Poll: Internet Piracy (need input from community for exam)

[Signa]

What kind of stuff do "they" download? Mostly TV shows and games. Occasionally movies and rarely music (music just isn't fun)

Do "they" think its wrong? Only kinda. It's only wrong if the pirated copy prevents a purchase that would have otherwise happened. In other words, if the pirate enjoyed it, they damn well should have bought it.

What would have to happen to make "them" stop? Nothing. The freedom of information that the internet brings also includes the stories and entertainment that are out there in the world. As a community, we all love to share the things we loved. Everyone is always asking their friends if they saw the latest great movie or played the new game because they liked it and wanted to share that experience with their friend as well. The idea of owning an idea is getting dated, but "they" have no problem giving some one money for having a good idea and sharing it with the world.

Or make "them" pirate more? Feeling jilted by the companies that own the IP. DRM would have a high impact on this, and RIAA's lawsuits have made music downloading guilt-free and almost a duty.

 

[Wolfiesden]

I do, typically games, utilities and pre-napster mp3's but I have too much already so I quit mp3s.

Most of the time I grab games and utilities to try out via torrents and newsgroups. The ones that are good, I usually end up buying but I keep the pirated versions or grab no-cd cracks and use the legit keys if its an onliner. The ones that are fail, go into the delete bin. I have stumbled on games I would never had tried original Command & Conquer, for example. The pirated version sold me the original and covert-ops as well as the whole RA series. None of which I would have likely purchased based on box art. I am glad I did, 15 years of base builder fun all from one pirate copy of C&C and at least 7 retail purchases that likely wouldn't have happened. Piracy made Westwood (later EA) money off me in this case.


Honestly, for me its more of a try-before-you-buy more than anything else. On rare occasions I do keep the pirated versions if they are not available for sale anymore or not at all in the US (which is rare).

Pirated copies takes the crap-shoot out of buying a game. I know what I want because I played a non-crippled demo of it. Game demos of late seem to be getting better with fewer limitations and more levels letting you explore the game more deeply so my need to get pirated copies seems to be decreasing. In the past, game demos were either not available at all or were too limited to really know if you were going to like the game. I am glad publishers have changed their tactics with demos.

 

[Naheal]

What kind of stuff do you download? Music, mostly. I prefer to stay away from pirating games and movies.

Do you think its wrong? Eh, in the long run, yes. Folks need to be able to make money if they're putting out a quality product.

What would have to happen to make you stop? Putting out a stronger sampling system.

Or make you pirate more? Don't think you can make me want to pirate more.

 

[XT inc]

What kind of stuff do you download? I download mostly the music I listen to, since it comes from Japanese artists and thus isn't worth the extra money I'd have spend to get the CD's and the region-specific equipment to listen to it.

Do you think its wrong? In most cases yes, such as pirating a movie/game that you can just go to the store to buy, but in the case of something you can't find around here/anymore, it's perfectly understandable to me.

What would have to happen to make you stop? If companies stopped region locking products I would happily take the time to import my Japanese CD's.

Or make you pirate more? Increased restrictions on region specific products.

I don't like the whole "can't find it around here" argument. There are multiple stores close to me that carry old games and movies, even Atari cartridges. Not to mention you are on the Internet now, so even in the odd event you cannot find products at a local shop you have THE ENTIRE WORLD to buy from and sell too.

People are, in general, too lazy to be bothered with the whole world ordering idea. Although I labor to go to stores to get games the effort and costs involved almost isn't worth it.

we live in an all about me, now now now, consume it all, society that is all about instant gratification.

I have to call around and do research to find cartridges (snes n64), then have to get gas/bus money, find a store that may have 1 item on my list then I have to go to another store to get other games. take them home and hope they work.

People would rather circumvent this practice and mock me knowing full well they could get an emulator and an entire game selection for Free, with no effort or time involved besides the wait on the download.

And the time it takes me to earn the money to afford my products, movies, games, comics, books. They can be consuming it all for free.

 

[Jamieson 90]

I never understand the it costs to much money to go into town or takes to long to find things argument. It really just seems like excuses to me, People know it is wrong so they try and find reasons/excuses to justify their actions and make themselves feel better about it etc.

The fact is I hate piracy, I hate the idea of stealing, you can put it anyway you want the fact is I go into the store and buy the game and pay my money if you download it you don't pay, what gives you the right to get something for free when other people spend their hard earned cash?

