Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ars Examines Outlandish "Lost To Piracy" Claims and Figures

Posted by timothy on from the there-were-more-doubloons-here-I-swear-to-you dept.

Nom du Keyboard writes "For years the figures of $200 billion and 750,000 jobs lost to intellectual property piracy have been bandied about, usually as a cudgel to demand ever more overbearing copyright laws with the intent of diminishing of both Fair Use and the Public Domain. Now ARS Technica takes a look into origin and validity these figures and finds far less than the proponents of them might wish."

8 of 380 comments (clear)

  1. "Lost" to piracy by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you're pirating recent then nothing of value is lost :)

    1. Re:"Lost" to piracy by The+Moof · · Score: 3, Funny

      Are you saying my boat is worth nothing?
      I may have to renegotiate the terms of my loan...

    2. Re:"Lost" to piracy by beav007 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Analogy? That's not an analogy! Where's the car?

  2. Not only that by MisterSquirrel · · Score: 5, Funny

    And not to mention, the massive loss of dignity to Talk Like A Pirate Day.

  3. statistically speaking by DoctorDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just remember that 74% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

    --
    Sig temporarily out of service.
  4. Re:Scary, really by Intron · · Score: 4, Funny

    There should be a $150,000 fine enacted immediately to offset the damages.

    --
    Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  5. On the other hand by chord.wav · · Score: 3, Funny

    How many lawyer jobs did it create? What about engineers working on DRM and other antipiracy methods? And the guys that make the trailers that say copying movies is stealing, etc, etc. Where would they all be without pirates?

  6. Two... Hundred... THOUSAND... Dollars... by mkcmkc · · Score: 3, Funny

    #2: Uh, sir, I'm not sure that figure will quite do it...

    Dr. Evil: Well, okay, then. Two... Hundred... MILLION... Dollars!

    #2: Yes, but you see, that really not so much money anymore. Congress spent more than that on their new gymnasium...

    Dr. Evil: Alright. Try this then: Two... Hundred... BILLION...

    (#2 nods)

    Dr. Evil: ...Dollars. Alright--let's contact the press...

    --
    "Not an actor, but he plays one on TV."