Rebecca's Rambles…

You wouldn’t steal a car.

You wouldn’t steal a handbag.

You wouldn’t steal a television.

You wouldn’t steal a DVD.

So, you wouldn’t download. Would you?

Photographs, software, films and music are the highest leaked items on the world-wide web. So where do you stand?

Only a few weeks ago the recurring problem of copyright laws and piracy was brought to our attention with 36 minutes of the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film being leaked.

Some people feel laws need to be harsher to stop infringement of copy right laws and the government need to put more money, energy and effort into combating privacy. Countries, such as Sweden are currently dealing with law breakers and demanding they pay the ‘damages to the entertainment industry’ rather than serving prison sentences. Would this punishment in the UK be effective?

However, other people feel that information should be freely available to all. They feel that it causes no harm sharing files and as long as no one is making ‘profit’, the acts they commit should not be deemed as illegal. In the instance of music, some internet users claim that downloading helps the discovery of new bands and artists, that would not normally be listened to if money was involved. It has been mentioned before that companies/artists leak their own material as they are fully aware how big the ‘downloading market’ is and this promotion works in their favour.

Though in such a big market and media based world where do you find yourself standing? Morals I feel play a big role in copyright laws and piracy. Do those who simply click a button to download a harmless Christmas carol really know what laws they are breaking? Do you?

The government is currently dealing with the recession in England and also the money troubles in Ireland. However, perhaps time and effort should be allocated to tackling privacy issues. Our red notes should target the red spread of illegal downloading across the Web. On the governments fence, perhaps the man power and resources required to overcome such a large medium and scope would be too expensive. Now that would really hit the economy. The campaign to stop downloading online went to the labour party conference in September 2009 and since then there has been little mention of the problem. Now is the time to turn the ignition and get the drive going to combat downloading.

The Industry Trust a campaign that has been running since 2004 helps promote copyright laws. Perhaps the use of a positive campaign steering away from highlighting what is illegal downloading and making people realise the benefit of copyright laws is the right direction and approach to take. Downloading has a massive impact of the creative industry: publishing, audio, television, radio, films and so forth. Action needs to be taken to prevent illegal downloading and to ensure jobs in these industries remain.

Changes need to happen. Suggested is harsher laws for those who download illegally. Money invested into promoting the benefits of copyright laws in the first place and finally more awareness and information provided to individuals who are unsure about illegal downloading. With these small but steady improvements the cogs can start turning and tackling piracy can begin. In the hope that one day the conversations such as, “Oh, I watched it online already,” will cease to remain.