How big of a deal is this PIPA shit?

[Byrthnoth]

That is a terrible metaphor and piracy isn't as big of a problem as the media corporations would have you believe. Don't be a sheep.

Pretty much this. People pirate a lot of things they never would have bought. I have over 9000 Santana CDs on my computer as proof.

If I like a band, I typically buy their music these days. If I'm doing the band a favor by listening to their music, then I wouldn't feel bad pirating it. I haven't been pirating much lately though, because I haven't been feeling generous.

[Acevalefor]

That is a terrible analogy and piracy isn't as big of a problem as the media corporations would have you believe. Don't be a sheep.

You got that one completely wrong. Just think for a minute how much money the petroleum industry makes. Now think about how much money the media industry makes. Yeah...now think about what they are really complaining about. The fucktards are all making money hand over fist while trying to pass legislation that would add to that bottom line. They are not losing money to piracy.

[Uzor]

Instead of spending so much money passing legislation and fighting piracy, they could have spent that money on renewing their business model to adjust to a changing society and trends.

[Cream Soda]

Don't kid yourself. It's not debatable. Or are you claiming that shoplifting is also not a problem?

According to Globaltheftbarometer, losses worldwide from shoplifting in 2010 is $107,3 billion - whereas losses from piracy is $16,3 billion in U.S alone.

It's not technically a loss. It's a non gain.

If you go into blockbuster and steal a DVD, they lose money. They physically no longer have that DVD to sell to someone else, so that's money they can't get now.

If you download that same movie, provided under no circumstances you'd never pay for it anyways, they lose nothing.


A) You go without a movie/song
B) You download movie/song

EXACT same result. They don't get anything from you.

The only time they "lose money" is if you download something you actually intended to buy, which is not the case w/ 99% of the things I download.

If I download a movie, it doesn't prevent someone else from buying that same copy (as it would if I were to go to the store and steal a DVD)

[Cephius]

Ok, I kinda get what you're saying. Both industries are greedy. Not to justify the oil companies, but renewable energy is actually a threat, it will eventually be more profitable than petrol as the world supply declines. It's debatable how much online piracy affects the media industry... I can even show you a few articles suggesting that it even helps them more than hurts.

[Uzor]

I agree, piracy is kind of a gray area, which is why it's so widespread. But saying it doesn't affect the industry is just stupid. A lot of people (like you and me) download things we would never buy. But a lot of people aren't like that and download everything just because they can - even things they would normally buy. I always buy games because I truly enjoy games and I want to support the future development of games. Most game companies get the majority of the income themselves.

That is not the case with music, though. In most cases, the record label get the majority of the money and not the artist him/herself. I want to support those that made the game/music; not the record label that leech off of others success.

[Greatguardian]

It's not technically a loss. It's a non gain.

If you go into blockbuster and steal a DVD, they lose money.

If you download that same movie, provided under no circumstances you'd never pay for it anyways, they lose nothing.


A) You go without a movie/song
B) You download movie/song

EXACT same result. They don't get anything from you.

The only time they "lose money" is if you download something you actually intended to buy, which is not the case w/ 99% of the things I download.

This. Piracy also greatly increases the marketing viability of games. What do I do when I download a game and like it? I recommend it to my friends. Heck, most of the time I end up buying games I really enjoy after I've downloaded them, because you sure as hell don't get access to every feature of most games in a cracked copy.

Downloading video games is like downloading a demo. You just get to experience the game first-hand and determine whether or not it's worth your money. These days, most of the time, it's really not. We're getting a lot of really awesome games coming out this month, but the average game developed these days is a steaming pile of crap with a $60+ price tag. That's what happens when it becomes clear that all that matters to a publisher is their bottom line.

Piracy, in many cases, isn't a loss of $60/game to the company, but rather free marketing for their game. The majority of the time, it helps the system more than it hurts it. Skyrim was cracked on the superior platform before it was even released, and I don't see their sales plummeting.

[Dizzy]

Today, Congress holds hearings on the first American Internet censorship system.

Okay so yesterday they "held hearings" about this bill. What exactly happened with it?

[Mrbeansman]

Honestly how much fucking tax payer money have we wasted failing to enforce "Piracy Laws"?

[Uzor]

This. Piracy also greatly increases the marketing viability of games. What do I do when I download a game and like it? I recommend it to my friends. Heck, most of the time I end up buying games I really enjoy after I've downloaded them, because you sure as hell don't get access to every feature of most games in a cracked copy.

Downloading video games is like downloading a demo. You just get to experience the game first-hand and determine whether or not it's worth your money. These days, most of the time, it's really not. We're getting a lot of really awesome games coming out this month, but the average game developed these days is a steaming pile of crap with a $60+ price tag. That's what happens when it becomes clear that all that matters to a publisher is their bottom line.

Piracy, in many cases, isn't a loss of $60/game to the company, but rather free marketing for their game. The majority of the time, it helps the system more than it hurts it. Skyrim was cracked on the superior platform before it was even released, and I don't see their sales plummeting.

