Internet Piracy. Deadly Parasite or Benign Bug?

Essay , 2013 , 9 Pages

Communications - Multimedia, Internet, New Technologies

Piracy has been a staple of human history throughout time, and it is showing no signs of stopping any time in the near future. With the adoption of the internet, piracy now has a new face, or rather no face. Anonymous users log on every day to torrent the latest episode of Breaking Bad or the latest and greatest piece of software released in order to acquire this content without having to pay for it. Ever since the invention of Napster and Limewire, piracy has been at the forefront of internet news and the hitlist of corporations. Internet piracy causes massive amounts of issues for corporations that rely on the sales of their services to run and are doing everything in their power to stop it. Through lobbying, many different strict copyright bills, including the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), have been put through Congress in order to cut down on the amount of piracy and increase the legal ramifications of these thefts. I agree that piracy is an immoral and unethical practice, however I believe that piracy provides increased sales figures and that the benefits of piracy, including advances in technology and business practices, outweigh the perceived detriments.

The beginnings of internet piracy came along with the beginnings of the computer generation. It didn't use to be internet piracy, it was simply electronic piracy wherein a person legally buys software, then hands it off to a friend for them to download as well. Internet piracy was very limited in its early days due to the fact that it was much more difficult then than now, as well as the benefits being far outweighed by possible risks. Once digital media became more and more prominent, these barriers to piracy were quickly dissolved. It suddenly became easy to create an identical copy of a file, causing a large influx of pirated content.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Internet Piracy: Deadly Parasite or Benign Bug?
• The Beginnings of Internet Piracy
• Napster and its Aftermath
• Torrenting and the Rise of the Pirate Bay
• Anti-Piracy Bills and Their Effects
• Piracy's Impact on Sales Figures
• The Role of Word-of-Mouth and Commercial Piracy
• Piracy's Impact on Innovation and Business Models
• Piracy's Contribution to New Markets
• The Role of Copyright in Innovation

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text examines the contentious relationship between internet piracy and the entertainment industry. The author explores both the perceived negative impact of piracy on sales figures and the potential benefits it offers, including driving innovation and creating new markets. The text also delves into the debate surrounding anti-piracy legislation, particularly the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA).

• The impact of internet piracy on sales figures.
• The role of piracy in driving innovation and technological advancement.
• The influence of piracy on the development of new business models.
• The effectiveness of anti-piracy legislation, particularly SOPA and PIPA.
• The interplay between copyright, innovation, and consumer demand.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The text begins by outlining the historical context of internet piracy, tracing its origins from early forms of electronic piracy to the emergence of Napster and other file-sharing programs. It highlights the rapid increase in pirated content following the widespread adoption of digital media.
• This chapter explores the rise of Napster and its impact on the music industry. It discusses the legal challenges faced by Napster and the emergence of alternative file-sharing platforms like Limewire.
• This section focuses on the development of torrenting websites like The Pirate Bay and the strategies employed by companies like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to combat piracy. It discusses the limitations of anti-piracy legislation and the controversy surrounding SOPA and PIPA.
• The chapter examines the common argument that piracy leads to decreased sales, presenting evidence that suggests the opposite is true. It highlights studies that demonstrate how piracy can actually boost sales through word-of-mouth marketing and the creation of buzz around new products.
• This section further analyzes the potential benefits of piracy, highlighting its role in driving innovation and fostering new business models. It discusses the emergence of peer-to-peer (P2P) technology and the rise of bitcoin, both of which originated within the piracy community.
• The chapter explores how internet piracy has contributed to the development of new markets and the shift in business practices within the entertainment industry. It cites examples of companies like Netflix, who have adapted to the instant access provided by piracy by adopting streaming services.
• The final section delves into the complex relationship between copyright and innovation. It argues that while copyright is essential for encouraging creativity, excessively strict laws can stifle innovation and hinder the development of new ideas.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords and focus topics of the text are internet piracy, copyright, innovation, business models, anti-piracy legislation, sales figures, word-of-mouth marketing, peer-to-peer technology, and bitcoin.

• Author: Jack Foster (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V267963
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656595243
• ISBN (Book): 9783656595267
• Language: English
• Tags: internet, piracy, deadly, parasite, benign