"Copying Is Not Theft" animation with Jonathan Mann vocals

[runr100]

@fleawannabe87 Is someone then stealing my time if I choose to create something and put it online for free? Is someone stealing my time if I perform artistically in a public square? Maybe we need to examine the idea of theft logically. If you need government to protect something you made that can be copied many times, you don't have a marketable job in the free market.

[pr0pr0]

jeeze... if they just SHOWED this to the record execs it would change everything.

[ForeverCrafter]

Love the way the song is about copying is not bad but at the beginning there is a warning about copyright infringement ^_^

[DV7Dave]

This is much funnier than the original version!

[fleawannabe87]

People dont understand, it's not the software itself that the bootleggers are stealing, it's the developer's time and effort. These people have created a piece of work and they need to get their money back otherwise they wont be able to make any more...

[wertigon]

@fleawannabe87 So what you're essentially saying; if my software isn't good enough to sell I won't make a profit developing said software?

... Ever heard of getting paid in advance, or getting a normal salary as a programmer? If I get $50 an hour developing a program to a company, then that's what they pay me. That's the business model I work with, and I also work with free software. The question isn't if devs get paid; the question is should they be able to write one app and draw back rich?

[57worldwide]

@wertigon It is funny that someone would try to use the reason of 'the developers won't be able to make more'. Many programs which involve a transaction, talking in the sense of computer programs, have service. I think more money is made from the service than the selling of the product.

I will use Windows as an example. There are plenty of alternatives, some free. If I use a copied version (eg, without paying), there are no guarantees. No service (eg technical help), it's 'use at your own risk'.

[Graggen]

@57worldwide so essentially you're saying I need the base program to get a copied version. So if noone buys the base version and everyone go for copied versions there would be no updates.

and how is the service argument applied to a song for example?

[57worldwide]

@Graggen A song? Well, it goes like this...

You download a song, or an album, which you would otherwise not purchase, then you listen to it with friends, some of them like the music, one friend likes the music so much, they plan to go to a concert.

Most musicians/bands don't make money from album sales. The record companies make money from the sales. Musicians/bands make money from touring.

It's not thinking straight if you think buying the album always supports the artist/band.

[Graggen]

@57worldwide but then again for the artist to get concerts they need to be popular first. And most companies use record sales to see who are the popular artists, which will lead to the artist not getting the concert and we're back to square one.

Also the record company pays the artist based on the sales aswell which brings me back to my point you should support the artists you like (no matter how small your contribution is)

[57worldwide]

@Graggen So, most of the American Idol winners who have had a chart topping single and album went on to tour? No?

In the music industry, 40 cents per album sale is considered a good deal (and most don't have such a deal). The majority of the money does not go to the artist, and then also you have to factor in the fact that studio time, mixing, etc, are all 'on loan' from the record company; the artist must sell large quantities to actually make money from album/single sales.

Tours are different.

[Graggen]

@57worldwide So if the company gives them Studio time, mixing etc. then that would again mean that if you support the company by buying the artists CDs then the artist would get easier access to the studio, therefor once again I'll tell you if you support the artist by buying their CDs/songs/whatever you'll indirectly support the artist.

Show me where the logic buy a song to support the artist (how little you even support them) is flawed.

[57worldwide]

@Graggen You don't seem to understand. The company owns the rights. The company is only interested in making money from the artist. Supporting the artist doesn't mean you have to make the company money.

This is where the logic is flawed - low album sales will mean the company is more likely to release the artist/band from the contract. It doesn't mean the artist/band is less likely to make more music.

Do you really think that if an album sells well, the artist gets 'easier access' to the studio?

[Graggen]

@57worldwide Indirectly yes. If noone buys an album the artist will get released. Hence the artist doesn't have access to the company's studio. Then the artist will have to find new places to record (more work/harder time).

The company will also advertise their artist, do you think they will advertise an artist that isn't selling anything?

Also I don't give a rats ass about the big artists, I mean that you should buy CDs from the smaller artists that'll need every penny they get.

[57worldwide]

@Graggen That is not how it works. The company advertises the artists which they think will sell more. They don't advertise hoping that the artist will tour. That is the artist's manager's job. If the artist is managed by their label, and it is a 'major label', they shouldn't be (or, they know how it works and are willing to make the company's money).

CDs do not support touring artists. You can buy their CDs at their concert.

