Stop computer piracy
...a file to download. Viruses attached to a file being downloaded can begin damaging the users computer before the file can be scanned with anti-virus software. Kazza and many other programs install files that cannot be deleted without causing your computer to operate incorrectly. Kazaa and other services do not offer any protection against people viewing your hard drive or virus protection so the appropriate thing users can do is to avoid using these services. There are more disadvantages to using shared media services besides the ones previously discussed. John Borland, a staff writer for the C/Net Tech News, says, “ Nearly all of the file-swapping programs now routinely come bundled with so-called ad ware–programs that automatically pop up advertisements while people surf the Web or that keep track of where some one surfs”. Now that entertainment companies know who uses these services they have hit consumers with lawsuits for infringing copyright laws. The entertainment companies have obtained a court order against Napster in May 5th, 2001 that eventually shutdown Napster. This is an indication that the industry doesn’t want to go after the customers as much as they want them to see the consequences of illegally acquiring media. Not only are Peer-to-Peer services taking advantage of your privacy and protection, they are making millions of dollars having people use their services while putting you at risk of viruses. Many users may also be unaware that millions of copyright laws have been infringed by Peer-to-Peer sharing. Users of Kazaa and other similar systems do not realize that the media they get off the Internet does not rightfully belong to them. More than likely everything that is available for download off the Peer-to-Peer’s database is protected by copyrights. The media may not be labeled as copyrighted but all copyright laws apply to media that is online. The legal warnings appearing at the beginning of a movie, also apply to media available on the Internet. Even movies that are video taped with a camera at the theater fall under infringement of copyright laws. Companies depend on the enforcement of copyrights to protect their idea or expression, which can consist of music, movies, software, pictures, and other creative expressions. If these copyright laws are broken continuously then companies lose millions if not billions of dollars, which could have been made if the copyright law was enforced. Keith E. Maskus the author of Intellectual Property Rights In The Global Economy tells that in 1995 7.2 Billion dollars of business applications were pirated, and that 3.1 billion of computer games were pirated as well (59). In Business Week an article coming from U.S Customs September 2, 2002 estimated that there are 9 billion dollars worth of materials pirated by underground groups each year (69). Keith Maskus says that if people continue to use free riding (Peer-to-Peer sharing) then creators are going to be reluctant to create more (45). The penalties for copyright infringement are very costly. Each count of copyright infringement can carry a maximum fine of $250,000 dollars, or five years in jail, or both. The companies that lost them use these steep fines to help restore lost revenues. (copyright laws). Now entertainment companies are paying Internet service providers to track down users that use Peer-to-Peer programs. In the Associated Press Hollywood Battles Online Piracy, the Motion Picture Association of America said that since 2001 the Internet service providers have dropped more than 100,000 customers for illegally acquiring copyrighted materials. When they are discovered, the Internet Service Providers terminate the users Internet access. The information is also provided to the entertainment companies to issue lawsuits against the end user. Many new methods have been implemented in pursuing users that use Peer-to-Peer. Internet providers are tracing users that use Peer-to-Peer sharing profusely. Entertainment companies are also tracking down users that use sharing as well, filing lawsuits against those who pirate thousands of copyrighted media. But public commitment must be shown too; the Peer-to-Peer companies cannot stay in business if the public is not using their service. With an average of 2.7 million users downloading Kazaa every week, and an average of 6 million users using Kazaa at any give time, the public has to stop together using the service. Our economy suffers from this continuous download of free media and it is going to take a change in our social conscience to help restore it. If the current trend of free media sharing is not stopped soon then billions more dollars will be lost. In a recent article of Business Week they say that CD sales fell 9% last year because of programs that allow free downloading of music. They also said that businesses are in the works of creating a legitimate online music service. This service will allow people to download music temporarily but would not be able to make a permanent copy unless if it was bought (36). Record companies have been adding higher prices to their albums to help compensate for lost money due to free sharing. Many other electronic ideas have surfaced to control music online such as media files that you can use to download but will only work for a given amount of time. According to representative Howard Berma...