Naturally, if the moderator deems this discussion verboten, I will refrain further, but I would feel remiss not to point out the following for consideration: 1. As of several hours ago, there was nothing on the FBI's official web site regarding an investigation, nor were there any press releases or other comparable references to an investigation of the movie vault. A reference would be appreciated; mere speculation or rumor could be deemed libelous.
2. The problem industries have with illegal file-sharing is loss of revenue. Since, at least in the United States, there is virtually no way to purchase audio-described movies or television shows, the industry is not being cheated of revenue. 3. The files are straight audio, with no ability, for example, to "watch" with sighted peers while having the benefit of the audio description. This is not at all remotely similar to downloading a film for the family to watch. That being said, the vast majority of the sighted community does this with impunity, even though many of the shows and movies they download can be seen for free when they are are shown on television. We, on the other hand, cannot even enjoy full access to these shows when they *are* on television. Either they are not audio-described at all, or it is not easy to turn on the secondary audio channel, or a particular station only carries foreign language broadcasts on the SAC rather than audio description. Comparing access to audio-described movies and shows in mp3 format to the type of file-sharing which goes on 24/7 on hundreds and thousands of sites is a stretch. 4. If the government and/or the involved industries wish to do something about the existence of resources like the movie vault, the former should mandate, and the latter should provide a market from which we can obtain these items. I have been able to watch a non-described movie with others after listening to an mp3 file and tell another blind person what is going on thanks to that previous experience. My two blind children have been able to enjoy fare which their peers enjoyed months or years ago. Until the entertainment industry levels the playing field, I will utilize resources like the movie vault with the same guiltless pleasure I take in bookshare.org (and, by the way, it is possible to download books from bookshare.org which are available commercially.) We cannot use the Kindle as others do. WE cannot use the Nook. We are severely limited in what we can access independently when it comes to entertainment, and we must even still fight for access to education at every level, despite technological advances. Holding us to the same standards as the vast majority of illegal file-sharers is legally, morally, and economically inequitable. Christine -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
