Not all musicians or game developers make millions a year, how dense are you? And they do pay taxes, I don't know what makes you think they don't.

Quote from Exilement

Not all musicians or game developers make millions a year, how dense are you? And they do pay taxes, I don't know what makes you think they don't.

Obviously, but games are much harder to pirate and is less frequently done and the ones that don't make millions a year in the music industry only gain listeners to their music when it is distributed freely, after which they can do actual gigs which get them way more revenue.

I feel that piracy, in small amounts and spread my name, Helps the artist actually sell his albums into the community and gain some cash.
Yes too much piracy hurts because then they don't get the cash they deserve.
But at the same time, Too little piracy makes it to where the album/song itself isn't heard to the majority of people. Essentially, Piracy, in my opinion, Is important to music developers for getting their name out there and at the same time it hurts them by losing the money.

Quote from lolipops

Obviously, but games are much harder to pirate and is less frequently done and the ones that don't make millions a year in the music industry only gain listeners to their music when it is distributed freely, after which they can do actual gigs which get them way more revenue.

I'm pretty sure people were able to become successful before piracy existed. I'm not even against piracy, but your reasoning for why it's not a problem is just a half-assed rationalization that's not supported by any facts or figures that I can think of.

Quote from Exilement

I'm pretty sure people were able to become successful before piracy existed.

Sure, I never said they weren't. But piracy and the internet makes it easier, no?

Sure. It also makes it a lot easier for their work to be distributed for free across tens of thousands of people, who download things purely to avoid paying for them, like you're admitting that you do. But that only creates a net positive effect? What makes you think that, if anything?

Quote from Exilement

Sure. It also makes it a lot easier for their work to be distributed for free across tens of thousands of people, who download things purely to avoid paying for them, like you're admitting that you do. But that only creates a net positive effect? What makes you think that, if anything?

Let's say those pirate simply didn't do anything. We wouldn't pirate it, it wouldn't be on youtube, or any other site: pirating and illegal music listening didn't exist all that shit.
Now, if I wanted to listen to their music, I'd have to buy a single or album to get into it. There is no place where I can listen to it freely or anything, I have to spend money. Some people don't have that money, or simply, like me, don't feel like spending money on it. Their potential fanbase shrinks A LOT due to this. Becoming big is hard and making money is hard.

Now let's go back to the current world. Someone has their music pirated or they just distribute it freely themselves. Much easier to get their songs now, no more financial issues that get in my way, so I'll say "ah, heck, why not" much faster and just give it a chance. This happens on a large cale, they get more fans quicker, become big quicker and sell more tickets to shows and such. They'll probably have more album sales too, because not everyone's like me and just pirates whenever he feels like it.

I'm tottaly WITH Internet piracy. all my video games (except for xbox), software, and movies are all pirated!

Quote from Ahmad9383

I'm tottaly WITH Internet piracy. all my video games (except for xbox), software, and movies are all pirated!

of course youre for it, you're getting free shit

Piracy helps get content around. Even if you don't get alot of money from albums there's still merchandise and tours.

I don't like the whole rationalisation that people put into piracy. It's as if they're trying to convince themselves that it's morally right. I've pirated stuff before, and I still do very occasionally, but I'm under no illusion that what I'm doing is excusable as moral or correct, under anyone's definition of moral (except thieves, I suppose they would see it as moral). Yes, it's not stealing, but that doesn't mean it's a legitimate way to go about getting something.

My view on piracy is also held by TB, I suggest you take a look at this video from 2:00 to 6:35 if you want to know my reasoning for the above statements:

Forget what good things people say about movie piracy, it's dangerous when people buy pirated DVDs off the street for money. What if the seller is part of a criminal gang and they use the money to buy weapons, thus causing acts of terrorism which results in loss of life? It could happen you know.

I don't think there's a slope big enough and slippery enough to represent the sort of argument you just made.

Quote from Nobody In Particular

Forget what good things people say about movie piracy, it's dangerous when people buy pirated DVDs off the street for money. What if the seller is part of a criminal gang and they use the money to buy weapons, thus causing acts of terrorism which results in loss of life? It could happen you know.

true, pirated media that is sold for money is pretty lame
but i don't think theres a fucking person here, or even one ive met that has bought something pirated. though im sure its a big deal somewhere.
also, what if the seller had a family to feed and you buying that dvd helped put food on the table? what if the money went to a foundation that wanted to shove dicks in your ass?

what if? it could happen you know (just like anything!)