Is the Government really cracking down on Downloading??

Damn, I mostly download stuff I own on CD already or at least planning to buy shortly. I don't even upload as much as I used to and mostly when I do, it's anime and VGM, OOP or music that hasn't been released...

That said, all of this talk of cracking down wouldn't surprise me. The US government always does what big business tells them to do it seems and has to be pushed to lookout for the small guy. Sheesh, it'd be nice for once if they would focus on something important, the border would be a nice start.

Oh well, just be content to know that as we of the younger generation start making up the Government more and more, less of this crap with happen. Unless, they completely drop the ball before then!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I think if anything, people are just getting a cease-and-desist letter most of the time anymore. Really, I got one from a label, stopped sharing their in print albums and nothing came out of it. Probably helped that I somewhat knew the person sending the letter, through my old website, but still...

Seriously though, all these law suites only make the RIAA and the like (Not to mention the labels that support them) look worse than they already do to their customer base and people in general. Must be, considering that low CD sales has much less to do with piracy than they will admit. Studies that prove so or not, notwithstanding.

In short, I am assuming all the bad PR has them going after the major pirates, pirating actual physical copies. The rest of the downloading sort of leech either hear nothing about it or are privately asked to stop. Trust me, most who get such a letter don't want to take them on, so, in most cases that should be enough. Not some letter demanding thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars from some kid. Comes off as being a bully and a greedy bastard much the same way people see the oil companies.

Oh well, that might be why we are hearing less about this now, not good PR! In fact, the only crackdown I have heard was a huge international piracy ring. Otherwise, the RIAA and their lawyers are out there by themselves, acting as a self-imposed piracy police force. Thing is, they keep trying to get the laws changed to take away our established rights. So, the government isn't completely sitting on the sidelines either way. I guess that's what throwing billions of dollars at the problem gets the RIAA, what they want!

It's not like anyone whether they try or not will end the download craze of today's Internet. If anything, they'll get it to work in their favor. Too bad it's taken this long to even get to this point however, assuming it's not just a lull in their greediness. Now, if only they would stop screwing us over in regards to Copy-Protection...

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I'll need to Google for a source, but unlike the industry wants you to believe it actually helps sales more than it hurts it. In fact, if anything it's their pricing that has caused decreased sales. Funny, it's also what has increased piracy...

Don't get me started on the actual quality of today's music though, since it's not price alone as to why people are moving to downloading.

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Originally Posted by jgripe1

How does the government track the illegal downloading? And what happens when they catch somebody? Just wondering.

I don't know. If it's illegal, it's illegal. It really is stealing, and it makes sense that the government should crack down on people.

I have the feeling it's the RIAA and their cronies that are trying to do such tracking. Which, from what I gather is illegal as well. Must suck to be them...

Seriously though, they put out fake releases and take note of the IP addresses. Otherwise, I'd have no idea. I recall them trying to sue the ISPs to get them to divulge such info, don't know if that got them anywhere though. Again, it must suck to be them...

:biggrin:

How ya doing, buddy?

It also seems to pay off for them to go after little 10 year old kids...

I can kind of understand why the RIAA and the like go after people that download. If you don't protect your copyright you can lose it IIRC. Really, I think it's understandable and justified in part. However, it's just really slimy going only after those that can't fight back and after fair use of such copyrighted works. Bunch of tools at the RIAA if you ask me! Seems they are afraid to go after those that have the money and power to give them a good licking.

Originally Posted by Aquas

Ah, that makes sense. But it could be a scenario in the future, when Comcast has all the money they need. As if they don't already. And when piracy is proven to be bringing down creative groups.

Like any business will ever have enough money...

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