BeGreen said:
Webmaster said:
The whole thing is a non-starter.
Netflix and iTunes have shown that when people have access to the copyrighted materials at reasonable prices - when they want to see and hear it - they will pay. THe existing laws easily allow a massive corp. to enforce their copyrights where it really matters.
I think the writers may have had good intentions, but this is a Big Government step which is not needed - IMHO.
That actually is not always true. I just read about a software company that recently found out that half of the copies of it's new iPad app were pirated. These are friggin $2 apps! There is a bit of larceny in a lot of folks.
I have to wonder how a vast number of folks are able to hack and install stuff on an ipad? In my experience, 95% or more of ipad users would not have any idea of installing something not from the app store.
I'm all for shutting down the warez and pirate sites, but this should not entail broad powers.
Of course, the unsaid part of the equation you mention (1/2 pirated) is that only a tiny portion of that other 1/2 may have bought the app......so it's not like 1/2 the revenue was lost. Some have actually experienced a net gain in that the network effect of the pirating increases the visibility and therefore sales.
Heck, I've never pirated a $2 app! Actually, I probably have zero software on my machine which is not paid for......too much trouble! I do know some folks that pirate, but again these folks would definitely not be buyers if they didn't. They seem to do it because they have nothing better to do than beat the system...then never use the app.
Still, after all is said and done, I don't want a bunch of new Federal employees running around at the bequest of their corporate lobbyist supporters. Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Disney and the rest seem to have done OK and have the resources to pursue most of their own interests without overly broad laws.