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What does the author mean by this? "For a company that has attracting pirates built into its DNA, it’s perhaps fitting that it tempted them with the same bait

What does the author mean by this? "For a company that has attracting pirates built into its DNA, it’s perhaps fitting that it tempted them with the same bait found on pirate sites. Certainly, the company’s history of a pragmatic attitude towards piracy means that few will be shouting ‘hypocrites’ at the streaming platform now." What is this attitude to piracy that will prevent them from being called hypocrites? I do think that aiming to eliminate piracy while using it is hypocritical. Unless they needed to use that pirated music to reduce pirated music overall, in which case they did well from a consequentialist standpoint.

thrownhwn 9y ago
Piracy is also a form of convenience. What you want, when you want it. No stupid geographic delayed releases, no stupid DRM where you have to prove you're not a thief every time you want to access the content, no internet connectivity requirements, etc.
- thirdsun 9y ago
  > No stupid geographic delayed releases, no stupid DRM where you have to prove you're not a thief every time you want to access the content, no internet connectivity requirements, etc. To be fair those haven't been issues with digital music purchases for a long time. Buying music couldn't be more convenient these days.
  - aphexbr 9y ago
    DRM might not be an issue any more (at least for purchases), but regional releases, platform exclusivity, etc. sure as hell are.
    - thirdsun 9y ago
      I thought we were talking about purchases, not streaming. How would DRM-free streaming work? I haven't seen regional releases in ages. Platform exclusivity? Again, for streaming maybe, but we were talking about purchases, right? I buy my weekly releases in a digital, lossless format from a range of stores. The files I receive are mine. Non of the issues you mentioned apply these days. Streaming, however, while convenient can have disadvantages like the ones you mentioned. More importantly, you don't own your collection, you just rent the music and albums may disappear at any point. However none of this justifies piracy since there's a flawless alternative: Buying music.

thrownhwn 9y ago

Piracy is also a form of convenience. What you want, when you want it. No stupid geographic delayed releases, no stupid DRM where you have to prove you're not a thief every time you want to access the content, no internet connectivity requirements, etc.

thirdsun 9y ago
> No stupid geographic delayed releases, no stupid DRM where you have to prove you're not a thief every time you want to access the content, no internet connectivity requirements, etc. To be fair those haven't been issues with digital music purchases for a long time. Buying music couldn't be more convenient these days.
- aphexbr 9y ago
  DRM might not be an issue any more (at least for purchases), but regional releases, platform exclusivity, etc. sure as hell are.
  - thirdsun 9y ago
    I thought we were talking about purchases, not streaming. How would DRM-free streaming work? I haven't seen regional releases in ages. Platform exclusivity? Again, for streaming maybe, but we were talking about purchases, right? I buy my weekly releases in a digital, lossless format from a range of stores. The files I receive are mine. Non of the issues you mentioned apply these days. Streaming, however, while convenient can have disadvantages like the ones you mentioned. More importantly, you don't own your collection, you just rent the music and albums may disappear at any point. However none of this justifies piracy since there's a flawless alternative: Buying music.