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Tim O'Reilly Says Piracy is Progressive Taxation
Idmat writes "In Tim's latest opus, he reflects on the lessons of his experience as a publisher: (1) Obscurity is a far greater threat to authors and creative artists than piracy, (2) Piracy is progressive taxation; (3) Customers want to do the right thing, if they can; (4)Shoplifting is a bigger threat than piracy; (5) File sharing networks don't threaten book, music, or film publishing. They threaten existing publishers; (6)"Free" is eventually replaced by a higher-quality paid service; and finally, courtesy of Larry Wall, (7)There's more than one way to do it. "
Of course piracy doesn't hurt book publishers. How many writers work in the sea? Pirates only rob ships, you know.
Prescriptive grammar:linguistics
Well... All except 'new rock' artists. They don't have talent, so they are in it for the girls and money.
Which is why I like shoplifting better than piracy, since I have a 56k and all..
"I feel it is my duty to look at the porn that kids download before I delete it, to be sure what it is."--School Admin
Tim who?
Which is why I like shoplifting better than piracy, since I have a 56k and all..
Never underestimate the bandwidth of Raiders jacket stuffed full of CDs.
People like stealing if it is anonymous, easy, and leaves no possibility of getting caught
To quote Nelson from the Simpsons, "It's a victimless crime, like when you punch someone in the dark."
Huh? I'm not supporting O'Reilly, but I've never heard anyone argue in favour of regressive taxation before. I guess if we tax poor people heavily it will give them an incentive not to be poor, right?
-a
Piracy is progressive taxation
Might be time to change my political affiliation.
I liek to think you are right, and that most people DO buy CD's after hearing mp3s. I always try to buy CD's of mp3s that I like
Please read this cartoon.
I agree. Just look at all the text on slashdot...very unpleasant reading.
Could I interest you in a copy of Slashdot in dead tree form? $19.95 + 4.95 S&H.
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- - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
Pirating music deprives the artist of revenue. Just look at all of the Tupac Shakur songs that can be downloaded. How can he get paid if no one buys his albums?
No data, no cry
I always buy CD's after downloading and listening to mp3's.
Blank CD's.
I'm going to scan in and OCR all of the OReilly books and put them online so that people don't have to go through all the hassle of going to a bookstore and paying the exhorbitant cost of the books. And they can swap books with their friends.
Let's see how Tim feels about that.