Hello.
I agree with you that there are many grey areas. And I agree that laws should
change (Public Domain for example, companies try to extend copyrights for too
long, so works don't get into Public Domain). But, I think that if we want a
better system, we should work towards that new system. Merely pirating the
newest blockbusters serves no purpose. Truth is, most people don't care about
sharing information, or about sharing at all. That's not their motivation.
Their motivation is not having to pay to watch some movie that is in the
theaters. And that is a weak motivation that leads to a weak society.
If it is true that we should share (and we should!) why do people disagree
with me when I say that we should share what is our own creation? For
example, I created a thread to share (as in share knowledge) websites that
are filled with content created by their own communities. That's the same
spirit behind free software (write your own software and share it with
everyone else). That's the kind of world I want to live in.
People try to show me numbers that say "we can pirate at will, movies are
still making money". But that's not even the point. People don't care about
the money or the movie industry. People just care about themselves. That's
not the world I want to live in. And I will try to spread what I believe to
be right, just as RMS does (and people call him crazy, so they can call me
crazy too, I don't care).
If the problem is that people want to share movies, why do they pick the ones
that are copyrighted instead of choosing to share (and support) CC movies?
There are people (lots of them) who want to work that new system you guys
talk about. Making a movie, and allowing people to share them. The financial
support comes from donations and kickstarters. Why can't you see that
everytime you illegaly share a hollywood movie, you actually take away people
attention from these independent movie makers?
Now think as if it were you...
If you wrote a book, and expected to get some money from it, maybe even start
a series of books, something similar to harry potter who knows, and make a
living out of writing those books. You spend time away from your family and
friends, you give it your time and energy and imagination.... You sell your
first book and you feel so proud! You believe it will be the start of a new
life for you and your family. But the next day you discover that people are
"sharing" your book in the internet without paying you a cent! All your time
and energy and hard work... And you now are not getting anything. What do you
feel? What do you think? Please, don't tell me it's right. And if it is not
right, it won't suddenly become right because we are talking about rich
authors who already made a fortune. A right principle will always be right. A
wrong principle will always be wrong.
Honestly, if people would "share" old movies that were almost entered into
public domain before the laws changed and extended.... I could maybe
understand. They were stating to the government that they didn't approve of
that new law, they wanted to share the cultural gifts that old movies can
give us, and they were not hurting anyone in the process. But people don't
want that, they share only the newest blockbusters, to feed their own
desires.
So.... I hope you understand. We should fight for change, but not for
anarchy. BEcause it will bite us in the ass too one day.
