Cui bono?
August 4, 2008 by Laura | Trackback URI
Over at Patterico’s, Justin Levine writes in An Expert Copyright Lawyer Tells It Like It Is. Unfortunately, comments on that post are closed, but perhaps this is why -
I suppose that the participants of the Boston Tea Party were law breakers whose actions were condemned in many quarters at the time. I see the file-sharing community in the same light and hope they can help lay the groundwork for a much needed revolution.
Except, you know, today’s scofflaws just don’t think they should have to pay for the entertainment they consume. Hardly the fodder of revolution and far more akin to the radical groups of the 70s who took to robbing banks to support their “cause.” Had they taken the tea home and drank it, there might be something to the analogy.
The common arguments that fans just want a convenient way to download the music, and don’t want “corrupt” and “greedy” record companies to get their money were soundly debunked by Radiohead’s experiment with In Rainbows. When fans had the option to go to Radiohead’s website and download the album, using an “honesty box” to pay the band whatever they thought it was worth, sales slumped because they downloaded it illegally in droves. Taking Radiohead’s work product without paying for it is not at all similar to refusing to be taxed without representation.
Few people would disagree that the copyright system is profoundly flawed, but idiocy like “information wants to be free” and the entitlement mentality have little in common with the motives and goals of the founding fathers. There’s nothing honorable or noble about refusing to pay for a service you use. Mr. Levine, you’ve simply lost your mind.
Fighting for the right to property and fighting for the theft of property are rather different.
There’s no comparison between stealing music and movies and the actions during the Tea Party.
At the Boston Tea Party, the only property damaged (beyond the tea, of course) was a lock on a sea chest and that was replaced the next day. One man got caught stashing tea into his clothes. His hat, wig, and tea were thrown into the water. Because he was older, they allowed him to escape with a few kicks on his way out.