Murdoch: illegal downloading is like stealing a handbag

Haha nicely said dmex, and I see you're a fellow Aussie too. I do believe that the responsiblity lies within the company who own the software to put restrictions on it's use, effictively stopping pirating. I hate pirating i always have.

To me it's the worst thing one can do with the internet - it's stealing and I honestly believe that if it's illegal - then you should get caught and be punished for it. I don't like the idea that's what the internet has become but let's face it it has become just that - easy access to steal software without having to pay for it.

At least with my connection - i block all of those damaging sites that promote pirtating, so no way can any friends waste my bandwith to download illegal cracked software. I always make sure that I suggest if you want a copy of it - try a 30 day trial and do your homework before you buy. Problem solved.

They have Pringles in Abu Dhabi?

dmex said:

"The idea that there's a new consumer class and you have to be consumer-friendly when they're stealing stuff. No. There should be the same level of sanctity as there is around property. Content is no different. They're not crazy kids. No. Punish them."

These guys must be light headed from their flying or high.

The same laws protecting their current content also protects it anywhere regardless if its on the internet, in a shop or where ever else it is.

If you build a shop without walls you can expect people to come walking in and steal things but complaining about it and trying to get governments todo something about people stealing from your wall-less/window-less shop is a bit rich.

Why should governments do anything? If these corporations want to stop piracy they should protect their content better, Its not the governments job to protect a private citizins or company's work or property.

If the government does this then everyone and their dog will be paying to protect these corporations interests at our expense, They already require restrictive DRM conten so what else do they want and what are they really after?

Hi DMEX

while of course you are right -- BUT a HUGE amount of the problem is caused by the restrictive nature placed on the use of products you've downloaded or purchased legally.

Of course you can present some legal argument to say that the consumer has agreed to the restrictive nature of the rights when purchasing the software etc but how would you feel about it if you bought a book that said you can ONLY read it in ONE BUS and that BUS is a 68 leaving xxxx at 17.10 on thursday evenings.

A lot of music / films have essentially very similar tightly controlled restrictions on them and it's THIS more than anything that causes a lot of piracy.

Stopping a few sub teens from copying files won't solve the problem -- it's large scale piracy emanating from China, Russia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan that the producers should fear most.

Remove most of the DRM and restrictive use, price the products fairly, avoid staggered releases and problem is 90% solved.

You'll never eliminate piracy completely but if you can kick the pros into touch then you've solved the biggest problem.

You don't need to have a bigger than peanut sized brain to realize with face book, you tube etc etc that releasing a movie or TV program in one country MONTHS before another just doesn't work anymore.

These old models might have worked years ago but with fast instant world wide Internet access the rules have changed.

In anycase whatever the movie / music industry does it won't stop file sharing -- even old fashioned Dinosaur technology will defeat Internet "snoopers" and the latest technology too -- people will just copy to media like DVD's / USB's etc etc and either "Swap" at school / club/ bar / work or use old fashioned "Snail Mail".

I'm sure it's the same in 'OZ - but in most countries even the Hand of God couldn't find an item of post once it's been sucked into the mail system until its been spewed out at the other end.

cheers
jimbo

I dont think getting caught is what people dont like about this, they know the risks. I think its more along the lines of people dont want to pay the High prices set by the industry so they simply say "if they are gonna over charge we are not gonna buy there product". And whether its wrong or not you cant really blame them(look at some profit margins). Its more the idea and i think lot of people over look that.

I would be willing to bet if they lowered the price of cd's and movies, sales would go up and pirating would go down and because its pretty safe to say sales would go up if the price droped. They would pry end up bringing in more money when its all said and done.

You do make some good points and i see what your saying. Stealing is not right, i agree. But i also dont think it makes you a bad person for pirating either. I think if the industry dont want the stuff downloaded they should take measures themselves so that there stuff cant be downloaded. But i will say, i think price does play a part in it. Where i live its $15 dollors for a CD and $20-$25 for a Blue ray movie, and with todays economy that is kinda a lot.

I second the part about searching for alternatives though. Like when i want to hear some music, instead of buying a cd ill just play it on youtube (its always available)