Since the dawn of the peer-to-peer file sharing program Napster, the sharing of media (and in particular, music) has become a huge concern for the creators and distributors of this content.
Steinmetz and Tunnel completed research on such a phenomenon, and discovered that there were four main motivations for participating in the downloading and sharing of music files, also known as "piracy". These four motivations include the sharing of content as a cultural form, the sampling of data, the inability to afford content, and in order to undermine current copyright regimes. (Steinmetz & Tunnel)
In my personal experience, I find these four motivations to be similar to what I use as rationalization for piracy. I prefer to download media content not only because it is cost effective, but also for the way that it undermines the copyright regimes which are enforced by government and backed by the recording industry.
Music downloading is not just an individual "hobby," however the act of file sharing involves a large community of people who are able to transfer media as well as communicate with one another during the process. Dale Bradley sees this peer-to-peer file sharing as a "transmission of cultural codes, values, and practices between a hacking subculture built around online communication".
While piracy is an illegal act that loses the recording and film industries millions of dollars every year, it seems nearly impossible to prevent this sub-culture from dying out.
There are many steps that recording industries have taken in order to stop piracy, including the push to increase copyright laws, fining those who download illegally, and getting peer-to-peer sites such as LimeWire shut down.
However, the subculture of file-sharers and pirates is so large, that there will always be new file sharing site when old ones get shut down. While individuals may get fined for this illegal activity, it will be impossible to find and charge every person that commits piracy. If copyright laws are enforced, these "hackers" will find ways to undermine them.
Thus, recording industries need to find ways to work with these Pirates. First, using promotional tools such as "free digital downloads" such as unreleased songs, album art, or bonus content concurrent with the purchase of a record or CD encourage the purchasing of tangible items. As well, the use of applications such as iTunes promote and encourage legal downloading at low expenses.
Bradley, D. (2006) Scenes of Transmission: Youth Culture, MP3 File Sharing, and Transferable Strategies of Cultural Practice. M/C Journal. 9(1).
Steinmetz, K., K. Tunnell (2013). Under the Pixelated Jolly Roger: A Study of On-Line Pirates. Deviant Behavior. 34 (1), pg. 53-67
As for me, I think that it is hard to define piracy certainly. In Dale's article, he pointed out the sharing files online which is helpful for the youth culture because young people can share information online with others. While, as Steinmetz, K., K. Tunnell said that many motivations which are downloading sample songs or share music online with others and so on are belong to piracy. These are what we are doing in our real lives now, but we do not notice that what's wrong with them. Even though I have to admit that the copyright can encourage more and more producers and creators' works, we also have to consider that consumers' comfortable and conveniences when they enjoy in the virtual world.
ReplyDelete