Filesharing sites going down , Good for pc gaming ?

[TheUnk]

Thats the wrong use of the word, thus why he clearified its not stealing.
You can look it up in a dictionary.

Its called piracy because thats what it is, not stealing.

steal (stl)
v. stole (stl), sto·len (stln), steal·ing, steals
v.tr.
1. To take (the property of another) without right or permission.
2. To present or use (someone else's words or ideas) as one's own.

 

[Grooveriding]

LOL


You make it sound like it's your right to have all software, movies, music, and books, just because they are ones and zeros and you aren't stealing, just copying.

It's stealing. Period.

You may have a point that is subjective on moral grounds. When it comes to the law it's all over the place depending on where you live, and in those cases it's black and white - again, depending on where you live.

 

[TheUnk]

Just because we have technology that replicates something while leaving the original completely in-tact does not mean we have to come up with different definitions of taking a copy of something without permission.

Unless of course it makes you feel better about yourself.

 

[wuliheron]

The Mafia was created when the local government became corrupt and we're just seeing the same kind of trends with organizations like Anonymous today. Obama warning CEOs he might throw them in jail if they continue to hire illegal aliens and defraud medicaid is like warning a bank robber you "might" throw them in jail if they don't stop. The banks continuing to be allowed to defraud people of hundreds of millions of dollars at a pop after bringing the entire world economy to its knees. Small wonder then that everybody tries to get in on the action and see just how much they can get away with while freedom and justice are sold at the first opportunity to make a quick buck.

 

[AVP]

Just because we have technology that replicates something while leaving the original completely in-tact does not mean we have to come up with different definitions of taking a copy of something without permission.

Unless of course it makes you feel better about yourself.

This is really silly. You can replicate something without loss to the owner. Not so much for stealing.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

This is really silly. You can replicate something without loss to the owner. Not so much for stealing.

Only, since the owner had rights to replication, he has lost something - the exclusive right of use. Land ownership is based on the same principle, yet we happily refer to lands being stolen.

 

[gothamhunter]

[enter]
Piracy != Theft
[/enter]

 

[SMOGZINN]

Just because we have technology that replicates something while leaving the original completely in-tact does not mean we have to come up with different definitions of taking a copy of something without permission.

Unless of course it makes you feel better about yourself.

Taking and copying are two different things. When I take something I remove it from where it is at, when I copy something I leave it in place but create something new.

Copyright is a concept that says that I automatically own the new thing that you make because I made something almost exactly like it before. This concept was never really supposed to keep people from making their own versions of it. Notice how no one was ever sued for painting their own version of the Mona Lisa. Because the effort and or skill required to do so guarantee that most people would not be able to. Copyright was intended to stop people with the skill and effort to make money from copying others work, because then it would be worth effort. This concept no longer works in a world where nearly everything can be copied and distributed at almost no cost, with little effort, and almost for free.

So we come up with a new idea. Intellectual Property: the idea that I can own an idea. Now, this sounds really good if you have enough money to buy up all the good ideas and then force people to pay you pretty much indefinitely for using them. The problem with this is that is stifles the free association of knowledge, which has been a driving force of society since at least the Bronze Age.

IP is not a good idea. It is anti-capitalistic, anti-scientific, anti-humanistic, it helps a very few at the expense of almost all. It would lock away all human advancement behind doors that you have to be rich enough to get past, and then charge you each time you tried to use the knowledge once obtained. It is the major cornerstone in a new wave of information feudalism that our society moving towards and I believe it is my duty to oppose it at every step.

 

[Red Storm]

Why does every "Piracy != Theft" argument always fail to mention (either intentionally or unintentionally) the real point... both are wrong.

 

[Dankk]

Why does every "Piracy != Theft" argument always fail to mention (either intentionally or unintentionally) the real point... both are wrong.

This is correct.

I'm seeing a lot of stupid arguments being brought up in this thread. Yes, we all know that pirates aren't actually stealing anything tangible. Yes, we all know that copying is not the same as outright taking away. But how does this justify pirating at all? How is that even an excuse?

"Well, if I were to walk into a store, grab a video game box off the shelves and walk out with it, it would be stealing. But when I use Bittorrent to download it, I'm not actually stealing because it's only a digital copy, and there's no physical disc or box involved!" Errr... yeah, right. Because the DVD itself and the box-art are the two things that required all the hard work and effort. I see...

So if digital copying isn't wrong, then what about game developers and publishers who only use digital distribution to sell their games? Hmm? I guess they're just shit out of luck, because you might as well pirate them since there's no difference between that and using Steam, right? Good lord that's pretty lousy.

