It's better to steal a CD or kill someone than download illegally.

[Singapura]

This is an enlightening blogpost from Gapers Block : Mechanics : Chicago Politics - Seven Crimes to Consider Before Music Piracy

Seven Crimes to Consider Before Music Piracy

1. Steal Music? No! Steal a child, preferably from a recording artist.
That's right, the fine for regular old, Class 4 Felony child abduction is $25,000. It can also include one to three years in prison. So, if you get spanked as hard as possible after ganking a silly named celebrity child, you'll be down $175,699.

2. Steal the actual CD.
Damn, that new Black Eyed Peas song is infectious, am I right? That chorus is so genius; "boom boom boom," who thinks of that? I want to steal it. So instead of Kazaa, I'm going to swipe it from Best Buy. Retail theft of less that $150 (which is like, what, 10 CD's?) is a Class A misdemeanor. The penalty? Up to one year in jail and/or a fine of $2,500. At most you'd be down about $52,500. Definitely manageable. If it exceeds $150 though, you're in for a Class 3 felony. That bad boy will result in two to five years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine, so you're risking approximately $275,000. Beats $2 million though, huh?

3. Rob Bryan Adams.
There's Bryan Adams next door, tooling around on his new John Deere riding lawn mower. That would definitely make mowing the lawn easier huh? Fun, even. Can't afford one, can you? No problem! Punch him in the face and take it! That's a Class 2 felony. The penalties come to a meager $376,631, which is a full $298,369 less than even the weakest RIAA judgment.

4. Set Lars Ulrich's house on fire.
Being a pyro sounds fun. You get to see lots of pretty flames, hear fun explosions, and watch things get destroyed. Plus, doesn't Metallica have a song about setting **** on fire? They probably do, it's Metallica. What could go wrong? Not as much as if you decided to pirate music. Arson is another Class 2 felony. ($376,631)

5. Stalk Reba McEntire.
Hang out in her front yard, take pictures of her driving and shopping, send her weirdo letters - you name it, stalking is awesome! And what's the penalty? It's just a Class 4 felony! Phew! Just about $175,000 and you're done.

6. Learn from Michael Vick: Start a Dog Fighting Empire
Dogs are pretty cool, huh? You know what's cooler than a dog? Dogs killing each other! That will get you a paltry $50,000 fine and one to three years in the pen. What does that amount to? A max of about $200,000! Not too big of a deal when viewed against the dire backdrop of music piracy, huh? Suck it PETA!

7. Murder Someone, Second-Degree style.
Basically all "Second Degree" means is that you were provoked in such a way that it would cause you to have an "intense passion," i.e. you downloaded a few songs and then you were fined an amount that has more numbers than most of us will ever see in our bank accounts. When that happens, if you sort of go Incredible Hulk and shiv somebody in the kidney, you may be found guilty of Second Degree murder instead of first. Second Degree murder is only a Class 1 felony, rather than a Class X, which stands for X-treme. Class X is like the Mountain Dew of crimes. Anyway, a Class 1 felony can result in a fine of $25,000 and/or 4-15 years in prison. So, according to our numbers, you could POTENTIALLY only lose roughly $225,932. If you have a real bastard of a jury though - kind of like Jammie Thomas did - then you might get the full 15 years, which would amount to $778,495. So that's worse than Mr. Tenenbaum, but still not even close to Ms. Thomas.

[crapback]

I'd rather set Lars Ulrich on fire. Michael Vick should be forced to make horse pron. Bryan Adams is almost reason enough to nuke canada, but not quite. If he did a duet with Celine Dion, then I'd say push the button.

[applaudio]

Originally Posted by crapback

I'd rather set Lars Ulrich on fire. Michael Vick should be forced to make horse pron. Bryan Adams is almost reason enough to nuke canada, but not quite. If he did a duet with Celine Dion, then I'd say push the button.

Oddly enough, I don't even take offense to that.

[necropimp]

when pirate music i do so by dressing as a pirate, storming into a music store, grabbing the CDs, and making an impressive escape by jumping on the back of a cannon and rolling away

[Czilla9000]

Originally Posted by necropimp

when pirate music i do so by dressing as a pirate, storming into a music store, grabbing the CDs, and making an impressive escape by jumping on the back of a cannon and rolling away

I'd be in favor of music piracy if it required that bravado. The problem is Kazaa is too banal.

I'm a wimp...I download all my stuff off of iTunes.

EDIT: It does not follow that excessive punishment means that a criminal activity is justified. You can argue that the punishment for piracy is too severe, but it is another thing entirely to argue that piracy is okay.

