Quote:
Originally Posted by acidzebra
(did you seriously use the term "flogging pirates" in another thread?)
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Who...
me?
Well...
uh, yes. Yes, I said it. A bit. But only because I know that's what you're all thinking I do anyway! So... um... there.
Anyway...
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidzebra
the copying goes on unimpeded. While the RIAA and MPAA come down with strong-arm and rather questionable tactics, the copying goes on unimpeded. Taking down Kazaa and Napster only led to more advanced protocols like bittorrent. I'm not condoning or condemning it, merely stating a fact.
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Yes, but you also seem to be using this fact as a reason in itself to justify the actions of those who take creators' works. You're suggesting that "things are bad, they're only getting worse, and there's nothing to be done about it." I'd disagree.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidzebra
And yet with all that rampant copying, I don't exactly see movie/music execs and stars living a life of squalor
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Holy cash cow! Who's worried about
Christian Bale's living? That "rampant copying" is more than compensated for by the revenues they make through theatre sales, DVD and TV distribution, product placement, etc. Those guys already have their money system down... and in fact, can make "pirating" work for them!
No, let's talk about the Indies who don't have a multimedia machine promoting them and bringing in millions of eyeballs... the ones who hope they can sell 100 CDs in a
year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidzebra
Artists like Doctorow and Stross (I'm sure there are non-SF examples, but I am a SF junkie) gave some of their work away, which resulted in more attention (a valuable commodity in today's world), and ultimately, more sales.
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Artists like Doctorrow and Stross have the advantage of already being on the inside, with publishers printing their works, and therefore can afford to use e-books as free advertisements if they wish, while still making money off of printed matter. That method's fine for them, but it doesn't help people without print publishing contracts. And some of us do not necessarily have an interest in having our works printed, and thereby contributing to global resource consumption and waste.
BTW, I've read
The Pirates' Dilemma. The only dilemma pirates have is how to justify caving to the market and becoming the very things they opposed, once they realize it's the only way they'll make any money...