Where is the pride and self respect as well? I love my game collection, I have all my games on my shelf with all my old manuals etc, As a gamer I take it seriously.

I'm not saying I agree with DRM because I hate that to but I really wish people would not pirate games of all things because thats the industry that is most effected.

 

[XT inc]

I never understand the it costs to much money to go into town or takes to long to find things argument. It really just seems like excuses to me, People know it is wrong so they try and find reasons/excuses to justify their actions and make themselves feel better about it etc.

The fact is I hate piracy, I hate the idea of stealing, you can put it anyway you want the fact is I go into the store and buy the game and pay my money if you download it you don't pay, what gives you the right to get something for free when other people spend their hard earned cash?

Where is the pride and self respect as well? I love my game collection, I have all my games on my shelf with all my old manuals etc, As a gamer I take it seriously.

I'm not saying I agree with DRM because I hate that to but I really wish people would not pirate games of all things because thats the industry that is most effected.

People may not be on such dire straits that they can not afford the costs involved. However there is the idea of diverting costs. Every dollar they save on opting to download something and save a few bucks here and there can use their funds for other things. Food, entertainment, or even stuff they might other wise pirate.

I know a few people who would rather buy beer with their pirating savings and for them that's more than enough reason.

 

[XT inc]

What kind of stuff do you download?
Do you think its wrong?
What would have to happen to make you stop?
Or make you pirate more?

1.The only thing that i could be accounted for is one or two old roms i have downloaded for games that are around 13 years old and i still own just can't play cause i don't have their consoles etc.

2.Yes i think piracy in general is wrong

3.Getting caught but thats unlikely since i am not really doing anything wrong.

4.I refrain from piracy and i don't think i will be pirating any time soon.

Also if anyone read this can you tell me if what i did is illegal? JW

Yes it is illegal, The companies would have you hunt down the equipment you need to play your old games, or you have to pay to upgrade to a new console like the wii and then redownload your old games as roms while they get paid for it.

 

[AndyCobra]

This sums it up prety well

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

What kind of stuff do you download? Anime that isn't dubbed but subbed (because they obviously wont show Anime in Japanese language here) and single tracks from albums
Do you think its wrong? Well, would you spend 30$ that you cant afford to spend on a album just for ONE song? (or fly to Japan to watch Anime)
What would have to happen to make you stop? Easier downloads, Legal wise.
Or make you pirate more? Price Increase on music albums or they stopped the anime full stop here.

 

[lolelemental]

I used to, but I don't anymore. It's nice having stuff for free, but it's missing one thing, the sense of value that comes with a purchase. It's difficult to explain, but I much prefer having bought the game or movie, than having downloaded it, just because it feels like it's mine.

And this is why I'm re buying every album that I've ever pirated, I'm on 11 so far tons left...

 

[Silent Eagle]

P2P isn't pirating but it might as well be.
I get music off of P2P networks.
Getting an income is hard in this city..

 

[Veleste]

What kind of stuff do you download? TV shows that aren't out in Ireland yet or I missed cause of work.
Do you think its wrong? Nope. Why should I not be allowed watch my favourite tv shows when they come out because I'm not American.
What would have to happen to make you stop? Something like netflix which allows me to watch them for a subscription or for free with adds in them.
Or make you pirate more? DRM which punishes the user more than the pirate (Assassins Creed II, I'm looking at you.)

 

[XT inc]

from wiki about canada

2007: RCMP Tolerates Piracy for Personal Use

Around the same time that the CRIA successfully took Demonoid offline, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) made it clear that pursuing Demonoid?s users is not a priority for them. Demonoid came back online in April 2008, but is now hosted in Ukraine.[17]

According to the RCMP it is impossible to track down everyone who uploads music or movies to the Internet. The police simply do not have the time nor the resources to go after filesharers.[18]

?Piracy for personal use is no longer targeted,? Noël St-Hilaire, head of copyright theft investigations of the RCMP, said in an interview with Le Devoir. ?It is too easy to copy these days and we do not know how to stop it,? he added.

St-Hilaire explained that they would rather focus on crimes that actually hurt consumers such as copyright violations related to medicine and electrical appliances, as well as ones that affect organized crime.

 

[dthvirus]

What kind of stuff do you download? Anime, games, music, and the odd textbook.

