I dunno if i buy this.  I mean, downloads on torrents are high and all, but how many different people are there, and how many people just downlaod it because?

I mean, we're talking about the USA here where internet connections are slow as hell.  My friend has an above average connection and it took him like 8 hours to download DCU Online on steam.

I think a lot of piracy numbers are just the same people downloading over and over again on their highspeed intenret, deleting stuff to make room when they no longer want it/ collecting everything they can on mega harddrive just in case.

Aside from which, based on the letter of this law, youtube would likely be blocked.

Even then, there is the issue of how much piracy actually hurts... and I don't mean in a philosophical "was jesus infringing the Ip of fish sellers"/"nothing was lost" arguement....

But the actual economic arguement that tends to suggest that lost sales from piracy are actually surprisingly small and generally offset by the positive effect of increased brand name and familarity with products among those who wouldn't of paid anyway, raising their estimations of the value of a product and converting them into legal buyers later on in life.

For example, the guy kinda interested in Pokemon because it's like a simple Dragon Warrior style oldschool RPG, but wouldn't buy it because he see's it as kiddy and stupid and something that will only entertain him for a little while.

After downloading it, if the guy becomes hooked, chances are he's going to actually buy Pokemon, since the actual value of the product has risen and his mind, and people are actually conditioned to WANT to pay a fair price for a product.

The average person, even when they KNOW they won't get caught, is more likely to pay a fair price for something then want then steal it.

Piracy for sofware and videogames espiecally is largely due to the fact that games have a fixed cost not accounting for value.  I mean, videogames are essentially a world where nearly every game, no matter the budget or general appeal.... costs the same.

PC games have a lot of piracy but the number of people who hack systems is low and way down from previous generation as most people want to play online without getting banned.


Internet speeds are solid, you can now easily download high quality movies in a short period. Also a lot of people download movies especially young people. Almost all my friends have seen most films this year through the internet. Sure they watch stuff like Transformers 3 and Harry Potter in theaters but smaller films they usually download.

About movies, piracy has really hurt the DVD/Blue Ray and movie rental business. A lot of people who used to buy home media now simply get it through netflix or through piracy.
Also in terms of admissions, they are way down from the early 2000's however overseas markets have grown where we have had over 3 films make over a billion dollars this year.

Yes, and what does that say? That says they really only want to watch certain specific movies. Would those other movies be paid for? Probably not...

Especially as far as going to the movies goes, whereby the experience is meant to be social. If they don't want that experience, they're not going to pay for it, which is indicative of a broken business model

true but many years ago If you and friends wanted to watch a film they went to blockbuster and rented out a film, now we simply watch the movies off the internet lol...


I also remember people used to have tons of dvd's and such and now I see nothing.

lol internet won't change for me, I don't pirate.

Also its not like this law will be widely enforced. Its like Marijuanna being illegal cops bust some people over it because they need a reason to bust them. But usually they ignore the small fry and arrest the dealers or heavy users. In the end I could see the law being used to shut down major piracy sites and as a tool by private companies to protect their intellectual properties.

The average piracy consumer isn't likely to be hit themselves, the Government and companies will go after the big guns. By the way, while we use the excuse of the lower class not being able to afford to media. American's and such expect a big budget film anything under 20-million and people get upset or are often dissapointed, get below ten mill and your talking border line low budget.

Fact is we pay for quality, prices of movies drop pretty quickly. If you want a movie cheap buy on BlackFriday/BoxingDay or wait a year and buy it on BluRay for about 20$ or on DVD for as little as 5$.

Media is cheap enough I can talk I'm well below poverty level and I can still afford to buy almost every movie I want and game I want. You just have to prioritize. I buy my movies and most games on big sales like BlackFriday and Boxing day and see my movies often at discount during matinees etc...etc...

If you can afford a computer with a good enough hard drive and you can afford the internet connection to download those movies. Then you can afford to see them legally and/or buy your own copy when they drop to a reasonable price. If you choose to blow your money lining the pockets of cigerette companies or liquor companies or fancy resteraunts etc...etc... thats your choice but its no excuse to steal.

Those who actually can't afford to buy legit copies, they aren't able to pirate.

I tend to watch a lot of stuff streaming on the internet that i would never pay for, and if it weren't available i'd merely go without. The point of this anecdote is that this is how a lot of economics works. It's not about morality, it's about whether the customer is willing to pay at the price offered, and the general tendency is that people will pay a fair price rather than steal it even if stealing is easy, whereas people will never pay for what they're not interested in paying for

it would take a worldwide effect cause these days almost all buisnesses do they work with online help

if those sites don't make enough money then it will become a socialist system which traps free speech and americans will go bonkers on it

I disagree and agree a bit.

Firstly people will pay for their item if it is affordable and they want it enough. I don't disagree there, though i must say people resort to stealing when they could simply wait for prices to come down. With video games if your not talking Nintendo the software prices usually drop within a year and by two years the software prices have dropped likely to half that. If you include Black Friday and Boxing Day the prices are more then reasonable.

I think morality does play into the situation. I pirated a little years ago when I had no job and no income, but as soon as I could afford to pay I did. I didn't resort to pirating just because I couldn't afford the game day one, I would buy it on Black Friday/Boxing Day for less then half retail.

Fact is morality does play a role. Anybody who has a computer capable of streaming HD movies or pirating new games they have the money to buy the games/movies. Their are ways to get all of your movies and games at very affordable prices other then say Nintendo's.

I know I waited a while a couple years and now have gotten every TV series I want. I buy the seasons at 6.99$-9.99$ including Prison Break, 24, Big Bang Theory. Every show I want I can get at 9.99$ a season just by watching sales. When you make a very small income you can find ways to afford almost everything you want.

The pirates I know, my uncle being the biggest. He complains all the time "I can't afford the high prices" or "I wouldn't buy it if I didn't stream it". But he actually makes 300 more dollars a month then me. He also has less bills the problem is where he chooses to spend his money. While he pirates say 100 movies to 2 dozen games a year. He spends his money buying food and utensils and stuff he really doesn't need. I mean do you need a pasta machine? Really on our income a 200$ Pasta machine? I've always done fine buying my pasta from a store for 1.50$.

In the end I don't really buy any of the talk about not being able to afford it. If you can't afford to buy any of the movies or games you want you shouldn't be capable of pirating in the first place.

Example I have watched a movie a week in theaters since I lost my job at my news paper. I started by going to matinees but quickly found a theater going bankrupt they offer 2$ tuesdays so i can watch every new movie for two dollars by going across town. Then when a movie releases on BluRay almost always their is a release day deal at one of the major retailers. If I watch the ads I can get it 10$ or more off day one. If I don't want to spend 22$ or so for it on BluRay then I wait till Black Friday/Boxing Day and get it for 9.99$ or a year later for 4.99$ or so.

I really don't see any need for anyone to steal. Also considering how cheap Netflix is and such there is content everywhere at very affordable prices. Any movie, song or game you want can be aquired for little money at all.

I would be upset.

well to be honest I watch some movies online that I would not pay for ever...


its rather funny, my friend download films like he is buying them for 20 dollars. Hmm this film is only a 7.1 on IMDB, hmm should skip it lol...