Is it the End of Illegal Downloads ?
Are the times of free pirate downloads coming to an end ?
It certainly looks like something is going to happen
There has been much talk about the problems of ‘illegally’ downloading music and films etc, it’s popular with those that do it but not so with the music business, film companies and software developers.
But what can they do to stop it ?
Well I doubt they can stamp it out but it’s looking like they’re going to make a big move.
The UK government is preparing legislation which will compel ISPs to take action
The same is happening in the USA and France with a ‘3 strikes and you’re out rule’
2 Warnings about about downloading from you’re ISP then you’re cut off !
The 4 major UK ISPs are pushing for a voluntary agreement with the industry so it looks like all the players are now heading in the same direction.
Internet Service Providers are no longer simply saying, what can we do about it - it’s not our fault etc.
They don’t want the official legal responsibility and I suspect they would appreciate the massive savings in bandwidth.
There are bound to be issues raised by this but they really do look set to go ahead, perhaps they have to as statistics are showing that 95% of night time internet activity is file sharing !
The things that spring to my mind first are:
1: Exactly how are they going to auto-differentiate between legal & illegal downloads
2: What about young children who download songs without their parents knowledge
3: The ISPs may share a banned list, so this could permanently remove net access for some
4: Will prosecutions result
How it all pans out remains to be seen and I cannot see how they can effectively stamp it out but I can see them having a big impact on the normal everyday downloader
Nigel said,
June 21, 2008 @ 3:59 am
I don’t know how many people think and operate like I do, at least in this respect, but I generally download songs I own on vinyl and cassette, so have paid my money for them already.
Of course I also download the odd catchy song I hear, and some make their way onto my “permanent” mp3 play list, but not that many. I also download songs to try out albums I’m thinking of buying, and this is where I think the record companies are narrow-minded in condemning downloads, which might well lead to sales.
For me, I think downloads lead me to still continue to buy the odd CD, whereas otherwise I would no longer bother. I like the fact that I can get digital copies of tracks I’ve bought on analogue media. And I also like the fact that I can try before I buy. Sort of like the record booths of my youth in England, but better, ’cause I don’t actually have to leave the house.
I really think the record companies benefit from downloads for people like me.
But then, remember the same bs regarding guitar tab? They seem to like to have it every which way. Most tab books you buy, in fact almost all beginning musician books, contain public domain folksy material, and none of the books are cheap, while some are downright expensive. They complain about free tabs largely created by enthusiasts and mostly inaccurate anyway, but make fortunes out of repackaging what’s free in the public domain.
I think record companies and music publishers are still coining it, but don’t like the competition of the new media marketplace, and struggle to understand the new music scene where there’s a huge proliferation of artists and smaller specialist labels. If they lowered their prices, you might find everyone who has a job would just buy CDs rather than spend the time involved in downloading, and all that goes with it.
Tom C. said,
July 4, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
I tell you what. I welcome government legislation to stop the download of music and other forms of entertainment. As a frequent buyer, of D.V.D.’s and C.D.’s I prefer these - rather than their downloaded counterparts - for the following reasons:
_ Common sense; let me explain in further detail. Artists/Actors (not to mention the female others) and relevant support crew are payed for their work. Downloading music, down the line supports communism, a philosophy which despite my temptations I will not adress.
_ A feeling of un-justice. I pay for you to listen to the music and watch the films you do, by sponsoring the mentioned above. (I would like all you downloaders to put the money back into the pockets, of decent people - regardless of the fact my stereotype of a downloader would not volunteer to do this.)
_ Surely hard copies are better, for practicaly purposes, and collector purposes.
This is a good step forward. I would like to, personally see the government make other internet activities answerable to such measures; but as I say here is a start.
*All the downloaders I mention, I infere do it illegally. I have no problem with people who use I-Tunes, or alternatives.
Rod said,
July 5, 2009 @ 8:44 am
Tom,
thanks for the excellent and thought provoking comment and welcome to the site - hope you’ll return.
I agree with you that real copies are far superior and they remain. I have CDs which I bought when the CD first came out and still listen to them - how many people will have the same hard drive or iPod in a few years ?
I think the internet itself is breeding a feeling that ‘everything is free’ as well and the more that percolates through society the bigger the issues facing many artists and writers.
People always say things to me when I discuss this like:
Led Zeppelin are worth £100 million each - they’re hardly hurting.
Indeed they’re not but what about the next Robert Plant and Jimmy Page playing in their mother’s garage somewhere ?
Downloading music, down the line supports communism, a philosophy which despite my temptations I will not address.
I really like the sound of that Tom, right up my alley !
Cheers
Rod