While discussing cases of copyright infringement over a dinner meeting the other night, I was told that when such cases go public and pushes thru in the courts, it becomes a sensitive issue — it’s because all of us have committed some copyright infringement of some sort at one time or another.
I never looked at it that way but it does make sense. We go thru some of the more common stuff we do everyday without knowing we’re actually doing the same. I’d be the first one to admit to some of these oversights.
There are a lot more actually — inks, batteries, cellphones, perfumes, jewelries, etc.
But what can we do — either we accept that we’re a country full of freeloaders/cheapskates or we start paying for those software licenses and buy only originals. I’d prefer we do the latter.
I believe piracy did some good to a lot of people (especially those who don’t have the capacity to afford some of the more expensive licenses). I personally benefited from it too — learning how to use PhotoShop, Flash, DreamWeaver and Premiere as well as program in VB and .NET.
I would be hard-pressed to stand in court, point to someone who infringed on my copyright and not admit I do the same thing myself.
YugaTech.com is the largest and longest-running technology site in the Philippines. Originally established in October 2002, the site was transformed into a full-fledged technology platform in 2005.
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deuts says:
He, who have not sinned, cast the first stone.
Patrick says:
Everyone is a pirate these days. But I’ve been starting to use freeware alternatives now, if I can.
Jay says:
i vote for linux!
-anton- says:
we should remember how some of today’s progressive countries made it good. (Japan, Korea, etc.) They did copyright infringement to the most of their abilities-> technology. SO sometimes it’s good to do for the cause of the country (If it’s organized)
jhay says:
Anton has a point. The reason piracy still lives on is because of the restrictive IP laws that hamper the transfer of technology from first-world countries to developing nations, forcing the latter to just copy or make rip-offs of the former’s technologies, products etc.
We may want to use licensed software, etc. but the costs of it are just too much for us. We try to develop our own technologies but they step in again via unfair trade rules and practices.
eric says:
ninakawan na naman ako photos ulit sa dinagyang…
http://www.byahilo.com/2009/01/28/panay-news-used-my-photos-without-my-permission/
Shrumster says:
Actually, that first stone thingy doesn’t (and shouldn’t) apply. A convicted murder still has the right not to be murdered. Doesn’t matter how many people he killed. It’s just right and just.
On the topic of copyright infringement though, when it comes to software, games and movies, I’m mostly on the side of the pirates when considering the local market. Most, if not all of these products are priced for first-world markets, and those that normally buy the pirated versions wouldn’t be able to effectively afford the originals even if they wanted to. (I say “effectively afford” as in, a guy who earns 20k a month can’t afford to buy a 19k sandwich. Sure, he actually can, but there goes the rest of his life.) And yes, there’s always the “if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it” argument…but then again, that solves nothing. A product, no matter how illegal it may be, has been provided and said person can afford *that*.
BrianB says:
Yuga, are you saying since every politician cheats no politician should be punished for cheating even with incontrovertible evidence?
Lesson is, it may not be a mortal sin but there should be protection for copyright holders and control for copyright violators.
Eric, oo nga. dapat talagang i-educate taga mainstream media.
Bravemonkey says:
BrianB I think it’s the opposite.
Since every politician cheats… to hell with them all :)
madzman23 says:
Well for me, I think this is just a matter of survival.
Lets face it, we’re part of a 3rd world country and most of us cant afford or spent our money to those licensed software. We would rather spent it to our basic need than to buy those copyright which we can have for free. I know piracy is not right but the price for licenses are also not right, everyone should have the right to learn and exist in this generation. Common guyz, most of us professionals and tech guru uses pirated software and we learned from it and yet we can compete from the other tech gurus from the top countries in the world. Using that advantage is just one of a surviving ingenuity of Filipino and other 3rd world country. :D
S says:
There is no question that all of us are guilty of piracy. And yes, it’s because we had to survive because of need and because a lot of these softwares are just so expensive. But really, when we start putting ourselves in the manufacturer’s shoes, we will understand the need for copyright.
S says:
There is no question that all of us are guilty of piracy. And yes, it’s because we had to survive because of need and because a lot of these softwares are just so expensive. But really, when we start putting ourselves in the manufacturer’s shoes, we will understand their plight and the urgency of protecting their rights.
