RPG Piracy

[s/LaSH]

A few things I've picked up:

The first issue is that of abandonware. This is normally used for old software, but I think it applies to books too. Basically, if something's unavailable, the publishers no longer put it out, but it's still under copyright and people want it, there's no legal way to get it. Many creators of software have gone on record as condoning the concept of abandonware. I don't know about other creative outlets, however.

The second issue is that of follow-on sales. We live in the age of the demo. People want to try before they buy, and sellers have gotten better at giving a taste to the public. I notice a few people saying they pirated stuff and later bought the books outright; this is simply a less orthodox way of getting a demo (albeit one that leads quickly to abuse).

Case study: Baen Books has a massive online library of full books right there on its website. Go on, check it out; they've got a huge rant about why it's actually a good thing, and I tend to side with them (I know I'll be buying some of their books if I can find them in our nation's bookshops).

Now that you've checked that out (whaddaya mean you didn't? Do it now!), I put forth that honesty is more prevalent than some might think...

 

[Umbran]

Re: Restatement of the original question.

The rephrased question that Black Omega stated probably should've been how I phrased it originally, ie. Why isn't piracy stopped easily?

There's a number of reasons. Some technical, some legal.

For non-centralized entworks, there is no easily targetted central core that one can eliminate. For something like KaZaa, you'd have to go after every single person on the network. That's no small use of resources, there. And it gets sticky, because there are legitimate uses for the thing - downloading electronic copies of what you already own is "fair use". So, going after every individual on the network just because it can be used illegally borders on illegal search.

There's also the simple matter that some of these sites are not based in a country that enforces international copyrights. Then, there's nothing legal that can be done about it.

Then there's she simple matter of it beig a bit pointless to go after "small fish". Take down one warez site, and another will crop up almost instantaneously.

 

[DDK]

Now I'm not aiming this at you, Umbran, it's just a general comment about what you said.

The 'small fish' comment frustrates me. I know it's true that law-enforcement views things that way, but I also think it's a flawed way of thinking. I remember walking around stoned out of my brain with an ounce or so of dope on me because I knew the worst I'd get was a slap on the wrist.

That scenario was commonplace amongst dope fiends here, however when the laws changed and gave the police the right to stop ANYONE for ANY reason and search them for NO reason, most of the people I knew back then ceased to walk around stoned with dope on them.

I haven't done any drugs for several years but having been 'in the biz' I know the signs on the street. It's SO obvious. I see heroin users and dealers all over the place making deals and they do it because the cops don't do jack about it.

If the focus changed from the big boys to the common user, I honestly think that the big boys wouldn't be so damned rich and powerful anymore and more people would think twice before ruining their lives with drugs.

The same principle applies here. I have to agree with the first poster who said that we're just lazy. I'm sure it CAN be done but it's just NOT being done. Which is kinda frustrating.

The theft of music is far less damaging to the humungous music industry than it is to the tiny RPG industry. By stealing, our hobby is undermined. I mean, how many times have you heard of WotC clamping up because they're not making enough money? Layoffs, projects cancelled, etc.

Anyway, the reason I asked the original question was because I was honestly curious to know what is really stopping people from doing this. Half of it, at least, seems to be just excuses.

 

[Ghostwind]

I think it boils down to a time/resource/money issue for most corporations. I believe that companies feel the cost of actively pursuing every reported or found case of piracy isn't worth it when weighed against the return dollar.

For example, last year I found myself involved in a software piracy issue when I bought some games from a person selling on Ebay. The games arrived in an envelope from Thailand (that is always a red flag) and were clearly pirated copies complete with crack codes. The seller refused to respond back to my emails and after doing some research, I was in contact with others who were also victims of this guy. Long story short, a complaint was filed with the justice department who declined to pursue the case due to the small dollar amount involved (they suggested small claims court) and the software manufacturers wouldn't even respond to my email inquiries reporting the piracy.

So unless it is involves a large sum of money, it sounds like no one is willing to shell out the necessary resource cost to pursue the little guy who is actively pirating stuff.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

First, i'm sick of paying money for crap. A preview lets me know that my money will be well spent.

Second, I couldn't afford all these books anyway. Since thats the case it's basically a victimless crime. WotC doesn't lose any money (they wouldn't have had it anyway), the only difference is my quality of living rises.

 

[MEG Hal]

First, i'm sick of paying money for crap. A preview lets me know that my money will be well spent.

Second, I couldn't afford all these books anyway. Since thats the case it's basically a victimless crime. WotC doesn't lose any money (they wouldn't have had it anyway), the only difference is my quality of living rises.

Ok, this is my response:
When someone e-mails me an active site with my stuff we do ask them to stop.

