So, I illegally download movies on a regular basis. Much of the time I am able to get movies still in theaters, or at the very latest, I am able to get them only minutes after the DVD is released. I know that many, if not most, of my friends do the same. Movies, music, games, programs, etc are all easily attainable online. Most of the time you hear this portrayed as a bad and immoral trend, but is it?
There are many studies that show when pirated material is readily available online smaller bands and movie companies are benefiting. http://www.cnet.com.au/pirates-who-pay-do-illegal-downloads-actually-help-the-box-office-339342557.htm This makes logical sense too. We always hear about how evil big corporations are, and how we should support the little guys, well here's a great opportunity to do that. Pay for the movies and music worth your money, and pirate the ones you wouldn't pay for in the first place (like THOR or 3OH3).
Also, from a market standpoint, what does this trend say about the price of movie and concert tickets or DVD and CD costs? Clearly there is a large, and growing, group of people who are saying that the value received is less than the value spent. This is why we have to fight to protect the internet and the ability it gives us to have a voice. The major sponsors of bills like SOPA and PIPA are the media companies who are getting rich on low quality products.
I guess my question is, do you illegally download music, movies, programs, etc? Do you feel wrong doing it? Should I feel wrong? I do pay for music and movies that i know to be worth my money. I think the last movies i paid to see were Into The Wild, Atlas Shrugged, and maybe Batman or 310 to Yuma or something. The last music i bought was the newest Trampled by Turtles album. I simply wouldn't spend my money to buy most of the media i download, so its not like im robbing these companies of money. Its a strange question, and something i think worth discussing.
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