A significant issue our culture is facing is piracy. Piracy matters to me and there are several ways we can fight to prevent piracy.
Piracy is the unauthorized copying and dissemination of copyrighted works, usually for financial gain. In the music industry, piracy represents a massive illicit enterprise, with ever-closer links to international organized crime. Piracy falls into three different categories: simple piracy is the unauthorized duplication of an original recording for commercial gain without the consent of the author, counterfeits are the copied and packaged products made to resemble the original as closely as possible, and bootlegs are the unauthorized recordings of live or broadcast performances. All three types of piracy are illegal. An estimated one in three discs sold in 2002 was pirate products. Global pirate sales hit 4.6 billion in 2002, an increase of 7% on 2001. In the United States, a copyright infringer is liable for damages suffered by the copyright owner plus any profits of the infringer that are attributable to the copying or statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each work infringed, and jail terms of up to five years.
Piracy matters to me because I am concerned about the ethical and moral issues of individuals and large companies. Piracy also affects the GDP of the United States. Intellectual property accounts for 5.2% of the US economy. Piracy concerns me because when the rate of piracy goes down so will the prices of compact discs. Also, piracy causes people to lose their jobs. People behind the scenes at recording studios, who make everything possible, are laid off. There has been a major decline in jobs in the recording studios because of piracy. If one day I should decide to become an artist I would not want my work stolen for financial gain. Artists should receive full credit for their work. With greater control of piracy, all the people who produce, direct, and do other behind the scenes work keep their jobs so the world can continue to enjoy movies, plays, artwork, and music.
