Written by: NetworkError, on 01-12-2008 12:22
Last update: 10-04-2009 21:35
Published in: Public,
Musings and Soap Boxes
Views: 677
Update: I found a pretty good article out on Digg.com about this.
“Piracy is bad.” - Corporate America
“Piracy is good.” - The Pirates
“Piracy is only as good as the pirate doing the pirating.” - NetworkError
On today’s issue of the soap box, I’d like to explore “Ethical Piracy”. My target audience is pirates. My hope is that a few will read this and take it into consideration when choosing how to conduct their black-market activities.
Fact 1: Pirates often operate outside the bounds of the law because they demand a product or service that either isn’t available for the right price or isn't available in the desired form. This is a failing on the part of the content producers.
Pirates who conduct themselves ethically can effect positive change in the market. Pirates can put enormous pressure on content producers to fix prices, quality, etc... Pirates can cut out greedy middle-men by obtaining content illegally and contributing money directly to the artists who produce the work. Pirates can negate the effectiveness of consumer-controlling business practices by circumventing technologies like DRM.
Fact 2: On the flip side, there is a tendency for pirates to get greedy and refuse to pay a fair price for goods and services. This is a failing on the part of the pirates.
Pirates who conduct themselves greedily cause trouble for everyone. Their failure to contribute harms content producers and gives the pirate community a bad name.
So how can pirates operate ethically?I think there are two guidelines that each pirate can follow to fix the problems in the pirate community.
First, it’s important to understand that pirates operate on the honor system. Since they’re usually beyond the reach of the law, it is up to each individual to conduct himself or herself in a manner that is not harmful to content producers, whenever possible. Unfortunately, “honor” isn’t something that’s taken very seriously in today’s culture. I think this cultural deficiency is the root this problem (and many others, IMO). However, among the pirate community, a pirate’s honor should be closely guarded and of paramount importance. Honor before greed. This means exercising restraint and not pirating when you feel it is wrong.
Second, it’s important to understand that producers must be paid a fair price for their goods if they are to stay in business. Caveat: You may decide middle-men who artificially inflate prices to pad margins may not be entitled to full payment. (I’m looking at your, RIAA and MPAA members!) Or you may decide the product isn't worth its list price. However, you shouldn’t rob the content producers. You are empowered to pay content producers what you think a product is worth.
