Neowin Forums > MPAA still stricking BT sites hard!

msing

Jan 1 2005, 00:26

QUOTE(The_Wired @ Dec 31 2004, 10:58)

That still doesn't give you the right to steal. Just because you can't afford something is your problem, and you know they would probably tell you the high prises are because people are stealing and there losing revenue from it. Look at it this way, would you steal a Lamborghin Gallardo or a Porsche Carrera GT just because you can't afford them?
[right][snapback]585205306[/snapback][/right]

Remember this is digital media. If you steal a Porsche the owner would be at a loss. If you steal a movie, the owner wouldn't lose. It just takes a couple of clicks for one to copy a movie, whereas a car requires physical resources.

The RIAA and MPAA thinks they lose money if the user has free alternatives. But what if the consumer has no money? If the guy downloads a movie that he would have never have been able to watch, is it stealing?

I know I have a computer and I know I have dsl, but I never have access to cold hard cash. My parents do have money, but they chose not to share it with us.
I just don't want to nag at them so they can take me to the store and buy a cd, while I could just download it in my room without bothering anyone

QUOTE(Monkeys4me @ Dec 31 2004, 15:54)

It's a tough case to make when you seemed to have found a way to spend a couple thousand (best guess) on your computer, let alone the monthly cost of Internet access.

You seem to be able to come up with the money for the things you want... at least for those that you can't get for free via the Internet.

I know that it's legal for you to do this in Canada because you've already paid your tax on the blank media, but there are plenty of people in the world who use the same excuse that are not in compliance with their local laws.
[right][snapback]585207114[/snapback][/right]

I have to agree with you there monkeys. Some where out there people can afford 3mps lines, but they can't afford a movie.

emel

Jan 1 2005, 01:05

well.. still all the movie does good business and box office hit movies earn not less than $300-$500 mil. If they lower the movie ticket under $5, I wont download another movie. Here they charge $12 for weekdays and $7 for weekdays and $10 for 8AM-6PM weekends. How i m gonna efford those money.

bucko

Jan 1 2005, 02:01

I can sue you for walking

cyoung1616

Jan 1 2005, 02:41

Go MPAA.

Cody

M2Ys4U

Jan 1 2005, 02:43

torrent files are intagible.
Cars are tangible

stop using that analogy please.

The MPAA never actually looses any money here.

Gowcra

Jan 1 2005, 02:45

poor guys at loki and supavova, poor ******s!

ablack6596

Jan 1 2005, 07:07

Hi whoever posted before

I also downloaded 24 Season 1 and never missed an episode afterwards. I also ended up buying Season 1 on DVD when it came out, 2 years later? Just downloaded the DVD screener with the first 24 minutes of the 4th season and can't wait to sit at my TV and watch if on the 9th

DigeratiPrime

Jan 1 2005, 07:38

im curious what happens economically with file sharing?

Is p2p 'overall' having a positive or negative effect on the US economy for example.

Its not an easy answer, there are many variables.

The XXIA has its property being traded over the internet.
Retailers may have less customers shopping for music and movies.

However people may upgrade their ISP or Computer to better enjoy the digital media.
They may also spend their money on a cd/dvd burner and blank media.

Do these cancel out? I doubt it, my guess is its OVERALL positive for the US. IMO the industries losing out are the XXIA, but the money is being re-allocated into the tech sector. Also its getting more US citizens on the computer and off the tv. However I see the actions being taking as sort of the 'invisble hand' thats somewhat keeping these changes from getting out of 'control'.

I not saying whats right or wong, but I want to better understand this from a wider perspective.

lylesback2

Jan 1 2005, 16:26

QUOTE(ablack6596 @ Jan 1 2005, 02:07)

Hi whoever posted before

I also downloaded 24 Season 1 and never missed an episode afterwards. I also ended up buying Season 1 on DVD when it came out, 2 years later? Just downloaded the DVD screener with the first 24 minutes of the 4th season and can't wait to sit at my TV and watch if on the 9th

[right][snapback]585208776[/snapback][/right]

your a great example to us all, you downloaded a show, liked it, and now you watch it, and baught there season(s)

this is why filesharing is so great. but there are people out there that abuse this

ablack6596

Jan 1 2005, 17:15

I realise that their are people that abuse it, but what they have to realise is that they have to support the companies that create what they like to make sure that they continue to create media that they enjoy. If everyone downloaded the first Lord of the Rings, the second two would have been cancelled. My main reason for downloading things is that I can download much earlier than retail, and to use my download to decide whether or not it is worth buying, but if I like something I buy it, and hope their will be more. If I don't like it I delete it, and probably don't even get 5 minutes into whatever it is.

