Mandaory Blog Pots #8 - When Did Stealing Become Okay?

Not a day goes by where I don't hear someone talking about something they torrented. Whether it be a new movie, a new album, a new television episode or anime. I am someone who loves to have a collection. I love looking over and seeing my stacks of comics or CD's. I collect not only because I want to show off, but because I wish to support the artists who make the things I love so much. Now, I don't want to be preachy and be all like:

 

But as someone who would someday like to be paid for his creativity, I wouldn't want my stuff stolen.

With the rise of digital media in the form of e-books, video games and distributors like steam, and mp3 markets; piracy is on the rise. These digital versions are cheaper and more convenient than the real thing, so why do people still want to steal them? They were designed with a cheaper price in mind. It is the same as shoplifting, but with very absent minded security guards on duty.

Before the Internet, piracy was all physical in the form of bootleg tapes and CD's. There was a market that one had to go to; it isn't much different on the internet, but now you don't have to pay. It may actually be easier now to torrent something then to punch in your credit card information, set up an account or deal with strict DRM after your purchase - *cough* iTunes *cough* Uplay *cough*.

Another barrier may be DRM's themselves. When you purchase a song off of iTunes, you don't own the song, you own the rights to play that song; if you don't remember your account information, then you cant listen to your music. Websites like Amazon give full ownership to their customers. They can share that music and it is not tied to an account. 

Torrenting has become a norm and is generally accepted by most people. We would look down and be frightened of a known shoplifter, but we don't think twice about a pirate. It's not all digital, there are real world repercussions.  

So, think twice before you digitally steal something. It is physical money you're denying to someone who deserves it.