reply to post by CranialSponge
It is still a justification of theft. If an artist gives away material to promote his product take it,
It was free and intended to BE FREE. But taking without permission if theft. One's a gift,
one's a criminal act.
I can't see any better way to explain this, and the point is probably moot, because the message
is falling on deaf ears.
I'll go back to my situation and relate it. I have a product of intellectual property due out soon, (i hope).
It is music, it is not under any label, I will self promote. I have paid for the instruments, will pay for the studio time
and packaging, (though the actual work, will end up costing me way more in expended time and energy
than the trivial cost of of studios, guitars etc.)
When done, I will promote it on youtube, facebook etc. and I will be giving away some material
for promotion just like Tom Petty.
To be honest, I would find it flattering if my music was being shared on torrent sites to any large
degree, because it would give what I have to offer some merit, but an inflated ego doesn't buy pampers.
Today, due to the web, artists like myself, have a venue to promote what we have to offer.
We don't need a recording contract. New (young) bands can self-promote, give away free
material and can do quite well, without ever signing to a label, And the point is, if you are stealing
from these artists, you are shooting yourself in the foot.
My daughter, for example, wants to be an author. This career path is probably more difficult
today than it ever has been. She reads constantly. I spent 30 bucks on books in the
last few weeks, and she fileshares some material (much to my chagrin even if it
saves me money.) Among her, and her friends, this is perfectly acceptable--more-so, because
everyone is doing it, and if everyone is doing it, it must be right.
WRONG. I am very proud of my daughter for her ambition, but she fails to understand that
filesharing will hurt her future profit if she becomes marginally successful.
As I said, in this day and age, artists are not compelled to sign to major labels, and the truth
is very few artists achieve mainstream success, where filesharing is more a nuisance
than a crime. These artists are being rewarded handsomely for their effort. But for the
struggling artist, honing his craft, and self-promoting...well, you just can't acquire diapers by telling
the lady behind the counter that you wrote a really swell piece of software, you need money.
I know that sounds ~awfully~ greedy of me, wanting to profit from my work and talent.
But which is greedier, me wanting to get paid for my effort, or someone wanting to steal
it from me for free. And having the cajones to tell me that it is justified...
I'm really feeling like an old man now when I say this, but, kids today just don't get it.


