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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1559638" data-attributes="member: 143">It seems that this thread has schismed into a divide between those that view copyright infringement as simple theft, unjustified in all circumstances, and those who view that it is justified for various reasons (rationalizations, perhaps).  Yet I think that one of the original points raised by this issue is how various industries, including RPGs, are going to deal with the changing realities of digital media distribution as time goes on.  Some of the posters above assume that a tamper-proof DRM schema will come into play that will preserve the power of the current media producer/distributor monopolies.  I hope that this does not happen, for reasons that I and others have discussed above. I think that the direct-distribution model from producer of content to consumer of content will be a better alternative.  The media conglomerates will fight this tooth and nail, of course.  Ironically ENWorld, I think, serves as a prototype of the new model; here we have gamers exchanging content on a daily basis, and a community that includes numerous small companies that produce specialized content directly to a fan base and who are closely engaged with that base through this site. OGL (and IANAL, so I'll dispense with the discussion of terminology inherent in this "license" scheme) is another example of this.  By freeing up content, you have a greater exchange of ideas (and The Sigil has already offered a rebuttal to the point about OGL constricting the diversity of game content, so I'll let that be).  I view the strangehold of intellectual property inherent in the assault upon copyright by the media industry as a last-ditch effort by these conglomerates to resist the changes brought by the new century and new techologies enabling this direct distribution model.  I view file-sharing as an expression of resistance by consumers to the restrictions that inhibit their ability to exploit this new distribution model (i-Tunes's success, even in a format-limited and heavily controlled structure, is an example of the demand for this new way of distribution in the music industry).  Others will see p2p as a bunch of hooligans stealing stuff because they know they probably won't get caught.  I suspect we're both right, actually.</blockquote>

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