THeReVeReND

Jan 3 2005, 08:40

QUOTE(M2Ys4U @ Jan 1 2005, 02:43)

torrent files are intagible.
Cars are tangible

stop using that analogy please.

The MPAA never actually looses any money here.
[right][snapback]585207950[/snapback][/right]

let's say i made a software product and sold it on my website for $30. one guy downloads it, and then gives it out online. yes, the product is not "tangible" like a car, but, yes, i did lose money i would have made. i think YOUR interpretation of his analogy is inacurate. and, yes, i want loki to stick it to the MPAA, and i probably even agree with what you believe about this, but i think your reasoning behind it is bad. i know LOTS of people (college students mainly) that will not buy dvds because they can download the movies. while someone merely not buying something costs less than someone stealing the tangible dvd from best buy (because of the cost to manufacture it), it still does cost the MPAA some money, especially if that person WOULD have bought it, had it not been online. (i know, this is when everyone says "well if it wasn't online, i still wouldn't buy it, so no one loses money!" i guess i have to trust you on that one, but i'd bet you don't even believe it yourself.)

ZZOOzzoo

Jan 3 2005, 08:47

QUOTE(DigeratiPrime @ Jan 1 2005, 15:38)

Do these cancel out? I doubt it, my guess is its OVERALL positive for the US. IMO the industries losing out are the XXIA, but the money is being re-allocated into the tech sector. Also its getting more US citizens on the computer and off the tv. However I see the actions being taking as sort of the 'invisble hand' thats somewhat keeping these changes from getting out of 'control'.

I not saying whats right or wong, but I want to better understand this from a wider perspective.
[right][snapback]585208843[/snapback][/right]

Even if we assume piracy is having a good impact on overall economy (which I highly doubt), RIAA or MPAA is still losing money due to piracy, and it shouldn't be that way.

And it sounds ridiculous that just because music or movie is not tangible it's okay to download it free.

Do we never count all those efforts and times artists and producers put in the music or movie?

vbagaria

Jan 3 2005, 08:55

Mother Pucking Asshole Association

Danny1810

Jan 3 2005, 13:40

QUOTE(joseph0324 @ Jan 3 2005, 08:47)

Do we never count all those efforts and times artists and producers put in the music or movie?
[right][snapback]585220905[/snapback][/right]

Because making a movie is clearly worth paying certain actors in excess of $15m ?

Its the same with singers too, like Robbie's £80m record contract.

They make huge payouts like this and so are forced to keep prices high to try and cover these vast sums of money.
If the Matrix boxset was half the price it is now i bet it would sell more than double. Remember when we were told that DVDs will drop in price as they are much easier to make than VHS?

We are being ripped off

Valiant

Jan 3 2005, 16:38

QUOTE(Danny1810 @ Jan 3 2005, 13:40)

Because making a movie is clearly worth paying certain actors in excess of $15m ?

Its the same with singers too, like Robbie's £80m record contract.

They make huge payouts like this and so are forced to keep prices high to try and cover these vast sums of money.
If the Matrix boxset was half the price it is now i bet it would sell more than double. Remember when we were told that DVDs will drop in price as they are much easier to make than VHS?

We are being ripped off

[right][snapback]585221995[/snapback][/right]

Price of the product is irrelevant, apps created by bedroom programmers who only charge £5 for them still get cracked and put on torrent sites.

I've even had skins i've made for vb and invision board that i don't even charge for ripped off, renamed and my copyrights removed and then put up on torrent sites. Anyone who's creative and that have been ripped off via these thieving torrent sites will understand why the mpaa and riaa are doing a good job.

Big Booger

Jan 3 2005, 21:07

The MPAA is out to preserve/increase PROFITS, not survival.. they are doing quite well.. and it is about money.. if it weren't then they wouldn't be attacking it...

It's like we only made 50 billion last year. This year we expect to increase that by 20%... let's raise prices on tickets and gouge customers with overinflated popcorn, candy and drink prices in theaters...

And are pirates really hurting ticket sales? I wonder.... perhaps on crappy movies that people realise are rubbish and are unwilling to pay for (gigli, catwoman, etc...)

