Do you think it's OK to download free music, videos, and applications?

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:54:37 -0400

Yes, they're out there. From youtube-mp3.org, to Bittorrent, Limewire, etc...

I'm not asking for confessions or if you're doing it (for the sake of not self-incriminating), just points of view. If the means are out there, do you think it's OK or not?

Bits of history: Napster used to be an innocent freeware back in the early 00's when people casually exchanged music and videos. Entertainment industry started taking a big hit on its pockets and started crying to congress for help. The congress in return deemed Napster no longer at liberty to share its music or videos for free. Is it just me then or money does talk?

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Aug 11 at 2014 8:02 AM

SSG Pete Fleming — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:02:55 -0400

We all have borrowed a book or shared a cd but if people get only free stuff where are the cost offset? This is two point problem. First anyone who has served in Iraq, the Balkans, or any where out if the States can buy bootleg. Well the company that produced the music, film, or whatever doesn't get paid for that item. If you made something would you want people selling your product without you getting paid? Theft is theft. If I broke into your house and took all your stuff and sold it, without your permission, or without giving you a fair share of the profit is it right?

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 11 at 2014 8:23 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:23:39 -0400

Quite simply, no, it's not ok. If you provided a product which someone else acquired (lets say legally) and then began to distribute that same product free of charge with no money returned to you, would this be ok with you? You would, in essence, then only be able to sell one copy of whatever you produce and it would then be available free to everyone else. How long would you continue to produce anything new? This applies to music, movies, software, etc. It's called piracy.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2015 2:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:22:06 -0500

I know damn well what the right answer is, that it's not OK to pirate, but there are certain completely theoretical scenarios that I could foresee myself possibly giving the industry the middle finger and pirating anyway.

1) Price gouging. When publishers charge over $250 for a complete TV series collection, especially series that have been off the air for some time and do not merit premium pricing, then alternative methods of gaining said content might become worthy of consideration.

2) Publishers taking forever to localize. Foreign media can take a while to localize to an English dubbed format, I get that, but when that time frame starts stretching into years post initial release I might become more understanding to the idea of pirating a copy with english subtitles.

3) Fear of censorship. Having a digital archive of media that is deemed controversial or no longer in circulation for various reasons is a means of preserving that media.

4) As a deployed soldier how else are we going to watch media? Most of my buddies took a laptop and an external hard drive chock full of illegal goodies so that they could have some entertainment during their year+ away from the states. It's not like they could just meander over to a nearby video rental place.

I could keep going, but the point is this. It's illegal to steal, I don't think anyone is disputing that. At the same time there's only so many means of thumbing our noses at blatantly anti consumer practices that publishers and other media related companies take part in.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 2 at 2015 4:26 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 02 May 2015 04:26:34 -0400

If the software is there AND the music, video, etc. specifically states that it is okay to freely download then yes.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 2 at 2015 4:29 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 02 May 2015 04:29:19 -0400

What I always thought was funny: In the Navy on deployment they would tell us not to buy pirated movies, music, etc. BUT the ship would always have merchants on the pier or close by (who were officially approved to be there) selling these "prohibited" items.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 2 at 2015 1:25 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 01:25:44 -0400

Some years ago the MPAA asked the US Gov't to stop Soldiers from buying bootleg DVDs. They didn't go for it. Here's a link:

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100517/ [login to see] .shtml

MPAA And Its Priorities: Asks US Gov't To Stop Soldiers From Buying Bootleg DVDs | Techdirt

Apparently, it's difficult for US soldiers in places like Iraq to get access to Hollywood movies legitimately, so it should come as little surprise that they might pick up bootleg DVDs to keep up with what they're missing back at home. ...

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jul 13 at 2016 11:06 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:06:09 -0400

I'll listen to something for free, but if I like it enough to listen to and enjoy many times afterward I'll buy it; preferably from the artists themselves.