Stealing A Right?
I don’t think anyone who has a computer doesn’t know about those File Sharing Sites that are out there. The one’s where you can virtually download anything you have a yen for, from the latest DVD Movie, to the hottest Song on the Radio, the newest sexy Model from Blake Mason. Also, we all know about how the Record Industry is actively going after those who download their stuff for free.
Their latest attack focuses on the Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) as they drag them into Court, and at how some refuse to be the Cop on the Beat for the Record Industry. However, many are working with the Industry, to where they will warn their customers, then after a certain number (three being the number) the ISP will turf your account. Now this is mostly aimed at the File Sharing Sites themselves, and there are many who oppose it. Some are claiming various Civil Rights in their opposition to this tactic.
“It’s a breach of our civil liberties,” said Christofer Fjellner, a Swedish legislator in the European Parliament who sponsored the measure, an amendment to a report on cultural industries in Europe. “When government limits access to the Internet it’s like limiting freedom of speech. It’s like banning people from printing books.” (source)
I am going to put my tin hat, because while I don’t care for the Record Industry, and its bogus claim of being bilked out of Billions, nor do I believe that ISP’s should be Copyright Cops, I also don’t think we should tolerate File Sharing Sites either. To me, the real name of these sites shouldn’t be classed as File Sharing, but as PRODUCT THEFT SITES.
To me, whether it is a site pushing the latest Harry Potter DVD for free, or the latest Model from Blake Mason, they are essentially offering a product that HAS BEEN STOLEN. They do not have a license to sell the product, nor do they have the right to give it away to thousands upon thousands, even if they BOUGHT IT.
Free Speech is not endangered by closing down Theft Rings. I am sorry, but that whole argument is rather lame in my opinion. How does giving away STOLEN GOODS become an issue of Free Speech?
Right to Privacy is one I can accept. I do not believe any Company has the AUTHORITY to give out my personal information, unless I am breaking the law. Even then, it can’t be given to just Anyone. I know the ISP’s in Canada went to court on this issue, against the Record Industry and our High Court Ruled in their favor. I can accept the RCMP or the FBI or SCOTLAND YARD being allowed that Information, PROVIDING A PROPER WARRANT IS ISSUED.
I mean come on, the Police can’t break into your home unless they can show a Judge that they have reasonable cause. The same principle needs to Apply to the Internet. To simply say so and so is a File Sharer, isn’t enough. They need to PROVE IT, and not at the expense of one’s basic civil rights.
Frankly the real issue, is that we, the consumer, are fed up with being ripped off by groups like the Record Industry. Hence the way we have made Theft an Acceptable Practice. That is really what we do, we excuse such sites, because it feeds into our desire to screw the Record Industry, who we feel is ripping us off. I mean come on, we call it ‘file sharing‘ when what we really mean is that we are getting something WE SHOULD PAY FOR, for free.
I don’t like what the Record Industry is doing, but they are simply protecting their own product, no matter how much we might think it is a rip off. But be honest enough to accept that File Sharing is STEALING.