The author of the article the OP links to does not believe piracy is wrong. I think this stance undermines his argument. If music fans said "We understand that music piracy is illegal, we respect the law, but punishment for breaking the law is too severe" they may have a reasonable grievance. However, as long as many music fans continue to deny people's property rights they just appear to be disaffected teenagers to most jurists. Ultimately, jurors want their property protected too, and they aren't going to side with people that they think secretly want to undermine their rights.

Having said all this, I don't think the music companies can win this battle. I think their property rights should be protected, but I think efforts to do so will prove futile. No Congressman wants to arrest a plurality of his or her constituents. The best outcome would be a truce where music fans and record labels recognize each others right to exist. If they don't, both sides will ultimately be worse off. Record labels need customers, and customers need record labels incentivized to produce/discover new music.

[applaudio]

I think it's pretty obvious the music companies need to seriously rethink how they do business, although I'd actually prefer to see them disappear entirely from the picture, allowing me to just give my money directly to the people who are making the music. Support music, not the music industry!

[Uncle Erik]

Not this again.

First, the penalties are civil not criminal. If anyone is unclear on the difference, I'd be happy to explain.

Second, I really wish people would stip making excuses to justify downloading. You can argue it a thousand different ways, but there are 100% legal alternatives that don't cost that much.

I've been picking up used CDs for $2-$5 each. Anyone can afford a disc or two or a dozen every week. If you have a turntable, used vinyl can be even cheaper. Further, there are legal free downloads at archive.org and a few other sites. All of that will give you more cheap/free music than you can listen to in a lifetime.

I have no love for Big Music.

But if you want to slay the beast:

1. Don't let them make themselves out to be the victim; and
2. Stop giving them money.

So buy used and go for legal downloads. That is nothing but death for those idiots. They'll have no one to blame but themselves.

Also, the sense of entitlement many downloaders have is terrible. You cannot expect to get free products without consequences. At best, those producing will stop. At worst, you'll end up with a nasty civil penalty handed down by a jury of your peers. Keep in mind that juries decide the penalty - not the music industry.

The music industry has an awful business model. They produce mostly highly compressed crap for an audience that would prefer to get the product for free. They deserve to go under. Bands should really start selling direct or through co-ops. That way, you can send money almost directly to those who deserve it. Second, the industry should wise up and start making discs that appeal to those who pay for music. Leave out the compression and embrace hi-rez. Some of us pay for that and are willing to buy more.

But stop making lame excuses for downloading. It doesn't help anything and just perpetuates the crappy situation there is today.

[applaudio]

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

Not this again.

First, the penalties are civil not criminal. If anyone is unclear on the difference, I'd be happy to explain.

Second, I really wish people would stip making excuses to justify downloading. You can argue it a thousand different ways, but there are 100% legal alternatives that don't cost that much.

I've been picking up used CDs for $2-$5 each. Anyone can afford a disc or two or a dozen every week. If you have a turntable, used vinyl can be even cheaper. Further, there are legal free downloads at archive.org and a few other sites. All of that will give you more cheap/free music than you can listen to in a lifetime.

I have no love for Big Music.

But if you want to slay the beast:

1. Don't let them make themselves out to be the victim; and
2. Stop giving them money.

So buy used and go for legal downloads. That is nothing but death for those idiots. They'll have no one to blame but themselves.

Also, the sense of entitlement many downloaders have is terrible. You cannot expect to get free products without consequences. At best, those producing will stop. At worst, you'll end up with a nasty civil penalty handed down by a jury of your peers. Keep in mind that juries decide the penalty - not the music industry.

The music industry has an awful business model. They produce mostly highly compressed crap for an audience that would prefer to get the product for free. They deserve to go under. Bands should really start selling direct or through co-ops. That way, you can send money almost directly to those who deserve it. Second, the industry should wise up and start making discs that appeal to those who pay for music. Leave out the compression and embrace hi-rez. Some of us pay for that and are willing to buy more.

But stop making lame excuses for downloading. It doesn't help anything and just perpetuates the crappy situation there is today.

[dj_mocok]

I will go to Bryan Adams & Celine Dion duet concert, singing My Heart Will Go On. Maybe throw in a little bit of Michael Bolton there too. Perfect.

[iriverdude]

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

Not this again.

First, the penalties are civil not criminal. If anyone is unclear on the difference, I'd be happy to explain.

Second, I really wish people would stip making excuses to justify downloading. You can argue it a thousand different ways, but there are 100% legal alternatives that don't cost that much.

