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Part of the problem is ignoring why consumers download digital content through unofficial channels, and instead call any such download a case piracy. Rather the

Part of the problem is ignoring why consumers download digital content through unofficial channels, and instead call any such download a case piracy. Rather these are holes in the business models of media providers, as such they're only losing money because they're not offering a product that suits the consumer. (Thus falsely claiming that they have lost a sale.) For example a consumer may be downloading the content for the following reasons: - Trialing - Replacing lost/broken content - Replacing content that is outdated VHS/DVD/Bluray/HDDVD/Cassette/Vinyl, you name it. - Countering simulated geographical boundaries - Getting around censorship or getting the uncensored version - The media is simply not available (e.g. special editions, or event recordings.) - Dealing with maligned DRM schemes - Updating to a version of the software which isn't buggy as hell (adobe) - Acquiring media that is no longer in distribution/supported by the author. - Dongle keys are either incompatible, broken or taking up a free port on the computer. In many examples here the consumer was never likely to buy or repurchase content, it's no money lost, and often saving the company needless harassment. Here are reasons why people circumvent paying: - They don't have the money to begin with - The price is unreasonably high (microsoft learned this with office, when will adobe follow) - The content is DRM'd, or locked to a particular system. (e.g. streaming services.) - There is no way to purchase the content legally (regional or otherwise) - The company has a monopoly on a file format or operating system. (many feel if they're forced to use something they shouldn't have to pay for it too.) - The media does not present a value offering (differing to a high price, i.e. software that is known to be buggy, or is purposefully single use.) - Exploitation of consumers (buy our product and we'll spam you forever or require your software to check with our servers every time you use it.) As you can see there is a gamut of reasons why people turn to non-official channels, and the motive is not always greed or theft, often these are replacing other legal methods of acquiring the media. What Steam, the iTunes music/app/book stores, amazon and Google(heck even allofmp3 knew it) have all realised is that removing artificial limitations on digital content allows consumers to buy digital content to satisfy their various requirements before even looking up a torrents site. It's not only easier and less risky (malware/getting sued), but it's usually faster, supported and reasonable.

extension 15y ago
One huge source of piracy, I suspect, is children who have no income and no way to buy anything without negotiating with their parents. For them, piracy is about independence.
- GFischer 15y ago
  When I was researching for my micropayments startup, I found out that not only children, but young women as well, don't like asking their parents or couples for the credit card / paypal account for online purchases.
dchest 15y ago
Just to add to your wonderful list of reasons for downloading: - Getting a version of the product in the local language. (e.g. software, for which there's no official translation, and which is unofficially localized by "pirates"). Similarly, - Getting a version of the product in the original language. (e.g. Hollywood movies in English). but this is already covered by "the media is not available".
apotheon 15y ago
Excellent points. I've run across quite a few people who actually buy a DRM-infested copy of something to "pay the creator" (even though the creator often gets screwed by the people actually collecting revenues), then "pirate" a DRM-free copy that isn't a hassle to use (listen, watch, play, whatever). I frankly wish they'd skip the purchasing step in most cases, because the behavior of the vendors is often so egregiously bad they should probably be locked up for racketeering rather than paid real money. My own reaction to horribly restrictive business models, though, is to simply not engage them, to the extent I'm motivated to do anything at all. I'd rather not even advertise for restricted content by telling people I have a copy and like it, regardless of where I got it.

extension 15y ago

One huge source of piracy, I suspect, is children who have no income and no way to buy anything without negotiating with their parents. For them, piracy is about independence.

GFischer 15y ago
When I was researching for my micropayments startup, I found out that not only children, but young women as well, don't like asking their parents or couples for the credit card / paypal account for online purchases.

dchest 15y ago

Just to add to your wonderful list of reasons for downloading: - Getting a version of the product in the local language. (e.g. software, for which there's no official translation, and which is unofficially localized by "pirates"). Similarly, - Getting a version of the product in the original language. (e.g. Hollywood movies in English). but this is already covered by "the media is not available".

apotheon 15y ago

Excellent points. I've run across quite a few people who actually buy a DRM-infested copy of something to "pay the creator" (even though the creator often gets screwed by the people actually collecting revenues), then "pirate" a DRM-free copy that isn't a hassle to use (listen, watch, play, whatever). I frankly wish they'd skip the purchasing step in most cases, because the behavior of the vendors is often so egregiously bad they should probably be locked up for racketeering rather than paid real money. My own reaction to horribly restrictive business models, though, is to simply not engage them, to the extent I'm motivated to do anything at all. I'd rather not even advertise for restricted content by telling people I have a copy and like it, regardless of where I got it.