11-09-2007, 10:38 AM
By that argument, your boss could decide to stop paying you for what you do and keep the money for themselves. What right would you have to complain? It's ok, by your logic, for an artist to remain unpaid for their work and effort. Why should any other job category be protected from the same fate?
Just because someone pursues an art interest as a career doesn't mean they're silly and shouldn't expect to be paid for their effort. Art is work. Stealing someone's art - even if the rights to collect the money for that art have been relegated to a corporation - is still stealing.
If the internet didn't exist and you wanted to steal with the same carefree sense that so many internet users do, you wouldn't really be surprised if you were arrested for stealing, would you? I mean, you'd be stealing, right? Go-to-store-want-cd-steal-cd. Get arrested. Not really surprising.
Why does a computer interface make it ok to steal? Books, movies, music, images. They're all created by someone. What gives any of us the right to have it for nothing, other than the effort of a few mouse clicks?
I still go to bookstores and buy books. If I COULD download all books for free, I probably still wouldn't because I like to read in bed. And laptops are uncomfortable to use in bed. And if you fall asleep, your laptop falls off your bed and you're buying a new laptop. But wait; I can steal art, music, movies and literature over the internet - why not a new laptop? Heck, I'll just go next door and take my neighbors' laptop. For me: New laptop! What else matters? Naw. I'll keep the books. They're tactile.
If you Choose to put your art up on the internet for all and sundry; great. You Chose that. If you Choose that your art should remit you some cash money and be paid for by users? If: no one Chooses buys it, ok, no money. If: lots of people Choose to buy it, whee!
If: everybody Chooses to steal it?
That's ok with everyone?
Can't agree.
Just because someone pursues an art interest as a career doesn't mean they're silly and shouldn't expect to be paid for their effort. Art is work. Stealing someone's art - even if the rights to collect the money for that art have been relegated to a corporation - is still stealing.
If the internet didn't exist and you wanted to steal with the same carefree sense that so many internet users do, you wouldn't really be surprised if you were arrested for stealing, would you? I mean, you'd be stealing, right? Go-to-store-want-cd-steal-cd. Get arrested. Not really surprising.
Why does a computer interface make it ok to steal? Books, movies, music, images. They're all created by someone. What gives any of us the right to have it for nothing, other than the effort of a few mouse clicks?
I still go to bookstores and buy books. If I COULD download all books for free, I probably still wouldn't because I like to read in bed. And laptops are uncomfortable to use in bed. And if you fall asleep, your laptop falls off your bed and you're buying a new laptop. But wait; I can steal art, music, movies and literature over the internet - why not a new laptop? Heck, I'll just go next door and take my neighbors' laptop. For me: New laptop! What else matters? Naw. I'll keep the books. They're tactile.
If you Choose to put your art up on the internet for all and sundry; great. You Chose that. If you Choose that your art should remit you some cash money and be paid for by users? If: no one Chooses buys it, ok, no money. If: lots of people Choose to buy it, whee!
If: everybody Chooses to steal it?
That's ok with everyone?
Can't agree.