What a crazy place we live in. When the illegal copy of X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie leaked onto the internet, many felt it was OK that it happened.
In places, different articles were published on the premise of piracy and that despite the social issues or acceptance of the matter, the bottom line is that it is illegal to make available, download and view copyrighted content without paying for it.
Yet despite the letter of the law, there’s an amazing perceived gray area to the issue.
The Issue
It’s more or less a black and white situation. The law that’s created to protect the makers of copyrighted content says it’s illegal to take without paying. Yet people are vehemently defending their actions of downloading this content with a serious amount of fiddling of logic, or massive excuses.
As it stands, it seems there will always be people whose sense of entitlement lets them believe that violating the law is acceptable. I get that. It just doesn’t feel like it’s such a big deal. Right? Or that you will go see the movie and buy the DVD’s will make up for it. Good for you! And you do it every time you watch a downloaded product I’m sure.
People think the industry makes too much as it is and it’s OK to take from them, but I don’t think those folks put themselves in the shoes of the employees whose livelihood, or the supporting of their families, come into mind. Then again, what if you’re employer thought they paid you too much for what you do? Should they have you work for free?
Despite The Dark Knight reportedly being a highly pirated movie, it still cracked records all over the place… But I bet those records were set by the upstanding citizens who just tend to pay for things and actually have some sort of conscience.
The Habit
It’s a freaking habit, that’s what it is. I know an ex-college student who has a great paying job and he still steals music from friends CD’s, absconds with software that isn’t his and whatever else he does. From what I can see, the habit of thievery permeates his life. And yes, he rationalizes to no end about it. It’s pretty funny to watch happen actually.
To one extent, there seems to be an age-line where people stop stealing and start paying. Maybe it’s just me… I don’t know.
Interesting
This issue is a fascinating emotional one for some reason.
Besides defending the actions with claims of big profits, there are those who think they are fighting for some obscure right of the consumer. LOL. I think all you’re doing is causing the powers-to-be to clamp down on the internet and make it all harder for us in the end. But don’t worry, you’ll be fine while the rest of us get screwed with whatever new laws or restrictions get put into place because if what the corporate entities envision as piracy.
There are those that adhere to the letter of the law and just purchase what there is to be purchasable and view what there is allowed to be viewable. I myself find many options for catching many things on the cheap.
On Demand, the Internet presence of networks or even Hulu.
If you don’t want to spend $30 at the movie theater, then rent a $5 On Demand showing and buy $5 popcorn at Safeway.
An interesting observation from this whole thing was that one website’s article had hit the front page of DIGG… and then oddly, the DIGG community buried it. Seems indicative of the demographic of DIGG.
Ultimately
Theft is wrong, no matter how you justify it.
I get the delusional justification process. In my youthful days, I didn’t even justify some of my behavior. I just did it. Now when I want something, I save for it or buy it.
Then again, this day and age is about wanting now and getting it now. That mentality sweeps up the persona big time.
Technicality: Knowingly going after a copyright protected product outside of the various purchasing avenues is breaking the law. Arguing that there is justification to downloading a film because a theater charges too much or you don’t make enough is just an argument manipulating the facts to your own persuasion. Heck, at this point, cars cost too much. You might as well start stealing from the dealership lots.
The spirit of the law is there, and it keeps the behavior from becoming mainstream. If this behavior went mainstream, no one would make their money and we wouldn’t see anymore of their product.
THE END
In the end, we all do what we’re going to do and then we’re going to defend our take on our behavior, regardless of what it is.
Remember that if you ever get mugged. You make more than this other guy, but it’s what he does and it’s easy to do.
Or when an industry makes it harder to obtain their product illegally, we raise hell about it. Or when an industry raises prices to combat their losses, we’re going to steal from them to show them how wrong they are… ‘?’
We have funny expectations. That’s for sure.
