Piracy is getting F'n ridiculous...

[Gindil]

Link [http://torrentfreak.com/police-arrest-18-alleged-movie-music-and-software-uploaders-110115/]

This week, Japanese police have been carrying out raids all over the country against individuals alleged to have uploaded copyright works to the Internet. In total, 18 people were arrested for sharing movies, anime, music, games and software.

Wait, the public shaming doesn't end there.

As appears to be customary in these cases, the RIAJ ? the Japanese equivalent of the RIAA ? has taken the step of publishing [http://www.riaj.or.jp/release/2011/pr110114.html] a list of the ages, sex, locations, occupations and copyright works said to have been shared by the 18 individuals.

Now these people have pretty much been convicted. IIRC, I found an article here discussing Phoenix Wright and the Japanese legal(ly corrupt) system in detail.

so yeah, they get the advantage of the prison system [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_system_of_Japan] with the loss of their jobs, status, and possibly a new job of being yakuza. Bravo Japan!

 

[WrongSprite]

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

 

[GiantRaven]

I know you most probably aren't but I still have to ask; are you suggesting that file sharers should go unpunished if caught? Despite breaking the law?

 

[Master Kuja]

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

I know you most probably aren't but I still have to ask; are you suggesting that file sharers should go unpunished if caught? Despite breaking the law?

I don't think it's the fact that they've been convicted, more the fact that all their personal details have been published in a very easily reached place for a massively hefty dose of public shaming, which just seems remarkably unnecessary.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

Why is it an issue that they've been convicted? It's a crime.

Because it should totally be up there along with murder and rape. We want to reform "criminals", not ruin any shot they might have to return to society.

I know you most probably aren't but I still have to ask; are you suggesting that file sharers should go unpunished if caught? Despite breaking the law?

Should they be punished in the way of a small fine? Sure. Should his personal info be displayed on the internet and he be sent to prison? No.

 

[GiantRaven]

I don't think it's the fact that they've been convicted, more the fact that all their personal details have been published in a very easily reached place for a massively hefty dose of public shaming, which just seems remarkably unnecessary.

Yeah, I entirely agree there. That's just going overboard and seems like a violation of general decency towards people.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

It seems people are unaware of how criminals are treated in Japan. If you shame yourself then you shame everyone who has ties to you, including family, friends and even work collegues.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

This entire 'anti piracy' bullshit has gone way the fuck outta line.

I actually agree. It's similar to what happened to weed users back in the 70's and 80's. Prisons were basically flocked.

 

[Geekosaurus]

That'll teach them to pay for their shit next time.

 

[Raiha]

Here's the thing. Copying is NOT 'piracy', its 'copyright infrigement'. Got it?

please explain the difference. seems to me it is just the words you use to describe the same action. and i don't know about you, but if i were to put all of the years of hard work that people put into creating something like the things these people stole, i would want to get paid for it. if people don't want to be punished for theft, then they should not steal.

 

[RatRace123]

Yeah, they're getting treated waaaaay to harshly.
I don't think they should get off without any punishment, but disgracing them and ruining their entire lives as well as the lives of their associates, that's not right.

 

[Gindil]

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

So if I outlaw anyone named Akira from moving to Akihabara, should I convict the ones already there?

 

[manythings]

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

I know you most probably aren't but I still have to ask; are you suggesting that file sharers should go unpunished if caught? Despite breaking the law?

I don't think it's the fact that they've been convicted, more the fact that all their personal details have been published in a very easily reached place for a massively hefty dose of public shaming, which just seems remarkably unnecessary.

Public image is pretty huge in Japan. Even if you don't care so much the stigma might result in you being ostracised by your family and friends. Culturally that would be a pretty big deterrent.

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

So if I outlaw anyone named Akira from moving to Akihabara, should I convict the ones already there?

You're saying it should only be a crime before they pirate stuff?

I think you chose the wrong messageboard to criticize the oppressive methods used to catch the "evil" internet pirates.

Since a vast majority of the users on the Escapist are basically sad butt-buddies of corporate oppression because they've bought the whole myth that the videogame industry is going to die unless internet piracy is stopped...

You think that the game industry will continue to function once it ceases to profit?

 

[D_987]

I think you chose the wrong messageboard to criticize the oppressive methods used to catch the "evil" internet pirates.

Since a vast majority of the users on the Escapist are basically sad butt-buddies of corporate oppression because they've bought the whole myth that the videogame industry is going to die unless internet piracy is stopped...

Yeah; piracy is great [http://kotaku.com/5085915/90-of-world-of-goo-installs-are-pirated], who really cares about games developers anyway? [http://www.develop-online.net/news/33119/Rampant-piracy-rocks-indie-iPhone-dev] As long as the whole industry doesn't die who cares about a few companies going under due to mass piracy? [http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/humble_indie_bundle_lets_buyers_pay_whatever_they_want_piracy_still_prevails]

It's not like smaller developers that can't afford to loose mass amounts of potential sales are being hit or anything...

