by Derek—2004.07.19 @ 0830
Last night I received a shock as my Uncle popped in a DVD into their home entertainment center. I asked what movie they were watching and the reply took me back. "Dodgeball," they chorused. "But isn't that movie still in the theatres?" I responded. "Yes," they answered. I watched for a second as the Fox studios logo animated on the television. The poor quality of the video affirmed their statment: they had indeed "stolen" a film by downloading it online.
I was furious, and inside my stomach were churning.
My relatives had invited their close friends from North Carolina to spend the weekend, and it was thier "friends" who brought the pirated film. Their teenage son was adamant, "Hey, I already paid to see the show in the theatre." "So that gives you the right to steal the film and show it to your family?!" I retorted, as I started down the stairs. The boy was incredulous, "I plan to buy the film when it comes out on video... ," but I was already walking down the stairs, the door closed behind me.
I heard laughter as I reached the end of the stairs; laughter directed at me and the situation, since the movie had yet to begin.
What was worse to me was how little everyone cared -- especially the parents. They were all there, accomplises in the entire showboating episode. It was beyond approval, it was almost as if the boy's parents encouraged this willful thievery.
Movie piracy is getting worse, and according to news stories, one in five people using the internet have downloaded a movie illegally (I actually can't think of a legal way to download movies). The MPAA is apparently losing billions from internet piracy.
There is a certain amount of complacency among people that downloading music, movies, and other digital media online is perfectly fine -- completely justifyable! There are too many excuses and not enough ethics or morals any more. When did this activity actually become so common that people actually believe that it is right?