I applaud the pirates.. I hope they have an enormous impact on the MPAA, BSA, etc.. long live anarchy!

M2Ys4U

Jan 4 2005, 00:29

QUOTE(THeReVeReND @ Jan 3 2005, 08:40)

let's say i made a software product and sold it on my website for $30. one guy downloads it, and then gives it out online. yes, the product is not "tangible" like a car, but, yes, i did lose money i would have made. i think YOUR interpretation of his analogy is inacurate. and, yes, i want loki to stick it to the MPAA, and i probably even agree with what you believe about this, but i think your reasoning behind it is bad. i know LOTS of people (college students mainly) that will not buy dvds because they can download the movies. while someone merely not buying something costs less than someone stealing the tangible dvd from best buy (because of the cost to manufacture it), it still does cost the MPAA some money, especially if that person WOULD have bought it, had it not been online. (i know, this is when everyone says "well if it wasn't online, i still wouldn't buy it, so no one loses money!" i guess i have to trust you on that one, but i'd bet you don't even believe it yourself.)
[right][snapback]585220884[/snapback][/right]

If they drop prices, then I'll buy. until then, I'll pirate.

ECEGatorTuro

Jan 4 2005, 03:07

QUOTE(Big Booger @ Jan 3 2005, 16:07)

The MPAA is out to preserve/increase PROFITS, not survival.. they are doing quite well.. and it is about money.. if it weren't then they wouldn't be attacking it...

It's like we only made 50 billion last year. This year we expect to increase that by 20%... let's raise prices on tickets and gouge customers with overinflated popcorn, candy and drink prices in theaters...

And are pirates really hurting ticket sales? I wonder.... perhaps on crappy movies that people realise are rubbish and are unwilling to pay for (gigli, catwoman, etc...)

I applaud the pirates.. I hope they have an enormous impact on the MPAA, BSA, etc.. long live anarchy!
[right][snapback]585224620[/snapback][/right]

Uhh just for your information, the MPAA has absolutely nothing to do with concessions prices. In fact, movie theatres make almost nothing and a lot of the times lose money during the first 4 weeks of a movie release since all of the ticket sales go directly to the film distributor. Printing and distributing films is not a cheap process! The reason concession prices are so expensive is because it's practically the ONLY source of revenue for the theatre. In fact, check this article out --> http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/movie-distribution.htm <-- That will give you a better idea as to what is involved in movie distribution. Before you say something next time, I would research what I'm talking about.

LilGator

Jan 4 2005, 19:15

Does the MPAA actually think that torrent sites are the source of pirated material ?

What about topsites, private ftp's, IRC ... and the oldest: USENET ?

They aren't even making a dent, just a waste of time .....

I remember a few years back when TV rips started hitting big on torrent distribution, 430MB VCDs

Of course the companies got angry and tried to crack down on it. Little bit after, the torrent/tv series exploded enormously and now we have 350MB XviD HDTV encodes for just about any series on tv.

The more they fight it, the bigger it will get.

Since suprnova.org and torrentbits.org have gone under, there have been even more better sources for torrents than before (TV-Swarm.com). Especially private torrent sites like TorrentBits was. (Example: EliteTorrents.org)

The MPAA is just. plain. dumb.

islanq

Jan 4 2005, 19:24

I download movies religiously, (proabably have 200+ archived). Normally if it's a movie I don't think I would be interested if I watch it and it's good, i feel almost obligated to go to the theatre and pay for it. And also if I watch a movie and really like it, I download it. Hey I paid for it once already. Just my way to preview stuff, it doesn't stop me from going to the theatre. Nothing better then a nice big screen, some pop corn, and your friend or lover beside u IMO.

Pirating, everyone knows it's wrong, but everyone does it. I would say with confidence more then 75% of Neowin users have done it, or still do it.

Games for example, if I download a game, and I really like it, more then likely I'll go buy it to play multiplayer. If a game sucks, why waste $50?

hendog323

Jan 16 2005, 16:41

Although MPAA is trying to stop sharing of pirated materials and shutdown BT sites, it is sort of ironic what will happen. Take RIAA and there quest to take down P2P like Kazaa. It became highly publicized on the news and then Kazaa hit record numbers of users. I expect the same to happen with BT. So in effect, MPAA will actually boost piracy....lol.