Smaller artists are likely selling their CDs themselves.

[Graggen]

@57worldwide So buy the CDs from the artists themselves? it's what I've been trying to say all along, but you brought up the whole company discussion. And question do you work in the music industry?

[57worldwide]

@Graggen Then there is the situation where the artist isn't touring the town, city, or country in which you reside. Then, why the fuck wouldn't you just download it? Which brings me to an earlier point, that you may not hear of an artist/group if your friend had not downloaded a copy.

I brought up the 'company discussion' because that is part of the equation. I know of underground artists, who release mixtapes for free download. They also tour.

By work, do you mean generating an income?

[Graggen]

@57worldwide If it was illegal to download (as it is in my country, although noone cares), your friend would've needed to buy the CD in the first place. or you could've heard the artist on the radio, someone linked the song on youtube etc.

I mean are you an artist or do you work at a company that deals with artists?

[57worldwide]

@Graggen I produce some sounds, but only as a hobby. I know people who record and release material.

I'm talking about someone downloading a copy of a CD which you can't otherwise get (no longer available, artist sells CDs themselves and is not near you, etc). You were talking about the smaller artists in your last comment, now you're talking about radio?

Let's use radio. We used to record songs onto tape from the radio - is this not supporting the artist either?

[57worldwide]

@57worldwide Because you have brought up radio though, I will go with it. A small, independent radio station is promoting a smaller artist. They run a competition to give away an album not available in your country. One of your friends wins the album. You hear the album at your friends house. You ask to borrow the CD. They say they can't, as it is extremely rare. Do you still want to say, in this circumstance, sharing a copy of the album for no financial gain is wrong in some way? I disagree.

[Graggen]

@57worldwide I'm saying if the CD is available for buying you should buy it to support the artist (even if they only get a tiny share of every CD). since pirating is such an issue atm the "SOPA" might go through which would pretty much ruin sites like youtube (a bit extreme but the cause is still pirating).

Also the copying include games, movies, books and so on which in a larger scale funds the creation of more games and movies (books, not so much).

[57worldwide]

@Graggen I used to tape songs on (or from) the radio. It was still piracy, but was there a big deal about it? No. People would make mixtapes of the songs they like, wether recorded from radio or vinyl. Did it stop actual sales of albums? No.

Most music (and other media) which is illegally downloaded is done by people who would not otherwise be buying it. There is no large loss of money as a result of illegal downloads.

I have already said why buying the album is not always supporting the artist.

[Graggen]

@57worldwide If you can't get the CD in any other way than downloading I agree that you should go ahead and download it. about the radio taping, never did that and wasn't aware people do. then again only time I listen to the radio is when I'm driving.

[davewatcher]

Pay the artist.

[Bulldog22031]

This video has one essential flaw... they are comparing intellectual property to physical property. They are two ENTIRELY different things. Pirate all you want, but only use it as a try before you buy - Support real musicians making real art. If you like an album, buy it.

[EltonJThe]

@Bulldog22031 Dude: "You play very well, here's twenty dollars." Musician: "Don't give the money to me, give it to a faceless corporation that claims to represent me." Dude: "How much will you get." Musician: "5 dollars, but it's the principle of the thing!" Dude: "Okay." Musician: "YOUR KILLING MUSIC!"

[Bulldog22031]

@EltonJThe It's not like those bands HAD to sign a contract with those companies - they know full well what they are getting themselves into the second they sign that dotted line. However, just because you think they should do it differently, doesn't make their music any less important to you, and if all they get is 5 dollars, that gives you even more incentive to buy their album from them. Just make sure the music is GOOD before you spend your money - we can't support bad artists, either. lol

[EltonJThe]

@Bulldog22031 They might earn more through donations and if they controlled how their content is contained.

[Bulldog22031]

@EltonJThe I agree with you, but that doesn't change the fact that they decided to enter into the contract.

Frankly, I would love nothing more than to see record companies either disappear or start supporting real musicians on a widespread basis... but that isn't happening for a while, and in the mean time we should support artists we like.

[EltonJThe]

@Bulldog22031 Then send your favorite artist a check for an amount equal to the amount you paid for the recording. Supporting your favorite artist begins with you.

[Bulldog22031]

@EltonJThe Or I can respect the fact that they entered into an agreement with a company of individuals who promised to pay for the album, pay for the tour, pay for the merchandise, and everything else so long as they make the profit, and buy the album online or at a store.

