The Anti-Piracy Campaign: The Drag Behind Their Efforts Jamal Haskin
Topics History of piracy before and after computers became prominent Notable copyright laws and trade groups Disadvantages behind their efforts Ethical issues Future involving their efforts
History of Piracy Before Computers In the 1970s, software was a few years old Bootlegging of records was a commonplace Cassettes & floppy disks enhanced piracy VCRs induced video piracy
CDs became available, but difficult to copy CD writers became available, expanding music and software piracy The internet allowed large file sharing DVD-Rs enhanced movie and software piracy
The Impact of Computers in this Area Record labels lose money Loss of employment opportunities Decreases the incentive in pursuing certain careers Impossibility of company’s growth from lack of profit Future investment would be lost
Notable anti-piracy laws and trade groups The NET (No Electronic Theft) Act of 1997 The DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) of 1998 The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)
The No Electronic Theft Act Signed on December 16, 1997 Punishes anyone who intentionally infringes copyrighted material if for financial gain Closes loopholes of laws that required proof of financial gain Is perhaps the first step in combating digital piracy
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act Signed in 1998 Illegal to circumvent copyright technologies Outlaws sale of tools to pirate copyrighted material Requires ISPs to cooperate with copyright owners ISPs must reveal identities of pirates under subpoena
Recording Industry Association of America Represents companies of the entertainment industry RIAA sued 382 individuals with 220 settlements Usage of P2P software was reduced as a result Sued 532 anonymous individuals in 2004 Popularity of file sharing programs still remained strong
Drawbacks of their efforts Violates rights to privacy The DMCA inhibits fair use Hinders research Restricts free speech
Ethical Issue (act utilitarian perspective) The right action: preventing individuals from illegally copying material and/or using circumvention tools The wrong action: companies could target innocent individuals w/o any substantial evidence Example: RIAA v. Verizon case Therefore, their actions are unethical
Ethical Issue (rule utilitarian perspective) Morally incorrect for them to inhibit fair use The good action: customers buy company’s products and the company makes money The bad action: they would limit fair use, research, and innovation Anyone that creates inspired works or do research might break the law The rules in place are unethical
Ethical Issue (social contract perspective) Copyright laws help IP owners keep content secure They also keep jobs and job opportunities afloat However, their efforts hinder fair use Owners put copyright over free speech Individuals forced to break an unjust law
Future involving their efforts More content is digitalized Companies won’t lose business High prices will force people to pirate material People will be educated about how piracy is wrong Slowdown of technological advances Companies might fall behind in competition