Quote:
Originally posted by raf111
First of all... how are ya?... I've seen you on some other forum. Although we have different opinions on this subject, I do enjoy discussing it with you so far.
Going back to your post...
Let me put your explanation, in sort of similar way...
Now you've assigned to "x" a "manufacturer...
Now I think, it would me more acurate to say that
"x"= the "copyright law" that protects "manufactured product. The rest can stay the same...
But there is one more thing...
"a"=amount of individuals with opinion that is in favor of file sharing out of total population.
"b"= total population
"c"=percentage of "a" to "b".
Now believing the theory, that the law was created to help our society function corectly, and not that people exist to help for the law to function no matter what, here is my idea of what it all comes down to...
y=? (how many is sharing)
z=? (how many of those that get stuff)
b=? (everyone in US)
now a=y+z
c=a%*b (damn... was is it "*"to calculate percentage?... I gotta loose calculator... correct me if i f*** up  )
And...
x=c
The higher value of "y" and "z", the more "x" will serve to improve our society.
Something like that... I might make a mistake somewhere, it's just I got too used to computers doing all calculations for me, and I really forgot...but you get the point right?
Take care... |
I am well, and I too enjoy these conversations. The thing critical fact that is overlooked in your calculation or model of
things (don't worry I didn't check it for technical accuracy) is this.
#1 - There is a whole generation of people that exist now in the Internet age. Consider for example the fact the I have
been involved with technology for about 17 years. A lot has changed in that time.
#2 - The most fundamental change is the commercialization of the Internet (The idea that business can profit from the
Internet) This started around the mid-to-early-90s. At the same time access requirements for consumers were lowering because
more consumers = more business opportunities. Those involved in the community between 1988 - 1991 were concern what this
would do to the Internet community. (I was one of them) Anyway,
#2a big business brought increased attention from cyber-thieves
#2b More consumers brought more Interest in companies wishing to sell services (spam)
#2c Other industries have entered the business as access providers so that they could create a portal type Internet where
they control not only your access but the content you see. A perfect example of this is cable providers.
Their hoping to achieve the success of services like AOL who's still around and the Compuserv's of yesteryear.
#3 - Most of the general population (consumers) started to use or get involved with the Internet around 1997 - present but
mainly during the dot-com hype. This whole concept of P2P is only a few years old. The popularity of Mp3 is only about 4
years old. This technology was developed in 1987 and received a patent in 1996.
#4 - Fast foward to the last 4 years and companies were using mp3 technology as a way to lure consumers in mass to services
which they had planned to charge for at some future point. Unfortunately, they forgot to ask the creators of the content for
the legal rights to do this. Internet Piracy has alway been a problem the DMCA was drafted to address many of these concern.
Mind you this was all years before the whole P2P revolution.
#5 - The p2p revolution did two fundamental things 1) it allow people to share without a central authority (this is good)
2) It allows people to sharewhat ever they want (This is good if you are a responsible user i.e. aware of laws and the
implications of doing this. It is not good if you think that because you purchased a cd/movie/sofware you own the rights to
do whatever you want with it including sharing it on the Internet see #4) Companies are smart enough to avoid these legal
hassels consumers now bear the burden of legal problems thanks to p2p and an uninformed userbase. (people ignorant of the
laws.)
#6 - The passion for free content comes primarily from two camps 1) (see #2)
and 2) If you got involved with the Internet in the last 3 - 6 years you probably don't know any other type of Internet
experience. You like a lot of people primarily got involved or got Interested in it when sites like Napster came along and
Scour and when MP3.com was new and the idea of free content was rampant. In other words you don't know the Internet in any
other way. So, this hostile legal climate seems unfair and for this I divert your attention back to points #3 - #5
I hate to be the bearer of bad news.