Thoughts on Piracy, the Internet Variety.

Internet piracy is a pervasive crime these days. Probably one of the more common. But, unlike just about any other, it actually helps the victims.

the Swiss government finds that people who download things online without paying for them actually end up spending more money than people who don’t. This applies to consumers of music, television, and video games. Piracy pays, apparently.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/12/05/swiss-government-study-finds-internet-downloads-increase-sales/


So why, exactly, are the penalty's so steep? My thoughts are this, it is an old way, fighting against a new way. Change pushing against stagnation. The old fighting against the new. If I were so inclined, dear reader, I would be willing to bet that within 20 years (probably a lot less), it will be a crime the equivalent of a parking ticket, or possibly not even a crime.