Something that I have heard a number of times, is that people beleive that piracy (usually music) is justified as a way of protesting copyright laws that they disagree with. While I understand that they disagree with the laws themselves, the idea that piracy is a “protest” of some type is absolutely laughable. The fact is, a protest is pointless unless the people who can change what you are protesting (in this case, Congress, the RIAA, the record labels, the musicians, etc.) are aware of the protest. Simply copying a CD or firing up a BitTorrent client and downloading a song isn’t a “protest” no matter what you beleive about copyright law.
Look, I know the score with the record labels. I’m not going to debate it, because I really understand both sides to it and empathize with each one for different reasons. But when people try extending this to movies or software, it is just plain dumb. The economics around both give a lot more money to the people who put in the real work than the music industry. Let’s face it, the average programmer or even a gaffer on a movie set makes more than the average signed artist does. So don’t pretend that copying a movie or piece of software is even about something justifiable, because it isn’t.
If you want to have a true protest, try this: first, pirate the album. Next, look at the liner notes for the album, find out who the producer is, the songwriter, etc. Send them each a dollar or two (it’s more than they get in royalties), and a note explaining that you pirated the album that they worked on because you don’t think its fair that the record label is ripping them off, but at the same time, you don’t want to be the one ripping them off either, so you are including payment far above their royalties. Send the band or artist five dollars with a similar note, and encourage them to esell their music directly. Also let them know that you compensated the producers and songwriters as appropriate. Don’t worry about “studio musicians” because they got a paycheck to play and aren’t in the royalty game. If you’ve got a lot a nerve, write a letter to the record company explaining what you did as well.
And there you go. You accomplished your goal of having the music without giving any money to the RIAA or a record label, the people who can actually make the situation change (the artists, producers, and songwriters) are actually aware of your protest, and at the same time, you are not ripping anyone off.
I am sure there is an alternate approach that does the same thing. But the point is, if you claim that piracy is a “protest”, you need to get honest with yourself. You aren’t protesting anything, you are justifying ripping off the artists that you claim to love, because even though they see pennies on the dollar in royalties, they don’t see a cent when you pirate an album.
J.Ja
