Is File-Sharing Like shoplifting?
Security has always been a problem!
Hadrian’s Wall was built in AD 122 by order of Emperor Hadrian to “separate Romans from Barbarians” in the interests of security.
In modern times, retail empires like Tesco or Marks and Spencer have security guards and electronic sensors at work to provide the same physical barrier to the unwanted “liberation” of items from their stores.
But what happens when the items are stored in the ether of the internet? Can you really prevent the “hordes at their keyboards” from ghosting into the shadowy corners of the virtual realm? Is it really feasible to devise a system that makes sure that “five finger discount” is impossible to apply online?
Well the Government certainly thinks they have the answer, and a new piece of legislation aims to separate out the “Barbarian Hordes” who indulge in file-sharing!
On the 8th April 2010 the controversial Digital Economy Bill was passed at the third reading in the House of Commons.
Its aim is to tackle and thwart copyright infringements and the bill is seen as a tool “with teeth” in the “war against piracy”.
For years record labels and film studios have been complaining that they are suffering huge losses due to the rise in illegal file sharing.
“After all,” they say, “why pay for something when you can get it free?”
Whether you’re looking for your favourite blockbuster movie or your favourite album, you can now use a multitude of so-called “shareware” websites which offer exactly that enticing prospect. With super-fast broadband you can now download films and albums, legally or illegally, in less than the time it would take you to make a cup of tea!
So what’s the solution for the copyright holder?
The legislation tries to shift the onus onto computer users and businesses to build a “Hadrian’s Wall” around their networks and hard drives to fortify security. Otherwise they risk prosecution and suspension of their internet connection.
The impact could be dramatic. Imagine, for instance, how any modern day business would struggle to cope without the internet. If you’ve ever even experienced a power cut when at work you’ll know that without the internet most businesses are simply paralysed.
A pertinent question here might be “Is it fair if a company goes to the wall and people are made redundant because somebody in the business has downloaded Now That’s What I Call Music 365?”
Under the bill Internet Service Providers have also been tasked to reduce online copyright infringements. Given the popularity of the World Wide Web this is no simple task.
For example, a moderately successful musician who earns an annual online income of, say, £14,000 would highly appreciate this bill as piracy could cause him substantial losses. Others would counter that it is a pile-driver to crack a nut
A report by the BBC on the 17th March claimed the growth of illegal file-sharing could cost European countries 1.2 million jobs and £215bn by the year 2015. The UK alone could lose 250,000 jobs by 2015, it is said. With figures like these being bandied about it’s not hard to see why extra measures were drafted up to curb piracy.
Although in the final stages of amendments the Digital Economy Bill promises to please copyright holders once gave the Royal Assent. It gives any copyright holder the ability to fight back against those offenders who illegally download material.
Essentially they’re saying that illegal file sharing would be the equivalent to walking into your local Tesco’s, picking up a DVD, walking past the cashier whilst smiling, making no attempt to pay, and exiting the store. But they’re proposing to give out much more stringent penalties than a ticking off or a small fine…
All of this begs a few “real world” questions, such as “Is stance this really justified?”
And perhaps more importantly “When such huge numbers share files on the internet is criminalisation really a practical solution?”
Lastly, given the importance of such a Bill and the potential impact, “Is this really the best, most imaginative, solution we could come up with?“
It might well be said that the situation is a larger scale version of the pleas from record companies in the 1980s that “Home Taping Is Killing Music!”
Plaintively imploring fans not to record from LP records and CDs onto cassette didn’t work then
We’ll have to wait and see what happens this time around!
Interesting times
I’ve done a number of things that have had great potential and not worked out for one reason or another – and I have to say I’m glad for the experience and I don’t regret a thing. Go with your passion, I say!
One small word of advice that i just read today that certainly chimes with me – from Ricahrd Branson’s book “Business Stripped Bare” – is that entrepreneurs are often seized with the zeal to create and overlook (or aren’t suited to) the rigours of actually managing the idea/start up business.
I’d really second that thought and say that you should try to play to your strengths – and try to delegate your weaker points to the best person you can afford who is good at what they do.
Anyway – good luck to you all! 
