Monday, September 28, 2009

Intellectual Propery: Here We Go Again

The digital world has greatly changed since it's initial creation and has also changed the way people live. People are able to send information over a great distance in a short amount of time and also post whatever they like. This information can vary between pictures to music and this is where the problem starts. Soon this information can't be controlled and people so a huge hole in the internet and were able to slip through it. Movies, TV shows and even video games were able to be collected from free anywhere. Peer to Peer sites appeared overnight and the government wasn't ready for this new change.

The intellectual property basically protects specific rights that an owner has for his property. This basically allows these users to protect their special "property" for ever if they keep on renewing their copyright. I completely understand that these people wouldn't want fakes being sold for profit by other people. But this can be seen as someone being proud of the original authors work or trying to get money in a cheap way. All of this boils down to different types of media and how they are stolen in the digital world. When someone finds an art piece they like they'll slap it on their desktop. But when someone finds a movie or music they like for free they'll take it right away. I feel that the art piece on the desktop is ok but stealing movies and music can get sticky. Ever since the bubble burst by Napster (ah the old days) the government has tried to strengthen it's grip on illegal transfers more websites seem to pop up.

I can't just protect the illegal downloaders (even though I'm one) because they are stealing someones own thoughts and ideas. This lose of hard work does make sense but the prices that are set do get out of hand. This people that steal are taking a product that they love and by litteray putting them in the poor house the intial product loses it's real meaning. Musicians can be seen as the true culprits by completely attacking the pirates (illegal downloaders) their own fans lose faith in them.

There is a need for regulation on the inernet but since it was founded on communications people won't take kindly to being held down. People who have been raised with the internet understand how much they can receive for free out of it and will probably never want to look back. There are some good ideas out there such as itunes or even hulu but everyone always likes more stuff and controlling that will be hard.

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