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next_to_normalJust came across this post on file-sharing, which is definitely worth a read.
Apparently there's been some nonsense in the Sherlock fandom with people being idiots and posting links on Tumblr to download episodes. Why is that a problem? Well, for one thing, it's illegal, but if that doesn't bother you, it's still probably not a brilliant idea to go around attracting attention to the illegal activity. When you do that, it's just asking for the upload site to take it down and potentially get the uploader in trouble. Not to mention that it jeopardizes the relationship between fandom and the creators, who, thus far, have mostly been accommodating to our copyright infringement. (We only do it because we care! lol)
I have mostly avoided talking about this issue, because I don't want to be the morality police. Everyone's got their own ethical boundaries. I, for instance, didn't correct the supermarket cashier last week when he bagged my strawberries and blueberries without ringing them up and I didn't get charged for them. But I don't make it a habit to go around shoplifting fruit or anything.
I try not to give out too many personal details to people I don't know, but suffice it to say I represent content creators whose work gets distributed (legally and illegally) on the internet. I spend a lot of my time lobbying for stricter copyright enforcement and shutting down file-sharing and other illegal websites. So when I see people brazenly talking about how much they enjoy violating copyrights, it makes me pretty uncomfortable.
Look, I get it. I get that there's this mentality that if it's on the internet, it should be free. I get that people can't afford to buy or don't have access to all the stuff they want (though I'd also point out the actors and writers and musicians and technicians who are trying to make a living in the arts, who aren't getting paid if you steal their content instead of buying it). And I get that when you love something, you want to share it with everyone, and sometimes that's not always possible legally.
I get why sharing TV shows in particular is so popular in fandom. I want to watch Being Erica and Doctor Who the same time as everyone elsebut I don't work for the BBC or CBC so steal from them all you want, so I have a ton of sympathy for non-US fans who want immediate access to their favorite shows. It drives me batty that the industry is so slow in adapting to the new technology and global market. If they want to be competitive, they should be making it as easy to obtain their content legally as it is to get it illegally. I get it, and I'm not about to say I've never done it myself.
But here's the thing. Whatever your rationale - or even if you don't care enough to rationalize it - it is still illegal. I know people are gonna do it anyway. Just... don't advertise it to the world, you know?
Moral of the story: Don't be stupid. Be discreet.
Apparently there's been some nonsense in the Sherlock fandom with people being idiots and posting links on Tumblr to download episodes. Why is that a problem? Well, for one thing, it's illegal, but if that doesn't bother you, it's still probably not a brilliant idea to go around attracting attention to the illegal activity. When you do that, it's just asking for the upload site to take it down and potentially get the uploader in trouble. Not to mention that it jeopardizes the relationship between fandom and the creators, who, thus far, have mostly been accommodating to our copyright infringement. (We only do it because we care! lol)
I have mostly avoided talking about this issue, because I don't want to be the morality police. Everyone's got their own ethical boundaries. I, for instance, didn't correct the supermarket cashier last week when he bagged my strawberries and blueberries without ringing them up and I didn't get charged for them. But I don't make it a habit to go around shoplifting fruit or anything.
I try not to give out too many personal details to people I don't know, but suffice it to say I represent content creators whose work gets distributed (legally and illegally) on the internet. I spend a lot of my time lobbying for stricter copyright enforcement and shutting down file-sharing and other illegal websites. So when I see people brazenly talking about how much they enjoy violating copyrights, it makes me pretty uncomfortable.
Look, I get it. I get that there's this mentality that if it's on the internet, it should be free. I get that people can't afford to buy or don't have access to all the stuff they want (though I'd also point out the actors and writers and musicians and technicians who are trying to make a living in the arts, who aren't getting paid if you steal their content instead of buying it). And I get that when you love something, you want to share it with everyone, and sometimes that's not always possible legally.
I get why sharing TV shows in particular is so popular in fandom. I want to watch Being Erica and Doctor Who the same time as everyone else
But here's the thing. Whatever your rationale - or even if you don't care enough to rationalize it - it is still illegal. I know people are gonna do it anyway. Just... don't advertise it to the world, you know?
Moral of the story: Don't be stupid. Be discreet.
no subject
Date: Jul. 14th, 2011 11:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Jul. 16th, 2011 02:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Jul. 15th, 2011 12:36 am (UTC)SERIOUSLY. I mean, I understand some lag as advertising and royalties issues get worked out, but at some point it becomes unavoidable that there's a huge market and they're choosing not to tap into it because GET OFF MY LAWN! There are so many shows I've gotten into by watching them legitimately through Hulu or the networks at my convenience. It's frustrating when they won't take advantage of that framework. Or deliberately stop using it, I AM LOOKING AT YOU TNT.
no subject
Date: Jul. 16th, 2011 02:23 am (UTC)Although they seem to be offering eps on their website now? IDK, I just noticed it when I went looking for Leverage. It's just the current season, which is only helpful if you miss an ep. But they're still a week delayed, which drives me ABSOLUTELY BATTY, because it means that if you miss an episode, you can NEVER catch up (USA, you also suck at this, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST PUT IT UP THE NEXT DAY LIKE A NORMAL NETWORK???), but it's better than nothing. I guess?
no subject
Date: Jul. 16th, 2011 11:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Jul. 22nd, 2011 03:50 pm (UTC)