary. Please cease and desist all use of "hard words" until our lawyers can be in contact with you.

Re:Cue the inevitable /. line of reasoning...

[Travelsonic]

Looks more like, "Cue the trolling and stereotyping. Brought to us by our favorite, the ignorant anon. cowards. Stay tuned now for logic, followed by flamewar, Only on Slashdot!"

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:I hate arguments by analogy

[Anonymous Coward]

Computer networks are not highway systems. They're not houses. They're not cars, or floor waxes, or dishwashing detergents. They do a totally unique thing

Actually, they're a series of tubes.

Re:No better then /.

[tristian_was_here]

So in other words its just an article that is what Slashdot is like every time an *AA story gets posted? Some calling it theft and others saying its not?

Well it does not matter because we all know file sharers are gang lords, drug dealers, terrorists and any other type of hardcore criminal. How do I know this? RIAA says so!

Re:Read the FA

[jd]

We regret to inform you that "hard" has been trademarked by the Viagra Spammers Association. Please cease, desist and buy products from dubious dealers until our lawyers contact you about a transfer opportunity from Nigeria.

Re:I hate arguments by analogy

[susano_otter]

Arguing by analogy is like trying to score a touchdown by driving a pickup truck into the end zone.

Re:No better then /.

[The -e**(i*pi)]

You must be referencing that leaked RIAA video, be careful, they may try to remove their property from your head, you must be a terrorist after all.

Everyone is a thief..

[LingNoi]

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear,.. ah crap.. [wikipedia.org]

You wouldn't steal a car...

[gillbates]

goes the familiar RIAA/MPAA-endorsed jingle...

And you know what? They're right. But neither would I attempt to steal the artist's living through creative accounting. I think the point they're trying to make is that they're far bigger jerks than you could ever hope to be, so don't mess with them.

Next time someone talks about filesharing as if it's stealing, remind them that you lose money on every download. You have to pay for the bandwidth, the equipment, and - by golly! - that all gets very expensive. By the time you're done, you just don't have anything left to pay the record companies... sorry!

Re:Here's a bread analogy

[Culture20]

Feeding of the 5000, New RIAA version:

(8) Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, (9) "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

(10) Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. (11) Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

(12) When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." (13) So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

sqrt(-13) For thirty pieces of silver, the boy told the Bakers what Jesus did. Then the Bakers went out and began to plot with the Fishermen how they might kill Jesus, for they thought to themselves "How are we going to get money to eat if he gives food for free?"(a)

(a) All ancient authorities do not contain verse sqrt(-13).

Re:I'm invoking Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies

[Alsee]

Here's an analogy for you:

Supposing the leader of country, lets call him...

Bush!
Lets call him Bush!
Can we call him Bush?

...Hitler

Oh. Ok.

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