Fortunately there are developers who release games by DD only, and do manage to make a lot of money. And it's a result of them making a good game... doesn't matter what method they use to distribute it; if it's good, then people will buy it.

Unfortunately, there is truth in saying that piracy leads to lost sales. (That's not to say that every pirate = 1 lost sale, because there are simply some people who will never legitimately pay for software, period... if some 13-year-old kid can't figure out how to pirate Photoshop, he's not going to say "Oh well, guess I better go out and pay $1,000 at the store for it." That's not realistic.)

But still, imagine the people who say "Well, before paying for it, I'm gonna try it out by pirating it first". Then they start playing the pirated version. They get further and further into it, without thinking about actually paying for it. Soon they end up finishing it anyway, and they have no reason to actually buy it.

Then they just don't buy it. THAT is a lost sale.

Yes, there are those think "Well, I'm going to buy the game afterward just so I can support the developer"... but let's be honest with ourselves: How many people actually do that?

 

[Arkadrel]

Yes, there are those think "Well, I'm going to buy the game afterward just so I can support the developer"... but let's be honest with ourselves: How many people actually do that?

Wasnt there some indie game that never really took off, until it started getting popular with torrents, and that resulted in that game getting extra sales?

I remember it because it was so weird... the guy behinde the game, actually wrote a thank you speech, to the torrent sites or some such. Because without them, his game never would have gotten any notice by anyone.


I seem to recall a study on piracy of music -> % extra sales in music.
Basically alot of people pirate first, and then buy lateron.

To the point where, without it, you might actually have lower total sales.

 

[Red Storm]

But still, imagine the people who say "Well, before paying for it, I'm gonna try it out by pirating it first". Then they start playing the pirated version. They get further and further into it, without thinking about actually paying for it. Soon they end up finishing it anyway, and they have no reason to actually buy it.

Then they just don't buy it. THAT is a lost sale.

Yes, there are those think "Well, I'm going to buy the game afterward just so I can support the developer"... but let's be honest with ourselves: How many people actually do that?

Yep, and even those that do buy it after downloading still shouldn't. It's a game, it's not an essential need for living. If there's no demo and you're wary of spending full price then just wait till it gets cheaper.

There's no way to look at torrent downloads and be able to tell who were the "honest" ones. Devs look at 100k downloads and can only think "That's 100k people who were interested enough in our game to download it..."

 

[Dankk]

Wasnt there some indie game that never really took off, until it started getting popular with torrents, and that resulted in that game getting extra sales?

I remember it because it was so weird... the guy behinde the game, actually wrote a thank you speech, to the torrent sites or some such. Because without them, his game never would have gotten any notice by anyone.


I seem to recall a study on piracy of music -> % extra sales in music.
Basically alot of people pirate first, and then buy lateron.

To the point where, without it, you might actually have lower total sales.

The positive side of piracy is that it does, in fact, spread awareness of the game to other people. Whether or not it directly supports the developer, it still reaches a larger demographic, and that's a good thing. However you're still not supporting the devs the same way that you would if you simply payed for it. My point still stands.

And yeah, there are some classy developers out there who know that piracy has the potential to do good, and encourage those who pirated to simply donate or buy the game, rather than slamming them with lawsuits and imposing strict DRM. I like those kinds of developers.

 

[Dumac]

People who spend more on media have a high % of pirates

Swiss Gov say piracy is OK

Entertainment industries have long complained that piracy is a real problem that affects their bottom line, a claim that ultimately wasn't supported by the study.

And in fact, the report acknowledged that around one in three Swiss citizens over 15 years old pirates music, movies, and games from the Internet. However, those that steal copyrighted material aren't spending any less as a result because the amount of disposable income earmarked for entertainment stays pretty constant, according to the report.

Piracy isn't a loss of a sale. It doesn't affect the industry in a major way.

 

[stuup1dmofo]

If IP piracy is ok, then doesn't that make Patent infringement and business espionage acceptable too? Does that mean if a guy has a good idea, i can steal it and profit from it without paying him a cent. It would be perfectly legal as well. Because ultimately, i never really stole anything?

 

[ImpulsE69]

If IP piracy is ok, then doesn't that make Patent infringement and business espionage acceptable too? Does that mean if a guy has a good idea, i can steal it and profit from it without paying him a cent. It would be perfectly legal as well. Because ultimately, i never really stole anything?

That happens quite a bit, and they get away with it. Why? Lawyers...j/s.