Roland, that is the attitude that will crush the industry.
Point 1) RD--go to a FLGS and look through it, then get it if ya want.
Point 2) It is not victimless, hear about the layoffs at WoTC, now if you had a choice of either buying the books or not owning them at all, it may inspire you to BUY more books. This is an excuse and it is a lame one no crime is victimless and I hate to say it but your qulaity of living will not rise if RPG companies can't make more books because some idiot puts our books on a d/l site.

We have companies and product lines that 100 more sales may be the keep going or stopping point and if it is available for free and people do not buy it you are hurting the industry so do not use the term victimless crime all crimes have victims you just may not see the direct influence it has on them.

OK enuff from me.

 

[Drawmack]

Why does piracy happen?

This question has one simple answer, because it can. People feel impervious when they are dwelling in the land of the bit and the byte. As long as people can steal with impervity (I know it's not a word) they will.

Why is it not easily stopped?

First thing is the site you found is obviously run by someone who knows the old adage of the best place to hide things is in plain site. You get a professional white hat in there and he probably wouldn't even find that site because he'd be looking for the ones that are trying to hide.

Then you have to look at the salary of a professional white hat which can easily run upwards of 100k a year. How can a company that is laying people off left and right afford that?

Next the lawyers fees. For the cease and decist letters they could get a generic one written where anyone can fill in the specifics and send it off. However, if the person does not stop from the cease and decist then you must go after them in other ways, if you do not then word will get out and your cease and decist letters will be completely ignored. This could get very expensive very quickly.

On top of that you're dealing internationally. You try and get Denmark to extradite someone over a copyright infringement case. That's an expensive extradition that just isn't going to happen. Then there are annonymous ftp servers and many other things that make tracking almost impossible.

Now for the gnutella (kazaa, bearshare, etc.) protocols. You cannot outlaw the protocols because they have legitimate uses. You cannot shut down the centralized server because it does not exist. So you have to go after the individuals. This means a seperate case with seperate costs against each one. It also means a lot of wasted time and money when you find out that the person cannot be prosecuted on the original charge and you cannot charge them again for the same crime. For example if someone owns the print then they can download the pdf under the fair use policy however in the US it is illegal to transmit copywritten material across the internet without the copyright holders permission. So you could go after everyone on that charge but would you really want to do that if you're a company.

My honest opinion you will not stop piracy by any means especially policing the internet. However, you could greatly reduce it by education. Last week in my gaming group three of the people started talking about how they had downloaded different things. I very calmly explained to them the layoffs at WotC, the number of independent publishers that are having financial troubles, and some other industry bits that I know.

During dinner break the person who had the pdfs walked into his room and deleted everyone of them. He simply didn't realize how hard the industry was hit with piracy and once he was informed he did his part and stopped. I didn't even have to play my trump card of as a freelane writter I'm morally obligated to report them. He had some mat20 stuff and when I informed him of the gentlemens agreement that morrus (I think it was him) gave us that purchase one copy and you can distribute it to your gamming group, and doing a little math it came out to $5.00 a piece for the stuff.

If you educate people you'll stop a lot of it, but you'll never stop all of it.

 

[MEG Hal]

Excellent reply Drawmack.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

Ok, this is my response:
When someone e-mails me an active site with my stuff we do ask them to stop.

Roland, that is the attitude that will crush the industry.
Point 1) RD--go to a FLGS and look through it, then get it if ya want.
Point 2) It is not victimless, hear about the layoffs at WoTC, now if you had a choice of either buying the books or not owning them at all, it may inspire you to BUY more books. This is an excuse and it is a lame one no crime is victimless and I hate to say it but your qulaity of living will not rise if RPG companies can't make more books because some idiot puts our books on a d/l site.

We have companies and product lines that 100 more sales may be the keep going or stopping point and if it is available for free and people do not buy it you are hurting the industry so do not use the term victimless crime all crimes have victims you just may not see the direct influence it has on them.

OK enuff from me.

1) Nice idea. I suspect they would have me arrested if I try to take the plastic off though. And yes, this is most of the LGS's near me. If FLGS's let me return all the crappy d20 products, it might be worth it.
2) What part of I DON"T HAVE THE MONEY didn't you understand? Me with no money and DL books earns WotC (or whomever) EXACTLLY the SAME amount of income to me NOT DL'ing. Squeeze that consumer stone all you want, you won't get blood.

Actually, my spending on RPG's has probably increased w/DL'ing. It's not worth it to use the stuff for anything other than a review copy. Layoffs? Lets see the info saying that filesharing caused that. EVERY (vaugely impartial) study I have seen indicates filesharing increases sales by creating intrest in the product. Maybe its because, ummm, RPG's are a luxury item and we're in the longest recession in decades? Nah...

 

[Hand of Evil]

The COOL factor has to play some part in it. I know a few people (young) who think it is beating the system, that they are getting by with something grand and glorious.

People just want to rebel against something and they see piracy as a simple vengeance to get back for some bad issue in their life, I will show them!