SOPA is dead

[LordSplodge]

Someone I know (really, not me) was going to go legal and switch to Netflix when it came over here the other day, and was happy to pay for it because it worked out cheaper than a Newsgroups subscription. Trouble was, it had rubbish content compared to the US version and so he didn't bother.

Personally I think that the only reason they're starting to offer these kinds of services are because of piracy; you have to wonder if there was no piracy would they have just continued to offer disc versions instead rather than super-easy online access.

Of course they would have kept feeding us the more profitable disc based media.

The problem with services like NetFlix is the Byzantine agreements needed to actually license the media to stream. That's why (for the moment at least) they don't have the biggest selection of content.

However with services like NetFlix, LoveFilm, Spotify, Steam and Origin I don't see the need to use torrents. Hell you can pick up bargains on older physical media online and can even get classic games from GoG.com for pennies.

Only in the world of computer software (outside of games) is the price of entry still prohibitive and thus encourages piracy. Thankfully things like the App Store/Android Marketplace and even the Mac App Store* are pushing prices down. Hopefully when Windows gets its own App Store in Windows 8 we will see a similar price drop.

Within a couple of years the should be no excuse to download illegally. Of course even 69p apps get pirated on jail broken iPhones so if people can go that low I doubt it will ever stop but for most people all they need are cheap and easy to use services like NetFlix.


* Look at how Final Cut Pro and Logic went from many hundreds of pounds to less than 200.

 

[RDM]

As I keep saying, bring cold hard proof that the industries are "losing money" and we'll come up with a deal of some sort. Glad this is over. For now.

That is really easy. If piracy were technically impossible then all it would take is for one person that pirates to buy something. Obviously piracy costs the industry sales, most certainly not as much as the industry says. But then he piracy apologists are just a guilty, the music industry has proven that even when you offer your product cheaply, drm free and widely available piracy is still rife.

Frankly both sides need to drop the hyperbole but something does need to be done about piracy because it is a serious problem and is shaping the industries it impacts.

 

[m4cc45]

That is really easy. If piracy were technically impossible then all it would take is for one person that pirates to buy something. Obviously piracy costs the industry sales, most certainly not as much as the industry says. But then he piracy apologists are just a guilty, the music industry has proven that even when you offer your product cheaply, drm free and widely available piracy is still rife.

Frankly both sides need to drop the hyperbole but something does need to be done about piracy because it is a serious problem and is shaping the industries it impacts.

That's the main argument for piracy. Does it actually cost them money? What you have to think of is that the data is copied. It doesn't cost, in the traditional sense, anything. In fact I'd say sales have gone up at times because if a game is good then people will buy it. Ubisoft and EA are the main problems. They put in archaic DRM which only affects the people who buy it. Why should I buy something that's inferior? Why should I only be allowed to install something I've bought 3 times? Then there's the massive problem with DLC. I bought a complete game - I want the complete game why should I have to pay a premium and then have to pay for content they put in later.

I'm still annoyed that there is still such a massive divide between the UK and the US when it comes to TV programs, film releases, etc. Why should I have to wait >3 months for a film to be released at the cinema. Some series take an extra year to hit the UK. Why?

One other thing while I'm ranting is the state of games on release. Many games have actually been fixed by pirates because the original game is in such a rush to be released because of the suits.

The industry needs to take a good, hard look at itself and make it more accessible and quicker. Why would I download a TV show, for example, if it was available over here at the same time on actual terrestrial TV?



M.

 

[bluDawg]

A man deserves to get paid for his work.

This applies to the entertainment industry as well. I hope that even those who oppose SOPA & PIPA will agree that piracy is not good for anyone.

piracy is good for the pirates, the people running the sites and the people getting free entertainment

 

[mmj_uk]

The music industry will be back with new bills once they have a few more congressmen in their pockets.

 

[Tummy]

TED talk on SOPA.

This is spot on.

 

[zain]

The dudes at MegaUpload were very guilty of other things though if what I've read is correct.

That's exactly it, from what is read they're guilty. The way the news reported on it was so biased, I guess thats all thats needed to be done to win people over.

The internet is facing the same situation as real life, the regulation will eventually come in and taint the online community! The justification behind it is hilarious though.

 

[RDM]

That's the main argument for piracy. Does it actually cost them money? What you have to think of is that the data is copied. It doesn't cost, in the traditional sense, anything.

Lost sales are lost revenue. If piracy were technically impossible then those that pirate games, music, movies etc would either have to go without or buy them. Are you honestly trying to say that 100% of them would go without?

In fact I'd say sales have gone up at times because if a game is good then people will buy it.

They will also pirate it in droves.

Ubisoft and EA are the main problems. They put in archaic DRM which only affects the people who buy it. Why should I buy something that's inferior? Why should I only be allowed to install something I've bought 3 times?

Why do you think Ubisoft and EA have such restrictive DRM in place? Do you think it is to deliberately upset and lose customers?

Then there's the massive problem with DLC. I bought a complete game - I want the complete game why should I have to pay a premium and then have to pay for content they put in later.

So don't buy it?

