Comments on: Why Doesn’t the Punishment for Game Piracy Fit the Crime? http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/ [Please go to 'Settings' to change your Tagline] Sat, 05 Nov 2011 22:19:19 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">Ben Bookbinder</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-662 Ben Bookbinder Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:54:56 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-662 "Piracy is stealing, yeah?" No, it's piracy /duh “Piracy is stealing, yeah?”

No, it’s piracy /duh

]]> By: FragCast Episode 17: ME2 + Gaming Developers Losing | FragCast Sponsored by PsyberGaming http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-660 FragCast Episode 17: ME2 + Gaming Developers Losing | FragCast Sponsored by PsyberGaming Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:42:07 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-660 [...] Pirates condemned, huge fines levied on Wii hacker for Mario Bros. Wii [...] [...] Pirates condemned, huge fines levied on Wii hacker for Mario Bros. Wii [...]

]]> By: ford http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-656 ford Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:51:19 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-656 The punishment for game piracy (and other copyright violations) doesn't fit the crime because the schedule of fees for copyright violations didn't (and couldn't) consider the personal computer and the internet as a means for reproducing and distributing copies of products for essentially no marginal cost. If you look at who lobbies Congress to make changes to the copyright regime, you’ll find a lot of money being spent to keep fines high, extend copyright terms, and continue to confuse the public about whether there’s a difference between copyright infringement and theft. Copyright law is surprisingly confusing in practice, but because everyone thinks they know what it entails, clarifying and improving it is a hugely difficult task. The punishment for game piracy (and other copyright violations) doesn’t fit the crime because the schedule of fees for copyright violations didn’t (and couldn’t) consider the personal computer and the internet as a means for reproducing and distributing copies of products for essentially no marginal cost. If you look at who lobbies Congress to make changes to the copyright regime, you’ll find a lot of money being spent to keep fines high, extend copyright terms, and continue to confuse the public about whether there’s a difference between copyright infringement and theft. Copyright law is surprisingly confusing in practice, but because everyone thinks they know what it entails, clarifying and improving it is a hugely difficult task.

]]> By: vorondil http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-655 vorondil Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:13:54 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-655 This was a civil case, not a criminal one. There was no fine imposed on him, and he has no criminal record as a result. The defendant was ordered to pay damages to the plaintiff. The damages would have been calculated with reference to the losses accrued by the plaintiff as a result of the defendant's actions. You cannot compare criminal sanctions and civil damages, they are very different beasts with very different purposes. This was a civil case, not a criminal one. There was no fine imposed on him, and he has no criminal record as a result. The defendant was ordered to pay damages to the plaintiff. The damages would have been calculated with reference to the losses accrued by the plaintiff as a result of the defendant’s actions. You cannot compare criminal sanctions and civil damages, they are very different beasts with very different purposes.

]]> By: eebovipe http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-651 eebovipe Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:01:13 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-651 "To me, that’s like saying you can cut off the hands of a murderer to “make an example” of him to other murders" If you're going to use this analogy, I think it's more accurate to say it's like murdering a guy who cutting off someone's hands to make an example of him to other hand-removers. “To me, that’s like saying you can cut off the hands of a murderer to “make an example” of him to other murders”

If you’re going to use this analogy, I think it’s more accurate to say it’s like murdering a guy who cutting off someone’s hands to make an example of him to other hand-removers.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">Joshua Lindsay</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-648 Joshua Lindsay Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:40:36 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-648 When companies eliminate costs for themselves they do not translate into savings for the consumers. Ever. They pocket the savings and call it "growth." I too think piracy is wrong, but this case does not seem to be about piracy. Piracy is stealing, yeah? Illegally seizing what you want. This guy did not do that. He took his copy of Super Marios--before it was even released--put it on the internet and let thousands of people download it. If he had just downloaded it himself, I'd agree, shouldn't be that high. If he had just uploaded it, it should not be that high. But he uploaded it, he released it prior to its release date, and presumably acquired it illegally. All together, he deserves to get nailed. Its called bankruptcy. When companies eliminate costs for themselves they do not translate into savings for the consumers. Ever. They pocket the savings and call it “growth.”

I too think piracy is wrong, but this case does not seem to be about piracy. Piracy is stealing, yeah? Illegally seizing what you want. This guy did not do that. He took his copy of Super Marios–before it was even released–put it on the internet and let thousands of people download it. If he had just downloaded it himself, I’d agree, shouldn’t be that high. If he had just uploaded it, it should not be that high. But he uploaded it, he released it prior to its release date, and presumably acquired it illegally. All together, he deserves to get nailed. Its called bankruptcy.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">Martin Webster</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-645 Martin Webster Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:10:55 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-645 "...and eliminating price-gouging middlemen like Gamestop which would make games more affordable for everyone..." You had me till this line. The prices charged by GameStop for new games range between a $10-$5 markup on what GameStop is charged. This is common knowledge. This is also the reason GameStop would rather sell you a an overpriced used copy of a game rather than a new one. Keep the blame where it belongs, with the publishers. Adding in areas of blame that are not accurate just helps to muddle the whole situation and keeps it from being clear who is the cause of the issue. “…and eliminating price-gouging middlemen like Gamestop which would make games more affordable for everyone…”

You had me till this line. The prices charged by GameStop for new games range between a $10-$5 markup on what GameStop is charged. This is common knowledge. This is also the reason GameStop would rather sell you a an overpriced used copy of a game rather than a new one.

Keep the blame where it belongs, with the publishers. Adding in areas of blame that are not accurate just helps to muddle the whole situation and keeps it from being clear who is the cause of the issue.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">Bill Moffatt</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-644 Bill Moffatt Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:59:46 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-644 Wow, the article does pose a very valid question. Jess www.privacy-tools.de.tc Wow, the article does pose a very valid question.

Jess
http://www.privacy-tools.de.tc

]]> By: scohart http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-607 scohart Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:49:23 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-607 It is the golden rule... those with the gold rule! I was reading how here in Milwaukee, WI, Nike was working with local authorities to stop illegal selling of fake shoes. With all that is wrong with this city, I can't for the life of me see the importance of stopping a few fake shoes from being out there, and why not go get the makers, not he stores that may or may not know they are selling fakes. As for this case, I would venture a guess that the monetary damages are for the amount the company lost from games that are not sold as a result of people downloading the copy this guy had. If you steal one copy, it does not get used by 100k people but in a case like this, it can be taken over and over. But it does look excessive..... It is the golden rule… those with the gold rule! I was reading how here in Milwaukee, WI, Nike was working with local authorities to stop illegal selling of fake shoes. With all that is wrong with this city, I can’t for the life of me see the importance of stopping a few fake shoes from being out there, and why not go get the makers, not he stores that may or may not know they are selling fakes.

As for this case, I would venture a guess that the monetary damages are for the amount the company lost from games that are not sold as a result of people downloading the copy this guy had. If you steal one copy, it does not get used by 100k people but in a case like this, it can be taken over and over. But it does look excessive…..

]]> By: Paul Tassi http://trueslant.com/tassi/2010/02/09/why-doesnt-the-punishment-for-game-piracy-fit-the-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-606 Paul Tassi Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:36:48 +0000 http://trueslant.com/tassi/?p=1418#comment-606 I didn't, bought it used, returned it to Gamestop within 24 hours as it took me five hours to beat. I guess if you want to play online you can get more out of it, but the campaign was only a third of what it should have been. I didn’t, bought it used, returned it to Gamestop within 24 hours as it took me five hours to beat. I guess if you want to play online you can get more out of it, but the campaign was only a third of what it should have been.

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