Should stricter laws regarding illegal downloads be enforced? [ENDS 24/01/2010]

[Nixt]

Should stricter laws regarding illegal downloads be enforced?

Ends 24/01/2010

Prior to mainstream internet use things like music, software, games and films would be purchased from your nearest retailer but, as the internet became more and more popular, the way in which such purchases were made was revolutionised. The internet made it possible to buy such things in the comfort of your own home, and internet shopping became the next big thing. However it didn't stop there. Over time, music sharing programs and torrents became massively popular; enabling internet users to get everything for free - great for everyone, apart from the musicians and companies who lose out on money...

The question is, do you think the government should start to enforce stricter laws regarding illegal internet downloads as has been suggested by some MPs and larger companies?

Before posting in this thread, please read the debates forum rules and the thread that explains how this forum works!

[[Jay]]

Thats a tough one, in one hand it is unfair that the music artists and companies are loosing out but then again they are not completley loosing out. It is only a minority of people who do download music and other stuff illegally the rest buy it. The companies and artists are still able to make enough money from that.

I don't think this is a big deal and the goverment could spend thier time and money elsewere. Eventually someone will come up with an idea on how to stop illegall downloading. Until then we will survive.

Also I think most fans will actually buy the album or movie or whatever it might be that they want instead of illegally downloading it.

[iAdam]

I do believe that the laws should be enforced stricter but not stricter rules as such.

Obviously there is plenty of arguments for downloading, such as the items being too much to buy but it really isn't fair on the companies that produce these items as a lot of work goes into them, probably not as much as it's worth but still the point is there.

The laws are there but they just arn't being enacted upon and it's just too easy to download now and with empty threats coming from all angles everyone has become desensitized to it and no one cares anymore. So if companies actually started caring aswell and cracking down on downloading then maybe people would begin to buy more than downloading again, and I don't mean ridiculous law suits for downloading an album, something like that happened last year.

So in all, the laws don't need to be changed, but if something is going to happen then it needs to be the laws being enforced and the ways in which you can download narrowed and made harder at that.

[Kronics]

I don't think they should be enforced as such, maybe a fine but nothing too heavy at the end of the day all downloads can get deleted anyway. Like perhaps if you get caught once £100 pound fine and if caught again it goes higher. If caught again for the third time possible do some jail time?

I'm not sure that is a tough question to answer to be honest.

[DrLacero]

What artists and media companies don't realise (nor do I think they ever will) is that they aren't necessarily losing anything.

I pirate a lot (never been caught, cautioned etc.), but I'm what I call an equitable pirate. If I download something and enjoy it, I'll go buy the DVD/CD. If I download something and don't like it, I won't. That way they're losing no money at all from me: if I download something and I don't like it, I wouldn't have bought it anyway. To say that's costing them money is ridiculous.

Not to mention, piracy gives free publicity. I've seen many films, tv shows and heard a lot of music I would never have known existed without it.

I don't think there should be harsher punishments on piracy, I think there should be none whatsoever.

Should piracy be completely eliminated, I would probably never buy anything, as I'm not willing to pay, let's say, £10 for a DVD or £30 for a game only to find it's **** and I can't get a refund.

I find the argument that they're losing money fallacious, especially as Sony had world-record profits in 2009.

[Richie]

Stealing debates from other forums eh http://www.clubhabboforum.net/showthread.php?t=257747 unless its just a coincidence :rolleyes:


On Topic: I don't think there should be because personally I'm finding it hard enough as it is to stay safe when downloading illegally. I know that what others and I do is wrong but its just people haven't got money for to be buying music, games or movies everyday.

Didn't want to make a post, because I didn't want to ruin the flow of discussion (as you would have done, had you not have quickly saved yourself punishment by adding your little 'on topic' bit - the reason this thread was posted was because Immenseman suggested it. I don't go on Clubhabbo, so I wouldn't know what there debates are. Maybe don't jump to conclusions next time, eh - Garion.

[Black_Apalachi]

I don't exactly know what the current law is, but surely it's along the lines of 'it is illegal to download copied music etc'? The only way it could become more severe is if companies were allowed to have access to our personal information, which is something that should never happen.

As people have said, there are one or two advantages to piracy from the music industry's point of view. For example, most of the stuff I have, was given to me by a friend on an external hard drive. This sounds like an empty promise, but as soon as I have enough spare cash when I'm older, I intend to purchase the whole library. Without my mate giving me it, I wouldn't have known about most of it and therefore when I did purchase various CDs, it would be no way near on the same scale.

At the end of the day, I think piracy counts for a very small percentage of the over all downloads and purchases people make in the UK, so it probably isn't something to overly worry about just yet.

[-:Undertaker:-]

No, the police and government should be focusing on things that matter such as; crime (murderers, rapists, petty criminals and anti-social benhaviour) and building new prisons as we are running out of room.

Maybe then i'll support a crackdown on this 'crime'.

[Ardemax]

No, the police and government should be focusing on things that matter such as; crime (murderers, rapists, petty criminals and anti-social benhaviour) and building new prisons as we are running out of room.

Maybe then i'll support a crackdown on this 'crime'.

It is a crime. It's like running into a shop, nicking a dvd and going out with it. Oh my bad, robbing shops these days don't "matter". Let's not focus on it, shall we? :rolleyes:

I think that yes, maybe enforce more stronger laws against it, but only as serious as if you robbed it from a shop.

[Accipiter]

tbf, they could just include it as an extra tax and make all music free to download...

and if a nerd collector wants the cd's let him buy them...

If you got fined for it the majority of the whole world would be pretty much screwed.