The way I see it, this legislation isn't made to counter game piracy; it's to counter streaming of movies and music. I don't think any game producers attended the hearing. Please correct me if I'm wrong; I didn't see the hearing since I'm in Sweden, and I don't know where I can watch it, if it's even possible. Don't know if they're open in U.S like they are in Sweden.

[hey]

because you sure as hell don't get access to every feature of most games in a cracked copy.

What...?

But saying it doesn't affect the industry is just stupid.

Who the fuck said that?

Mcdonalds hurts burger king, should we ban McDonalds now too?

The industry should not get a free pass to rape the consumers just because it's in their best interests.

No, you don't need a facebook account to sign up.

Yes you do. And as i mentioned before there's a 99% chance they do not offer the music i listen to. What with them not even being open for business in the countries where most of the music i listen to comes from.

[ronin sparthos]

The way I see it, this legislation isn't made to counter game piracy; it's to counter streaming of movies and music. I don't think any game producers attended the discussion. Please correct me if I'm wrong; I didn't see the debate since I'm in Sweden, and I don't know where I can watch it.

Yet it stands to sweep up video games in the process.

Someone posts footage of a game before release without permission? The site gets zapped for it.

That's the problem with this bill, it opens the door for pretty much any company to cry copyright infringement and take extreme action which amounts to collateral damage for everyone who uses the site. You don't think some video game developer would jump on the opportunity to use this legislation if it came to pass? It'd only be a matter of time.

Next we'll be getting lobbied by walkthrough guide companies claiming that online walkthroughs are killing jobs and thus should be erased from the interwebs.

[Cantih]

Okay so yesterday they "held hearings" about this bill. What exactly happened with it?

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...ate-google.ars

[Gulkeeva]

Considering about all the "vague" possibilities the SOPA and protect IP things can do, any and all sites are a target. Almost anyone with money, can sit and takedown sites, without warning for almost anything just because it "looks like its infringing".

Considering most DNS servers are in the USA, no one will be safe. Even BG and NS could be targeted by the bill if some company cared enough (namely because of youtube video links).

The internets going to really suck in a few months if those laws get passed ;/ RIAA and MPAA are going to go on a killing spree, and I'm sure other companies will too since they can just sit and shutdown sites left n right without warning.

[tyven]

this bill gonna put qalbert out of work

wont someone think of qalbert?

[Uzor]

What...?

Who the fuck said that?

Mcdonalds hurts burger king, should we ban McDonalds now too?

No, because at Mc Donalds you pay. You don't pay to download stuff for free.

The industry should not get a free pass to rape the consumers just because it's in their best interests.

I never once said they should. I've voiced my opinion about the legislation in this thread. In case you missed it, I'll say it again: It's utterly retarded and stupid.

Yes you do. And as i mentioned before there's a 99% chance they do not offer the music i listen to. What with them not even being open for business in the countries where most of the music i listen to comes from.

That's strange, must be something unique to the US then. None of the European countries has a Facebook requirement.

As for the music; they have music from other countries as well - not only the ones they do business in. We had American music long before they opened up for service in America. They also have Russian music and music from Baltic countries despite not doing business there.

Yet it stands to sweep up video games in the process.

Someone posts footage of a game before release without permission? The site gets zapped for it.

That's the problem with this bill, it opens the door for pretty much any company to cry copyright infringement and take extreme action which amounts to collateral damage for everyone who uses the site. You don't think some video game developer would jump on the opportunity to use this legislation if it came to pass? It'd only be a matter of time.

Next we'll be getting lobbied by walkthrough guide companies claiming that online walkthroughs are killing jobs and thus should be erased from the interwebs.

I know. I even wrote that myself. That's not what I meant though; what I meant is that I'm guessing it's purpose is to remove streaming sites. I'm sure some retarded video game companies will take advantage of it too, though.

For some reason it seems you guys believe I'm all for the bill (even though I've said several times that I'm against it) just because I say that piracy is a problem for the music/video, and to some extent, the gaming industry.

Unlike the music/video industry, though, the gaming industry has adapted rather well; what with DLC, multiplayer passes, steam and micro transactions. The music industry is getting there, too, with services like Spotify.

[Cream Soda]

No, because at Mc Donalds you pay. You don't pay to download stuff for free.

I've gotten free things at Mc Donalds before.

Should it be illegal to take the food when I don't have to pay for it?

[Uzor]

Getting a free ice cream when your food is 10 min late isn't "getting free food", it's getting compensated for shit they did wrong.

The obvious difference is that they give it to you; you don't take it without their consent.

Anyone else find it extremely ironic that the video industry is lobbying for this bill to pass, without mentioning that Hollywood and the video industry was born from avoiding/escaping royalty and patent fees?

[Cream Soda]

That's not what I was talking about. Sometimes they're just nice and give you free shit.

But if you want to put it that way, downloading is getting compensated for the retarded industry

[Uzor]

Haha, that's one way to see it.