Piracy

[Drkfathr1]

I've downloaded copywrited material to test drive so-to-speak, and I've also downloaded electronic versions of things I already owned just to save myself the trouble of making my own electronic backups.

There are some "things" I will no longer buy sight unseen. So if I was unable to download them, I still wouldn't buy them.

 

[Vorput]

This poll is actually rather informative.

At the very least it shows, than even among the users of ENworld- who show a very high concern for IP and trademark rights, you still have a fair amount of said users pirating materials.

It's rather disheartening.

 

[GnomeWorks]

Why no option for "pirated, didn't like it, bought it anyway"?

 

[Krensky]

I'm afraid that my dictionary disagrees with you:

Language evolves. "Piracy" might once have required ships, but that's the case no longer.

Yes, it also can involve aircraft.

Piracy consists of any of the following acts:​

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed:​

(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft;​

(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;​

(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;​

(c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).​

​

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

This poll is actually rather informative.

At the very least it shows, than even among the users of ENworld- who show a very high concern for IP and trademark rights, you still have a fair amount of said users pirating materials.

It's rather disheartening.

Actually, it reflects the change in markets. While people do have a respect for IP and trademark, they still want to be good consumers in a hard economy.

PDFs have supplimented and helped boost sales across many publishers, and not only across the RPG markets. There are a large number of studies that illustrate the boons of intentional PDF releases by companies (including free MP3s and games) in order to boost sales.

My firm, educated opinion is that whether it was intentional or leaked, it has inevitably supported and boosted sales beyond no pre-released PDFs.

 

[greatamericanfolkher]

I refuse to answer the question on account of “It’s a trap!”

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Yes, it also can involve aircraft.

Seriously, pirate is a nice concise term when used for informal discussion of copyright violations. Is it too hard for you to do an intellectual reach around if it doesn't have a obfuscated name?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

This poll is actually rather informative.

At the very least it shows, than even among the users of ENworld- who show a very high concern for IP and trademark rights, you still have a fair amount of said users pirating materials.

It's rather disheartening.

my faith in humanity is sinking...and I think part of my soul died when I saw the numbers...

edit at this moment over 100 people (106) have said they broke the law...and did something this site itself speaks out against...

 

[Kwalish Kid]

Everyone who downloaded the pdf misappropriated it and infringed on copyright.

Everyone who distributed copies infringed on copyright. Simply having the copies in one's possessions is not an infringement. There may be laws that make such possession a crime, but these are not tradiationally part of copyright law.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

my faith in humanity is sinking...and I think part of my soul died when I saw the numbers...

edit at this moment over 100 people (106) have said they broke the law...and did something this site itself speaks out against...

Perhaps you should change your opinion of the law, not your opinion of humanity. Nothing was actually taken away from anyone through the act of distributing electronic copies of a book. All that was violated was a state-enforced prohibition intended to grant rewards to a producer ovre and above what they could receive in a free market. These state-enforced deviations from the free market are not the only ones that could be used; there may be a better scheme for rewarding intellectual property that may even impact the free market less.