The Software

The problem with the whole illegal downloading of software really needs to be looked at differently than anything else.

I was watching a movie yesterday, and it was one of the few that had those ads. It was saying, “You wouldn’t steal a car would you? Then why would you steal a movie?” Well, thing is, that’s not how it works out. Stealing a movie, would be physically taking someone’s physical DVD disk. What you’re doing by downloading it, is copying it. There’s a difference between that. Stealing and Copying. Yes, there are copyright laws against it, but for public viewings. You can copy your DVD as a backup for your own personal self.

So why are we paying for movies? Just for the DVD? But they don’t cost $20.00! We’re paying for the work that’s been put into them. Yet, look at art. Anyone can go take a picture of an artwork, and keep it for themselves, instead of buying that painting or buying a nice resolution poster. That’s just like downloading software, except, downloading gives you a more perfect copy of the item, than a photo.

You can see it now too, open-source. People are dedicating their lives to open-source projects, who don’t charge a dime for their work.

Now, I’m not saying downloading pirated goods is good or bad. I’m merely saying that this is something unique, and we can’t describe it under this and that.

~ by codestalker on May 28, 2007.