Category | Op Ed

Things look grim for modern media pirates

Published on October 30, 2007 by The Sentinel

    It was a different age when my brother went to college. In those
days it was a lot harder to kill your time and avoid doing things like
actually working. It’s a wonder he even got by, though I suppose the
copious kegs downed at various college parties surely helped.

 These days we still have the kegs, but we also have the wonders
and glory of the Internet. Facebook is nice, and YouTube is dandy, but
that’s not the real sirloin steak of Internet action. Forget that, I’m
throwing open my favorite P2P program and downloading the latest
episode of House, the upcoming Hives album, and while I’m there I’ll
take a quick look at the Muppet Babies. Well, I would, but it seems
like the copyright enforcers have finally grown a pair.

    The last two weeks have seen some pretty big
landmarks for decreasing the ease in which I can kill my free time.
We’ve seen the first RIAA trial case (hint: it went badly for the
swarthy pirate), and raids of media sites like TV Links and OiNK. For
those not entirely in the know, TV Links was a place where one could
find links to various TV shows, cartoon, movies, etc., all provided by
folks existing in foreign lands where copyrights are laughed at. OiNK,
meanwhile, was the fancy country club of P2P music downloading, and the
place to go for pre-releases of whatever album you so desired. All you
had to do was be invited by a member.

    Both websites are currently offline. Both were
raided by the police and left for dead. I don’t know how I’m supposed
to put off working on my upcoming project now. I could, of course,
consider the ramifications of my past actions. Don’t look at me like
you haven’t downloaded something illegally before. I see your shiny
white iPod packed to the brim with music. They’re putting out 160 GB
versions of the iPod these days. I am not entirely sure who is able to
fill these bad boys, but I’d bet money that it’s not entirely legal. I
think they’re trying to put off a lot more work than I am.

    I’m glad they’re looking out for my best interest
and all, but I do wonder if they go too far sometimes. Consider the
International Music Score Library Project, which compiled sheet music
from composers who have been dead for more than 50 years, the limit of
copyright laws in Canada. Problem is, in Europe the law requires 70
years. This was not exactly a web site ran by the most Internet savvy
user, and when asked to filter content to users by IP address to figure
out which copyright law should hold, the website’s coordinator could do
nothing but shut his doors.

    This all leads me to wonder, when the artist is no
longer benefiting, who is? Certainly not me, as I am turning in far too
much homework for my well being. Is it the makers of sheets of paper
and shiny discs? Eh, those are cheap. Oh, right. Lawyers. I worry for
them though. If they keep up the good work, how are they going to stay
in a job? Perhaps they should be talking to me instead. I think I have
a few ideas that could slow them down. I know a great place to find
some pretty high quality torrents. Perhaps they will watch The Blues
Brothers with me; everybody loves a good car chase.