 

[Tenky]

I know you most probably aren't but I still have to ask; are you suggesting that file sharers should go unpunished if caught? Despite breaking the law?

Laws nowdays are always to persecute the little people... ALWAYS. It's not about justice, or equal rights, it's about filling some pockets with newly obtainable cash.

Moraly I don't think these people have done anything wrong... they haven't hurt anyone nor killed anyone. Yet theirs lives are now destroyed because of some corporate suit.

As far as piracy goes, well, we're in 2011... I say those companies and copyright holders are lucky enough to be making a profit out of an outdated medium that they've clung to for decades... if and when they die... it's their responsability.

Also, piracy usualy helps them as far as I know. It's the most effective way to advertise a product and to get known, they also can use it to pull the "piracy scapegoat" to justify losses while bullshitting their investors at quarter anouncements... it's win-win for them.

 

[Gindil]

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

So if I outlaw anyone named Akira from moving to Akihabara, should I convict the ones already there?

You're saying it should only be a crime before they pirate stuff?

No, his argument makes no sense. How were these downloads hurting the people involved? Basically it reads, "obey the law no matter how ridiculous it is"

If you tally the numbers, each person downloaded roughly $50 worth of stuff. The raids cost more than that. Shaming these people by publishing their private info is even worse.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Yeah; piracy is great [http://kotaku.com/5085915/90-of-world-of-goo-installs-are-pirated], who really cares about games developers anyway? [http://www.develop-online.net/news/33119/Rampant-piracy-rocks-indie-iPhone-dev] As long as the whole industry doesn't die who cares about a few companies going under due to mass piracy? [http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/humble_indie_bundle_lets_buyers_pay_whatever_they_want_piracy_still_prevails]

It's not like smaller developers that can't afford to loose mass amounts of potential sales are being hit or anything...

You anti-piracy nutjobs still has to prove why "potential sales" equals to "actual sales" and thus proven loss in profit. So far no one has actually bothered to do this. Because it's easier to just follow government and corporate propaganda...

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Along with many people I'm not pro piracy, I'm just anti the concept that making a corporation lose a few bucks is more a crime than violent or sexual assault.

Of course it's always been that way, but it's getting dangerously transparent now, and I think the public are going to get less and less comfortable with the idea.

What the lawyers fail to understand is that the typical pirate who downloads a few bits here and there, sees someone sued for $50,000, or $15 million, or whatever damages someone pulled out of their butt and thinks...

"damn, that's utterly life destroying...

...and a million to one chance that it'll happen to me...back to my torrents"

Considering they're not going to actually get more than a tiny fraction of what they're nailing pirates for, why not go for thousands for a thousand bucks each, and actually make pirates feel like there's a reasonable chance they'd get caught?

Just brainstorming really, but if I was downloading illegally I wouldn't feel very threatening by the couple of cases a year against the millions of files wandering the net back and forth.

 

[Phishfood]

Here's the thing. Copying is NOT 'piracy', its 'copyright infrigement'. Got it?

please explain the difference. seems to me it is just the words you use to describe the same action. and i don't know about you, but if i were to put all of the years of hard work that people put into creating something like the things these people stole, i would want to get paid for it. if people don't want to be punished for theft, then they should not steal.

BUT heres the dilema:
* People have a limited income
* People have to spend a large portion of that income being alive
* Once their income is spent it is SPENT.
This means that people who suplement their income by pirating some DVDs etc and buying the rest, are not doing any REAL harm. Now....people who have £1m in the bank and still pirate are twats, as are people who never buy anything. You can't say a single download is a lost sale or even a fraction of a lost sale.

If me downloading a copy of something is a lost sale, what about me borowing it off a friend? how much harm is done if I say "this film is worth £5 to me" then download a copy while the DVD is £25 and buy it when its on sale?

Piracy is "wrong" sure, but quantifying that wrong and generating an appropriate response is hard. As for the difference? Piracy is something you do on the high seas with a speedboat and a machine gun, often involving murder and theft. Copyright infringement involves making a COPY of something you do not have a licence for, causing no direct harm to the owner.

 

[manythings]

Why is it an issue that they've pretty much been convicted? It's a crime.

So if I outlaw anyone named Akira from moving to Akihabara, should I convict the ones already there?

You're saying it should only be a crime before they pirate stuff?

No, his argument makes no sense. How were these downloads hurting the people involved? Basically it reads, "obey the law no matter how ridiculous it is"

If you tally the numbers, each person downloaded roughly $50 worth of stuff. The raids cost more than that. Shaming these people by publishing their private info is even worse.

So it's immoral for the companies to expect people to buy the products they produce? That's how wages get paid and how employees get to live indoors.

The name and shame thing... I'm kind of on the fence. If they were all doing this once then they shouldn't be just outted but if this is a case of them doing it continually for weeks or months? Or even after being previously caught and reprimanded then I don't get what they think is happening.