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i dont download stuff illegaly. i think the gov't should come down with a hammer of justice and give 1 life sentence for each pirated song!!! jk, but i do think they should crack down

and while on an individual basis, is fine, but there are probably millions of people with the same attitude, which throughout the course of a year can cost corperations millions of dollars because that is money that they miss out on when someone downloads illegaly for free than actually pays for the song/video/whatever.

yeah, i see no problem if the actual song is bought later, but many people do not do so, and hurt business

A slightly damaged profit margin is not a good thing, if all companies did not care about a small decrease in profit, most companies would not survive. All companies need every dollar they can get and are not a good one if they settle for anything less.

Can take, and should take are different. If someone just stole a book from Borders it would be wrong,yes? Music, Videos and books are all just images and words and images put together. To me, downloading something online illegally and never buying the product is the same as walking into a store and stealing a CD or DVD.

srry, i realise this post jumped around a little bit...

i dont think they are trying to control the internet, i think they are trying to get the money they are due. Trying to control the internet is what some countries do, which is block sites, and send police "visits" if one of their people watching who does what on the internet catches you.

i was mostly talking about pirated music

There are always exceptions, and I am sure that there are people who argue that the corperations are wrong to try and get money for the product that they produced...because that makes sense. But I would be willing to bet that the vast majority of people that say that pirating music is ok, pirate themselves.

And as for netflix and gamefly, those companies pay for the right to use those games in their company. This way, the producer still makes money, Netflix and gamefly still make money, and the consumer gets the product in a good deal(i love netflix).

I am sure that the profits lost from pirated music are much greater than you might believe, and even if it is just millions of dollars, where do you draw the line then? when does it change from "just downloading a song illegaly" to stealing then. If piracy is allowed, the music industry will take a great hit because there will be no incentive to produce if you cant make money off of it.

also, WHY would a company be ok with taking a hit?
Accountant: Sir we have lost over 10 million dollars in revenue this year to pirated music...
CEO: its ok, we dont need the money, we arent trying to be successful, or help our investors.
Accountant: Thats right, i forgot, your right sir.

that is still money that BELONGS to that company, I view illegal downloading the same as going to a store and stealing a CD. I think that if this 500.000 warrants thing is real, the prosecutors need to crack down HARD! piracy is ILLEGAL! if i was a record company i would ask for the heaviest punishment possible and maximum charges. Piracy DOES hurt the music industry whether you guys believe it or not, and needs to be stopped.

People that are argueing that piracy is ok, what you are basically saying is that I can walk into your house and just take whatever the feth I want. when you confront me i'd say "its not hurting anyone, ive paid my dues, i can do what i want, your backwards for keeping things in your house!"

your example would be applicable if I sold something and you copied, then i would lose profits, and would be stealing. YOU TRY HARDER, i dont get why some people fail to see how illegal/serious/immoral online piracy is...