Do you think its wrong? Anime, I'm on the fence with. The studios won't release their stuff outside of that weird nation overseas. Games, yeah, it's wrong, but I like to try before I buy (I end up buying games I like because pirated versions of games sometimes crash like crazy). My music is again, not available in Canada, where I live. Textbooks, well, it's wrong, but y'know what, I pay enough tuition as it is.

What would have to happen to make you stop? Anime would be sold in Canada. Games would lose the massive price tags. Music would be sold in Canada. And textbooks would stop being so goddamn expensive.

Or make you pirate more? Keep things the way they are.

I'll admit I always look for a pirated version of anything before I decide to buy stuff. I haven't the time or money to go shopping when university rolls around. When it comes down to it, running down to the store and paying nearly 70 CAD for a game loses out to clicking a few times and waiting a few minutes.

 

[Arcticflame]

What kind of stuff do "they" download? Only games I can't procure through stores or online anymore. Or stuff that is blatantly ripping me off. (Luckily no ubisoft games interest me).

Do "they" think its wrong? No.

What would have to happen to make "them" stop? I already have stopped. Steam came along and solved my problems. Cheap games, sales and easy storage of my games has meant I no longer need to go to game retailers that don't specialise in PC games, and wade through the mounds of crap, and exorbitant prices here in australia.

Or make "them" pirate more? If online pricing is raised back to australian prices. This has happened to a few games in steam already, I no longer want to purchase any games from EA, Ubisoft or 2k that do regional pricing. If I can cheat the system and get a US copy I will, otehrwise I will not buy their games anymore. I don't know if I would pirate the game though, unless it was thrown into my lap.

 

[alinos]

does downloading TV episodes count seeing as i refuse to w8 a yr to watch TV in australia especially as the way they screw with the schedules ill miss episodes anyways(tho generally i buy most of them once they eventually get released on DVD here

 

[alinos]

And textbooks would stop being so goddamn expensive.

Or make you pirate more? Keep things the way they are.

I'll admit I always look for a pirated version of anything before I decide to buy stuff. I haven't the time or money to go shopping when university rolls around. When it comes down to it, running down to the store and paying nearly 70 CAD for a game loses out to clicking a few times and waiting a few minutes.

this is how i go most of the time

Uni restricts cash flow

and those damn textbooks cost alot and for me tops like 30 pages is relevant to the course

 

[The Lizard of Odd]

My 'friends' used to pirate stuff back in college all the time. As art students, 'they' would most frequently download programs that they either A. Wanted to know was worthwhile before buying as demos at that point either did not exist or were not useful enough to tell, or B. Needed a program to do homework. As the school labs were almost always booked, sometimes it was easier to just download the program needed for homework, then uninstall after. And they did completely and honestly uninstall things afterwards. They really didn't like pirating stuff and felt it was wrong to do so completely (as in, fully steal something, not try-before-buy). Way back when peer-sharing was first a big hit and they were teenagers, they pirated a lot of music and a couple programs because they honestly didn't really know better.
These days, they do not pirate anything and just wait until things are either cheap or do not buy them if they can't afford them. Sometimes they approve of pirating when companies go too far with DRM however, as it can be an effective method of protest in such cases. But even then they do not participate.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

If the industry does not bother to care about me, why should I care about it



How often do your "friends" pirate stuff? When it comes to my PC I usually choose to pirate since not only are prices here high the salaries are low.

What kind of stuff do "they" download? Games, movies, music.

Do "they" think its wrong? No. Why would they? Romania isn't even close to being in the target audience for gaming. Of course, you might argue that pirating movies and music is wrong but I hey, giving that celebrities basically print money I could care less if they lose 4 bucks.

What would have to happen to make "them" stop? Establish a serious "gaming industry". I'm tired of having to pay triple the prices for games here and I'm also tired of not having official Live and PSN support here. As for movies and music? I'm pretty sure nothing will make me or them stop pirating those 2.

Or make "them" pirate more? Just keep the "industry" here going and I'm pretty sure every single one of my friends who owns an Xbox will mod it.

 

[Kouen]

What kind of stuff do you download? - Very Rare but the odd movie maybe one every 6 months
Do you think its wrong? - Not entirely wrong when used appropriately.
What would have to happen to make you stop? - DVDs become cheaper or an electronic way legally and cheaply to acquire them
Or make you pirate more? - Rise in prices