 

[stuup1dmofo]

That happens quite a bit, and they get away with it. Why? Lawyers...j/s.

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Most patent infringement you hear about in the news involves huge companies like Samsung and Apple. Both of whom steal from each other and ultimately settle their cases with large sums of money being paid to each other.

Still does not make it right. And the fact that it has to go to court says some wrong has been done.

 

[Arkadrel]

That happens quite a bit, and they get away with it. Why? Lawyers...j/s.

^ this

or the reverse:

they use lawyers, claiming competiton is useing their IP's and take them to court (when in reality they arnt, but lawyers can twist truth).

Apple actually suggested that when designing a smartphone the device shouldn’t be rectangular, nor should it have rounded corners, and also shouldn’t have a clean black front surface, and when it comes to tablets, again these shouldn’t be rectangular with round corners, have a non-flat front surface, thick frames and a thick profile whilst tablets should sport a cluttered interface.

Your only allowed to make circle tablets, or your stepping on Apples toes with its IP's and you ll get sued.
(this makes no sense, obviously the IP system is lax in who/what it gives IPs)

(so you cant sell your product = apple useing the IP system + lawyers
as a way to battle its competition reguardless of them being at fault or not).


The IP system is facked over, and abused by many.

 

[AMDZen]

Hello,

Megaupload down.
Other Filesharing Websites disabled the option to download from other users,

Will this news be good for pc gaming?
What if the Filesharing and piracy ends in the near future? is there any chance Games developers will start working on PC as a main platform ?

What do you think/feel about it ?

So you think that because they got this very, very, small win in regards to MegaUpload that they are ending piracy?

Piracy will never end. Ever. Its even more futile than the war on drugs.

People are hilarious

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I used to pirate stuff when I was like 16. The reason I did it at the time was I just wanted to see how well my laptop could play the game.

Most games now I just skip anyway and it takes too long for games to download so there isn't any point.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

If IP piracy is ok, then doesn't that make Patent infringement and business espionage acceptable too? Does that mean if a guy has a good idea, i can steal it and profit from it without paying him a cent. It would be perfectly legal as well. Because ultimately, i never really stole anything?

To all the people saying piracy = theft

http://www.megaupload.com/

Why is grand theft not listed? (this doesn't make piracy right).

 

[jordanecmusic]

The Mafia was created when the local government became corrupt and we're just seeing the same kind of trends with organizations like Anonymous today. Obama warning CEOs he might throw them in jail if they continue to hire illegal aliens and defraud medicaid is like warning a bank robber you "might" throw them in jail if they don't stop. The banks continuing to be allowed to defraud people of hundreds of millions of dollars at a pop after bringing the entire world economy to its knees. Small wonder then that everybody tries to get in on the action and see just how much they can get away with while freedom and justice are sold at the first opportunity to make a quick buck.

The military industrial complex is a front for multinational corporations whose sole purpose is to conspire against micheal jacksons monkey

 

[stuup1dmofo]

To all the people saying piracy = theft

http://www.megaupload.com/

Why is grand theft not listed? (this doesn't make piracy right).

Grand theft is listed only for physical property.

Just because it's not listed as theft, doesn't make it not theft. Spying/espionage is not considered grand theft, but can involve the act of stealing information.

 

[PingSpike]

Honestly, I think if you could wave a wand and somehow banish piracy from the earth I don't think it would actually change PC Gaming or even movies/music in any significant way. A lot of people pirate stuff, but if it came right down to actually buying it I feel like maybe 10% of pirated copies would actually translate into a lost sale. Actually buying something is a process itself but people will steal anything, even if they don't want it.

A guy I worked with maybe 5 years ago was telling me about how he rented DVDs and copied them or downloaded them off the internet. He confessed that he barely even watched any of the stuff he pirated, the vast majority of his collection he had watched zero times. He just had a bizarre need to collect them all. I don't honestly think that guy would own more than a handful of DVDs if he actually had to pay for them.

Obviously, we'll never really know but that is just my feeling. People might want a new game that costs zero dollars and no effort to download off a torrent site but if the free version is not available to them the replacement probably isn't to buy the same game for $60. The alternative action will probably be to play some other game they already own more, or watch TV or something else. Again, people will steal anything but they'll only buy things they really want and can actually afford.

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

I am sad megaupload went down. I used it all the time!

dont get me wrong. But that was one of the major sites that places like XDA uses, so now there are a ton of phone / tablet roms (all legal) that will never see the light of day again. :'(