When the word “pirate” comes up in conversation, the first
thing that generally comes to mind is cannon fire, the Skull and Crossbones of
the Jolly Roger, and more often than not, a swaggering brigand who sways a
little when he walks and is very fond of the word “saavy”.
As the times have changed, however, the tools of piracy have
shifted from the traditional ship, cannon, and cutlass to any kind of computer
with an internet connection. Modern pirates (other than the ones in Somalia)
are no longer concerned with plundering for gold, treasure, or any sort of
material good. In fact, most modern pirates commit their crimes nonviolently,
in the comforts of their own homes.
So why the title “pirates”?
Well, it’s complicated. They download music and videos—copyrighted
creations of others—without payment, stealing them as effectively as Jack
Sparrow stole the Interceptor from Port Royal. And although these “internet
pirates” cannot be hanged for their crimes, they can still get into deep
trouble for taking someone else’s property without paying for it. According to
an article on Chillingeffects.org “In a civil suit, an infringer may be liable
for a copyright owner's actual damages plus any profits made from the
infringement.”
Many, however, fail to realize the reason for the harsh penalties
for illegal downloading. According to the website for RIAA (Recording Industry
Association of America), “In the decade since peer-to-peer (p2p) file-sharing
site Napster emerged in 1999, music sales in the U.S. have dropped 47 percent,
from $14.6 billion to $7.7 billion.” Internet piracy has caused a drop in available
jobs and in income for artists who are trying to market their albums and songs
to a world who would rather just download them for free. Sure, downloading
songs is easy, free, and doesn’t feel illegal, but nevertheless, it is wrong.
The purpose of this blog is to explore the subject of
internet piracy, creativity on the internet, and intellectual property, so as
to better inform the author and the readers of the intricacies and consequences
of internet piracy.
I like how you've approached the subject of internet piracy and made it more accessible to a contemporary reader by connecting it to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that almost everyone is familiar with; its a wonderful way to help people understand that information piracy today is an important topic that is just as weighty in modern society as traditional piracy was in an earlier age. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI love your writing style! Your words flow and it keeps the reader entertained. Your post was so fun to read and I loved all the comparisons you did during your introduction and throughout your story. Citing research from a reliable source also convinced me that piracy is a real problem that needs to be solved. I can't wait to read your next posts!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, let me say, you are on top of you're blogging game. I'm impressed. Also, I completely agree with your point. If more people would speak out against intellectual thievery, we might actually be able to implement more successful punishments for such crimes. Nice work.
ReplyDelete