I've been picking up used CDs for $2-$5 each. Anyone can afford a disc or two or a dozen every week. If you have a turntable, used vinyl can be even cheaper. Further, there are legal free downloads at archive.org and a few other sites. All of that will give you more cheap/free music than you can listen to in a lifetime.

I have no love for Big Music.

But if you want to slay the beast:

1. Don't let them make themselves out to be the victim; and
2. Stop giving them money.

So buy used and go for legal downloads. That is nothing but death for those idiots. They'll have no one to blame but themselves.

Also, the sense of entitlement many downloaders have is terrible. You cannot expect to get free products without consequences. At best, those producing will stop. At worst, you'll end up with a nasty civil penalty handed down by a jury of your peers. Keep in mind that juries decide the penalty - not the music industry.

The music industry has an awful business model. They produce mostly highly compressed crap for an audience that would prefer to get the product for free. They deserve to go under. Bands should really start selling direct or through co-ops. That way, you can send money almost directly to those who deserve it. Second, the industry should wise up and start making discs that appeal to those who pay for music. Leave out the compression and embrace hi-rez. Some of us pay for that and are willing to buy more.

But stop making lame excuses for downloading. It doesn't help anything and just perpetuates the crappy situation there is today.

Didn't FIAA try and get buying/selling used CD's illegal?

[fuseboxx]

^ Interesting. I'd like to hear more about that.

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

First, the penalties are civil not criminal. If anyone is unclear on the difference, I'd be happy to explain.

I'm unclear on the difference.

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

but there are 100% legal alternatives that don't cost that much.

Not always. Not even most of the time. Not for most of the music a lot of people want to hear. Just saying.

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

Keep in mind that juries decide the penalty - not the music industry.

Do you believe that the big corporations in the music industry don't influence and/or pressure the judge/jury in such a trial?

[progo]

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

Not this again.

First, the penalties are civil not criminal. If anyone is unclear on the difference, I'd be happy to explain.

Second, I really wish people would stip making excuses to justify downloading. You can argue it a thousand different ways, but there are 100% legal alternatives that don't cost that much.

I've been picking up used CDs for $2-$5 each. Anyone can afford a disc or two or a dozen every week. If you have a turntable, used vinyl can be even cheaper. Further, there are legal free downloads at archive.org and a few other sites. All of that will give you more cheap/free music than you can listen to in a lifetime.

I have no love for Big Music.

But if you want to slay the beast:

1. Don't let them make themselves out to be the victim; and
2. Stop giving them money.

So buy used and go for legal downloads. That is nothing but death for those idiots. They'll have no one to blame but themselves.

Also, the sense of entitlement many downloaders have is terrible. You cannot expect to get free products without consequences. At best, those producing will stop. At worst, you'll end up with a nasty civil penalty handed down by a jury of your peers. Keep in mind that juries decide the penalty - not the music industry.

The music industry has an awful business model. They produce mostly highly compressed crap for an audience that would prefer to get the product for free. They deserve to go under. Bands should really start selling direct or through co-ops. That way, you can send money almost directly to those who deserve it. Second, the industry should wise up and start making discs that appeal to those who pay for music. Leave out the compression and embrace hi-rez. Some of us pay for that and are willing to buy more.

But stop making lame excuses for downloading. It doesn't help anything and just perpetuates the crappy situation there is today.

Wise words indeed.

Originally Posted by iriverdude

Didn't FIAA try and get buying/selling used CD's illegal?

I recall a case here that a book renting website where users could leave an ad about books: wanted to read/rent, FS, WTB, etc... But the place was considered a violation of copyrights. So if a place like it was illegal, how come libraries are still legal? :conf: The companies sure would like to ban selling used CDs, it doesn't pay them anything. The digital content(\footnote: perhaps now, mostly games) appeals to them because DRM can't be re-sold.

If libraries were invented today, ...

[iriverdude]

You know I wouldn't put it past them to give prison terms to those who give negative opinion on a album, and sue for "defamation" and "loss of earnings"

[Squirsier]

Originally Posted by iriverdude

You know I wouldn't put it past them to give prison terms to those who give negative opinion on a album, and sue for "defamation" and "loss of earnings"

Just sue them back for "mental distress" and "loss of hearing" over that really bad album

[Lazarus Short]

Why is Big Music stomping on downloaders anyway? Digital copyprotection is a joke, as the bright boys neglected to realize that music pirates would simply use the ANALOG feed. Duh. I can only suppose that Big Music is angry and frustrated. However, last weekend at a local flea market, where I scored a Phase Linear preamp for $40, pirated music was being sold openly, and in large quantities. I see that at every flea market I go to. Why does Big Music not come down hard on that? I think they are selectively targeting people with money.