These days Internet piracy has become like a virus, no one can really stop it. Some countries like France are creating and passing out new piracy laws against users that download music and movies from the internet as well as the Internet Sites that provide these services.
My question is, can governments really stop internet piracy? I think not. Users will always try to find new ways to access these materials with out paying, while the government is closing down 10 sites, 20 more new ones are providing these services. Internet technology advances way too fast for the government and laws to catch up.
There are some attempts from part of the companies such as Google to combat piracy. They recently launched a music service in India to help users search for legal online streams and downloads. If many other would follow these example, like Internet providers, I think that we could attack this issue in a mor effective way.
As long as people don't recognize how harmfull it' s to the creators of the music and movies, they are not going to stop downloading these file illegally. I think the government should really focus on educating people on this matter.
I agree on your conclusion, government agencies should focus more on educating the public and teaching them how this is "stealing" the intelectual property of the artists. However, this will be hard to achieve, because people in general if they have the opportunity to get something for 'free' they will defenitely go for it.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think educating people on the subject matter will result in any change? As intelligent individuals, I'd say many people know the problems with file sharing, yet that doesn't stop them from committing illegal acts to save a few dollars. And I'm sure everyone, including myself, has downloaded a pirated product. This issue should not just focus on the multibillion dollar music industry but on all products presently being copyrighted on the internet (books, pictures, movies, sound bits.) But I do agree with you, copyright infringement will continue as long as users have even the smallest amount of knowledge to search the internet.
ReplyDeleteAni I agree with you! I think there is no efficient solution to this problem but alternative ways of facing it. Laws and regulation can work for a moment but in the end could make the piracy business more profitable. Education could be one of many ways, challenging but possible...
ReplyDeleteAnabel even though education is one of the most important aspect society can invest while trying to change a conduct, this is a long term solution. I can agree that it could be the best solution and finally could end piracy, but we have to encourage government agencies to continue to develop new ways to find out people that have infringe author’s rights, because that is just, plain and simple: robbery. If society just invests in education it would help motivate an ongoing black market all around the world. We have to remember that countries that develop intellectual products like software lose millions of dollars annually in piracy in other regions of the globe that do not invest in proper legislation. What do these downloads represent finally is losing: jobs, economic growth and finally incentive to create innovation and progress.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that government regulations are not anywhere near the pace of technology. I also believe that educating the user could be a step forward. By educating I don't mean the awareness of piracy as illegal activity, but the creation of values regarding intellectual property.
ReplyDelete