The Inventor says:
Copyright infringements is really very not here but everywhere else…everyones motto is just don’t get cought…even those in the industry like software developers who makes a living of it are ones who violate it the most…which is really ugly…but that’s reality
Rey J says:
i think pirates should be put to jail, i download only mp3’s so wala akong kasalanan kasi foreign lang naman, yung opm binuburn ko yung cd o kaya nirerecord ko sa tv or radyo. kayo talagang mga pirates
iMadrid says:
The concept of Intellectual Property should be taught in schools at an early age. A lot of people aren’t aware of the concept of it all.
In College people xerox books and think its ok. Well not until your actual Prof. is the author of that book, then you’ll get that embarrassing lecture about IP and Copyright. With the Prof. meager salary. A student had the audacity to steal a few pesos of royalty from him.
As for video games. We have a Microsoft and Sony offices here in the Philippines. But if you walk into a Sony Store. You can never buy a PS3 or PSP from Sony since it was never officially released here. Its all grey market imports. Microsoft will sell you a license of Vista and MS Office but not an Xbox 360. They could blame it all on piracy and mod chips. So why support this companies if they don’t even want to sell it us?
As a Mac user. I do buy original mac games. So the developers would continue to create games for the Mac. But if I couldn’t get a game here locally? What choices do I have? I could buy it online or download it for free. I don’t have a credit card, so if they refuse to accept my ATM debit mastercard. Just like the iTunes music store. I am going to pirate it.
Culturally we Filipinos are indeed a nation of freeloaders and cheapskates. When someone asks you what you do for a living? The next thing they would ask you is a free sample or a favor. It becomes very annoying since I am a cook. There is no such thing as a free lunch OK!
rey J says:
Filipinos are moochers, freeloader! i don’t know whats wrong with filipinos, good thing im only 25% flipino
-anton- says:
One more thing. THe thing is, it is not only the pirates who are bed. it’s also those companies/people who sell their items at unaffordable prices. It’s not right. It’s immoral for some to monopolize items and let the people suffer. They are the ones who should be punished more. They project their elitist laws unto those who are less fortunate. Shame on them!
-anton- says:
One more thing. The thing is, it is not only the pirates who are bad. it’s also those companies/people who sell their items at unaffordable prices. It’s not right. It’s immoral for some to monopolize items and let the people suffer. They are the ones who should be punished more. They project their elitist laws unto those who are less fortunate. Shame on them!
superb says:
New pinoy dictionary term:
Copyright – it pertains to the “right to copy”.
So sad but true, in the plight of a computer teacher like me, it’s quite conscience bothering to tell the students that piracy is really a bad thing when the truth is, I myself deploys these pirated software for them to use since we cannot fully implement Opensource applications since we have to admit that we got to adapt with the industry standards. But I’m still hoping that the Opensource industry will still grow and be fully implemented/observed in a country of responsible citizens.
xyz says:
It maybe informative to study the history of copyright in the US. Some of the framers of their constitution disliked it like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They analyzed the dangers posed to society when ideas are treated as properties.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080220/020252302.shtml
It would also be notable to mention that when the USA was first developing, they chose not to respect the copyrights and inventions of the European powers. The argument was that they can not afford to and it would hamper their development.
Current so called piracy is not restricted to Filipinos or in the Philippines. Even the big USA has piracy problems. And other countries as well such as China.
For those who hate being a Filipino, please look around the world first, our problems and traits are not so different from other nations. If you despise being a Filipino and even proud that you are 25% or less of a Filipino, just make as all proud and leave this country and adopt a nationality to your liking. You don’t like being a Filipino? But have you ever asked yourself if the Philippines like citizens like you? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t.
Passerby says:
Can’t afford the certain software you want? There’s always free open source software as an alternative/option.
darkangel says:
Well I shouldn’t be commenting but I got provoked of what this idiot says about Filipinos, specifically we are prone to black market, yes, we are a third world country , but the fault of some pirates are not the fault of every bloodline we Filipinos are. We are proud of ourselves. BTW What a Worthless Publication, well you haven’t stated the most common line when it comes to piracy. “Made in China” . Try asking yourself. Try asking yourself? Try Asking yourself! When it comes to music/video, loser! All people around the world who have computers w/ internet and a music lover have a major possibility of downloading media files! And wait. Are you a racist. Coz’ we’re not spammers nor virus-makers nor hackers and all those titles belong to the highly progressed countries which has super-computers and etc. So it’s better for you to leave if you hate this island a lot, and only if you’re still staying here.