If we are democracy, why we don't have a referendum on internet file sharing, that is "illegal"now?

Tainruadh

I insist on my right to download files that are freely available on the internet. The internet frees us from the government and from big business taking our money, for better or worse. In my world its already legal.

Here's an example. A new title DVD that might cost you $39.95 in the West goes for $5 where I live, and that's the legal copy. You can also buy pirate DVDs for 50c.

Guess which one we all buy? I figure they already made enough money out of their excessive profiteering to those that can afford it.

Forget the referendum just do it!

wizjp

Does that mean we can have a referendum to take your income for the rest of your life to pay back the companies in question?

Being a democracy does not give you the right to steal someone elses property for what you believe is a good reason.

Craig at home

Firstly, we are not a democracy. The US is a Constitution based federal republic, where the people elect others to represent them.

Secondly, why do you feel it's right to STEAL the works of others?

Say, for instance, you built a car. Under your logic it would be fine for me to come along and take it with no compensation to you.

Harriet

It is not to help the rich get richer, it is to adequately compenstate people for their work.

And that's not how a democracy works. I agree though sometimes corporations are able to put way more pressure on governments than people.

I don't think it's like that in this case. And we do all want free stuff, but we can't always have what we want. Most people would agree on a referendum that supermarkets weren't allowed to charge anything, but that doesn't mean anything.

Oh yeah, and the way the law works, means even if it's not illegal, still a breach of copyright and you can get sued.

Harriet

Ralfcoder

Mick, I like your idea so much that I think we should extend it a bit.

So right now, let's vote on whether we should all get a share of Mick's stuff... his money, his car, his Ipod and computer. Everyone that votes "yes" gets a free grab of Mick's stuff. And it's all legal, 'cause we all voted for it, right?

Mick - I bet your eyes are open wide now, and you're sputtering "wait a minute", or you're swearing at me. I hope so, any way. Now settle down and read this:

Those songs and stuff you're talking about are personal property. It might not be like real estate or cash or a car, but it's property, and it belongs to the artist, or to the company that they sold it to. And taking it without paying for it is just as illegal and wrong as it would be if you drove the artist's car away without his permission.

Put yourself in his shoes - if you wrote a song or a computer game, and it was good enough that people would pay to listen to it or play it, would you get bent out of shape if I made a copy of it and didn't pay for it? Hey, it's only a few pennies you're losing, right? That's no big deal. What about when a hundred people do it? A thousand? A million? A million people just grabbed your song, and cost you a dime apiece, we'll say. You just missed out on $100,000 income.

Have I got your attention now? Are you still even reading this?

I wonder....

sgoldperson

We are not now, nor have we EVER been, a Democracy. We are a Republic, which is a form of REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. In other words we are a sub-category of Democracy at best. Now if you want to remove copyright laws then write to your REPRESENTATIVE in Congress and try to get the laws overturned.

3rd parties for REAL CHANGE

We live under a government for the rich by the rich. Obama is no different than any other president, he is a part of the wealthy class also. If you don't believe me just look at how much he made last year.

Bryan

Laws against file sharing are about protecting intellectual property rights. Contrary to what you believe you do not have a right to openly share movies or music for free. Additionally not all copyrights are held by extremely rich people. Let me put it this way though. Do you work? Do you expect to be paid for that work when you do it? If the answer to the previous two questions is yes then answer this. Why do you believe that other people should not be paid for their work? Stop promoting theft and start paying for what you desire.

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