In this day and
age, digital media has become society’s main source to obtaining entertainment.
From purchasing movies of all genres on sites such as Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube,
to buying music from your favorite artist such as ITunes, Amazon, and Spotify
one can logically assume that Record labels and Productions Companies are
swiftly climbing up a money-spinning ladder. However, the advancements of computer
technology and P2P or Peer-to-Peer file sharing have lucratively hindered
artists to make a true profit. For instance, Tony Roda, writer for the
Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter mentions in his article Combatting Piracy, the financial reality
that media-based industries currently face. He affirms that in 2003 “The Recording Industry
Association of America ("RIAA") states that more than 2.6 billion
music files are illegally downloaded every month on unauthorized peer-to-peer
(P2P) systems (Roda, 2003).” More plainly, the use of file sharing such
as P2P systems and illegal downloading has devastated the potential profit of
music and media industries. Although such recording industries and digital
retailers have attempted to take legal action, it has yet to completely combat Digital
piracy.
Digital
Piracy will never come to a complete halt as long as there are advancements
made on the Internet. Although illicit downloading has affected recording
industries, major companies, and retail businesses, pirating will always exist
in some from when it come to Digital Piracy. Through ethical and social
standpoints we now understand that without a deeper feeling for producers of
digitally available media then there can be no remorse felt when downloading
content. Consequently, illegal consumers will continue to share and download
media. It is clear that the remorse can only be felt once an artists shows how
effected he or she is by the situations. Moreover, until producers and artists
can figure away to control the piracy and protect their profits legal measure
will continue to be exercised.
