What it is? What do we use it for?
Define piracy: piracy is a term used to describe the copying/distribution of works and products, that are copyright protected, without permission from the true owner. Items that are often pirated include games, music, movies and software. Forms of piracy include audio piracy, video/movie piracy
Who commits piracy: Any person, who abuses the copyright legislation or is freely using software that is meant to be paid for, is committing piracy. Such people are referred to as pirates and can be given extremely large fines if caught taking part in piracy.
Why do people become involved in piracy: there are many reasons for why people become secretly involved in piracy, these reasons include:
· Costs involved. Most pirated items and products can be accessed/downloaded freely, without costs involved. However in some cases prices will be included, even so these prices are often much cheaper than that of retailers.
· Limitations of the product. Most items when bought from retailers must be used in a certain way. Such as a movie which usually must be played through a DVD player. Pirated products give users the opportunity to use the item however they like. For example pirated movies give uses the chance to watch the movie without having to purchase an actual DVD.
· Convenience for the users. Piracy, for many, is a way of collecting the items they want without having to physically go to the shops. This is because everything is now online meaning there really is no need to go to retail stores anymore.
· To avoid unnecessary restrictions/delay. Some items that can be purchased in stores cannot be used straight away. Piracy allows users to use items and products immediately upon receiving them.
Define copyright: copyright is used to describe types of property that was produced due to a person’s own creative skill and labour, such as a novel, movie or music song. Copyright was designed to stop and prevent the illegal use, by others, of original ideas, information and creations demonstrated by a creator.
Who can use copyright? Anybody, who has produced an original piece of work, can use copyright. Copyright is not limited as anyone can use it, as long as the item is an original work it can be copyrighted.
What kind of multimedia can be pirated/copyrighted?
· Movies. Movies containing original ideas can be copyrighted giving the directors/produced full ownership of the production. Though they can be copyrighted, movies can also be pirated. One way that this can be done, is through the downloading of movies off the internet.
· Audio. Songs, just like movies can be copyrighted, allowing the original producers and artists full ownership of the song or music video produced. Similarly to movies, there are a number of ways audio files can be pirated. The main way music is pirated is by downloading the content illegally. Such programs and websites that allow this include (recently shutdown) Lime wire and ‘the pirate bay’.com
· Games. Game creators and producers also have the right to gain full ownership of the product, through the copyright act. Like movies, music and softwares, games can also be pirated through downloading. Websites similar to ‘the pirate bay’ also give users the opportunity to download games, which they would normally have to pay a lot for.
· Books. Many texts, including books can also be pirated. Often free books that can be taken from the internet will be pirated. Downloading books, just like all other forms of multimedia, is the most common way of gaining ownership of pirated products. Copyright can also be given to the original authors/producers of a book.
· Software. Studies show that more than half of the world’s computer, function using various pirated software. Windows Vista is an example of just one of the softwares that can be and is being pirated. Sites such as ‘the pirate bay’ also provide users with the opportunity to download and use softwares that would normally cost hundreds of dollars, or even more!
Are there different types?
Piracy: the different ways that works can be pirated including the following. Of course there is much more ways that original works can be pirated, but these are just a few of the main ones:
· Internet downloading, which can be down through File sharing networks, websites and online auctions.
· The distribution of movies which have been illegally filmed in the cinemas by unauthorised people
· Networks that enable devices, such as computers, to connect to each other and then share, trade and copy files.
· Through downloadable programs, such as Lime wire, which allow users to download videos, software and music files from additional places.
Copyright: for different types of multimedia, there are different types of copyright rules and types of regulations. Some of the works and media files that have their own copyright rules include:
· Music
· Maps
· Images
· The recording of broadcasts, audio files, videos and films
· Online databases and journals
· Internet/world wide web
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Piracy:
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
| · Costs. Pirated items usually cost nothing or little amounts of money. · Availability. Pirated items are often easy to find and acquire · Convenience. Pirated items can be purchased or acquired without one needing to leave their homes · Profit. Most pirated items are sold by pirates, to other people, so that they may be able to make some money | · Not a legal process. Piracy is illegal, and if caught, pirates can faced serious charges · Piracy requires risks. Pirated items are most likely to be corrupted with serious viruses, which can damage a person’s devices · Pirated software cannot be upgraded. Most pirated items can be outdated very quickly upon release. Such items are unable to be updated, unless the new models are bought/pirated and then sold. |
Copyright:
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
| · Creators of original copyrighted works, have the ability to create and recreate their own works · Creators can choose who else can produce and reproduce their works · Original works that are protected by copyright, cannot be stolen or used incorrectly by others · It allows the creators choose how they want their works to be used and not used · Copyright only lasts for a certain period of time. When this time is over it means that other people can use the works freely | · Although protecting original works, copyright does not allow owners to openly gives others the authority to use or share your works · In certain cases not all creators are copyright holders. In such cases the company, of the work produced, can actually be the copyright holders instead of the creator. · Copyright only lasts for a certain period of time |
Costs
The consequences for committing piracy differ depending on places and countries. However the most common punishments for committing piracy, across most countries include paying fines, which can reach up to $1000 and more, as well as spending time in prison.
Future plans to stop piracy
Some of the future plans to stop piracy include:
· Some companies have hinted that the idea of placing special chips in CD’s has been thought about extensively. Upon buying these CD’s the user will have to register, on the company’s online site, where they plan on playing the CD. Afterwards if the CD is played on an unauthorised media player it can be trackdown by authorities due to the special chip that has been placed inside. The same process may also apply to computer games in the future as well.
· Blocking online websites that enable users to gain copies of pirated content and shutting down places which contribute to the production of pirated content
· Softwares will also possibly have to be registered in much more complicated ways in the future. These ways may include the online registrations that could possibly apply to computer games and CDs.
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