[EltonJThe]

@Bulldog22031 true, but your fee is spread among a lot of other people. That's why the Artist doesn't really get as much as he deserves. Plus, the copyright on a song is generally owned by the company, not by the individual artist. Look up Courtney Love's talk on how she compares contractual music to "sharecropping" or "feudalism."

[Bulldog22031]

@EltonJThe Trust me I know all about how the fees are spread throughout a lot of people. However, like I said before, the artists know this when they sign the contract. If they wanted to give their music away for free or sell it directly to their fans, they cold (See Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, bands on Bandcamp, etc.). Therefore, if an artist decides to take the route of entering into a contractual agreement with a business, as a fan, you should respect their decision to do so.

[darkmark420]

@Bulldog22031 hmm i look at it more like this, try it or dont buy it.... artist aren't the only ones starving

[RMimz]

omg where is the original version?

[hegler8010]

진정한 카피레프트 정신 !!!

[PrincessIvoryCrane]

IP > (C) > (cc)

[petrus4]

@derfy26 Currency (money) is used for the regulation of scarcity. Food is not (yet) replicable to the same degree that media and software is.

Money and scarcity are inherently tied to each other, though, because that is all money is for. If people advocate a system dominated by money, they're advocating scarcity. They generally just don't realise that.

[zentotoro]

@derfy26 Yea.... welcome to the internet...... OMG!!! Someone is wrong on the internet!!! I MUST correct them....

[zentotoro]

@derfy26 And I care because........?

[zentotoro]

@derfy26 Evil.....

[AndrosForever]

I agree that copying isn't theft, they are two different things. ICopying isn't always right or always wrong, unlike theft which is always wrong.

[bassbreaker]

@leveniseendroom I'm pretty sure when I buy a DVD I buy the disk which I can bring home and share with my friends and family who have not bought the "rights" to watch it

[leveniseendroom]

@bassbreaker

because they do not need the rights to do that, since you own it and you decide who has the right to view THAT dvd. You can show anyone you want, as long as its not in commercial use. When the DVD gets sold, they sell the rights to you. The only agreement is that you will not show it in public places for commercial use. Thats why your friends and family can watch it.

[bassbreaker]

Funny video. Judging by the CDs at the end, I assume they are mainly talking about music. I think that if people stopped making music for money and music for music, the current industry would be a lot better... I'm all for buying a 10 dollar CD at a local show, but if I'm buying an album I want it to go to the artist, not to some rich hack. Music piracy may change the music industry for the better.

[rahidelvi]

This is so funny!

[mangere77]

copying is theft, of peoples ideas and work. don't get me wrong I copy here and there... but when I do at least I know I'm STEALING.

[SvenTheViking]

@mangere77 Yes, stealing their ideas right out of their heads. So they do not have those ideas any more.

Seriously, though: Support artists.

[mangere77]

@SvenTheViking Yes, stealing their ideas right out of their heads. So they do not have those ideas any more.

[Shipuh]

im an artist, and i am all for the creative commons movement. -- copyright was never made with the intention of the artists benefit in mind.

[scottclaiborne51]

@SvenTheViking

Lol gtfo failure

[gethsoftware]

@SvenTheViking i do. i whuld not listen that music if i whuld not copy it. ithier i copy it and listen it, or i dont and i never listen to it. that simple.

[Graggen]

@gethsoftware you make no sense, how is listening to the music without paying helping theartist making new music?

[zentotoro]

another example of why money is the root of all evil.....

[sparkyyoung]

@zentotoro Could have said it better myself.....i would have just said it in a different voice!! haha

[EricPulgarin]

@zentotoro i copied that idea from N.A.S.A

[commodore256]

@zentotoro No, money isn't the root of all evil, that's greed.

You can be filthy stinking rich and not be evil.

[Psquit]

@commodore256 just greedy... if you have soo much money you should help poor people.

[Bulldog22031]

@zentotoro Wrong - the LOVE of money is the root of all evil (supposedly).

[Ruttie2]

@zentotoro You mean copyrights because it's all about money, right?

[impishrazor]

My reaction to this video.

watch?v=zF3v1Jm7FWQ

[Tails977]

Yay for copying!!! =D

[Catboy12000]

Great video but the only flaw is that you can hear Nina's voice echoing in the back