Is there justification for Illegal Downloads?

Posted on | May 18, 2010 | No Comments

The problem with illegal downloads is they are so easy to do.

And when you look around there seems to be little discrimination when it comes to downloading this or that without considering the intellectual property rights that they hold!

Is it all about cost? Do we feel we are getting ripped off by software companies or movie studios?

If the cost was the issue I am sure we would all be sending what we believe to be a fair price to the distributor.

Hmmm… just a thought, why is that not something being thought of? A fair price forwarding service?

There is a huge black and grey market for pirated video/audio/software… what if we could pay what we believe to be fair for that pirated product to the original creator or distributor? A fair price distribution service?

Of course we do not condone copies and illegal downloads, but we know it is out there. If we operate on the assumption people are not born thieves and are willing to pay for things if the compensation is fair would that be a reasonable stop gap?

You pay a fair price BUT could be busted for being Robin Hood!

I think the issue is much larger than the finances it is really based the lessons in morality that we are giving the next generation of problem solvers and content creators.

The Globe and Mail has a great article on this whole idea of illegal downloads and the lessons learned.

So what do we do?

Follow the crowd or pay the price and be laughed at by the crowd?

I use the can I look at myself in the mirror approach!

“Illegal downloads aren’t stealing!”

Can I look myself in the mirror and believe it?