I'm still annoyed that there is still such a massive divide between the UK and the US when it comes to TV programs, film releases, etc. Why should I have to wait >3 months for a film to be released at the cinema. Some series take an extra year to hit the UK. Why?

Because, like it or not, distribution and marketing take time and money. Different markets also have different requirements. Not to mention quite a few UK providers will wait to see if the product sells before they invest in it for their channels. Why do you feel that you should be able to access it the day it is released?

One other thing while I'm ranting is the state of games on release. Many games have actually been fixed by pirates because the original game is in such a rush to be released because of the suits.

Any concrete examples? Should be easy to list a dozen or so if many games have been fixed by pirates...

The industry needs to take a good, hard look at itself and make it more accessible and quicker. Why would I download a TV show, for example, if it was available over here at the same time on actual terrestrial TV?



M.

None of which are an excuse for piracy.

 

[SPG]

Simply put, people feel ripped off. Still sites are coming up now where the artist uploads there work and the host takes a % to cover costs and the rest is in the artists pocket. Much better than the middle man. The entire entertainment industry is running scared of the artist being in more control than ever before with easy access to the mainstream.

Make no mistake this is all about profit. Nothing more nothing less. So yes with the % few making more cash from everything i can understand it and why people do it.


Long live the indie development companies, at least they do it for the love and the idea at the start of there lifespan, these are the lifeblood and should never be copied imo.

 

[RDM]

Simply put, people feel ripped off.

Or they are greedy and just want free stuff?

Still sites are coming up now where the artist uploads there work and the host takes a % to cover costs and the rest is in the artists pocket. Much better than the middle man. The entire entertainment industry is running scared of the artist being in more control than ever before with easy access to the mainstream.

Except that doesn't lead to artists being given easy access to the mainstream, it leads to artists at best getting a niche market or their music just not reaching people at all.

 

[Neil79]

I hope that even those who oppose SOPA & PIPA will agree that piracy is not good for anyone.

It's been explained countless times in the past, Piracy does have it's upside in certain circumstances!

Anti Piracy V Piracy, it will go on and on for years both sides wont back down

 

[Basher]

Whilst people downloading shows et al for free (and thus commiting copyright infringement) is bad it is not a valid excuse for the slow adoption of new business models taking advantage of the Internet.

The issue is the dinosaur that is the media industry that is addicted to the old way of business and is crying because we no longer want to consume content in a way that they deem fit (and unsurprisingly gives them maximum profit)

It should also be noted that the figures they quote for losses from piracy are vastly inflated

People will only stop illegally downloading stuff when the option to do so no longer exists, or becomes economically less viable.

We have many good digital services for content distribution - Apple TV, Netfliz, Lovefilm, Spotify etc. However, if someone can still get something for free (as a posed to £2 or whatever) many will.

Creating decent business models for distribution is only really one side of the story...

 

[Aeleys]

TED talk on SOPA.

This is spot on.

so if SOPA/PIPA gets green lighted...

all we need to do is instead of google.com, is input the i.p address... LMAO

if thats all that will happen then let them waste there money, sure it will be a hassle but not much

People will only stop illegally downloading stuff when the option to do so no longer exists, or becomes economically less viable.

We have many good digital services for content distribution - Apple TV, Netfliz, Lovefilm, Spotify etc. However, if someone can still get something for free (as a posed to £2 or whatever) many will.

Creating decent business models for distribution is only really one side of the story...

plus, some things are never released to dvd/bluray and/or streaming sites etc etc so there is no other option but to download from someone who was fortunate enough to have hard copys.

 

[Dist]

I always think this image is a good indication of why some people pirate, and its not just DVDs, there are lots of games that have restrictive DRM that punishes legit users but pirates can play unaffected.

 

[LordSplodge]

People will only stop illegally downloading stuff when the option to do so no longer exists, or becomes economically less viable.

We have many good digital services for content distribution - Apple TV, Netfliz, Lovefilm, Spotify etc. However, if someone can still get something for free (as a posed to £2 or whatever) many will.

Creating decent business models for distribution is only really one side of the story...

You're never going to stop people copying. The argument people are going through now is the exact same argument that arose upon the invention of the printing press.

What I (and others) are saying is make these services cheap, easy rouse, available and with Goddess damn actual decent content (preferably all on day 1 so non of the region crap) and "piracy" would become such a small problem as to not be worth the industry bothering with.

Instead of focusing on getting content to the modern customer in a format they want they spend millions trying to make Byzantine laws and suing grandmas with unsecured wifi.

 

[RDM]

What I (and others) are saying is make these services cheap, easy rouse, available and with Goddess damn actual decent content (preferably all on day 1 so non of the region crap) and "piracy" would become such a small problem as to not be worth the industry bothering with.

But hasnt the example of the music industry proved that this just isn't true? Cheap, easy to use, available content and it is still priated to hell and back.

 

[LordSplodge]

But hasnt the example of the music industry proved that this just isn't true? Cheap, easy to use, available content and it is still priated to hell and back.

Not really. It's getting there but there aren't any services that truly fit the bill. As for pirated to hell and back well that's debatable because both sides of the issue are rolling out questionable statistics.

Like I said they're never going to stop copying and attempting to do so is bound to fail. That's not the way of wining customers money.