Piracy 101 or Hey Ladies! Here’s How To Shoot Yourself in the Foot! By Anna Romer. 08.02.08 Pics courtesy of POWERUP

Anna, you are so spot on!

When I first left the US Army, I wrote computer programs for robotics (my regular job) and on my own creating business and communications applications. While I was paid well by my employer for their stuff, they owned it. I gave up on writing stuff independently because I found it spreading through BBS sites (the early internet, tells you how long ago that was).

Several years later, I got involved with video production. Mainly, I did video resumes for the "local" band scene in Southern California. I would also do news and issue segments for local college stations. My business model was based upon making money from sales of CD's and videos, plus a local cable show through advertisement revenues. This failed within two years due to P2P file swapping, a polite name for piracy.

Not very long ago, I began writing about my observations of the world as I saw it. On this, I never intended to make any money. Within a few months or so, I would find someone else simply copied my work, changed a few identifying details, and published it, for money, as their own. While technically this is plagiarism, to me it is no different from piracy.

The first two examples caused me to have to change careers entirely in order to support myself. The last one leaves me feeling intellectually raped. These were my private observations I shared with the world, stolen from me and sold for money by someone who took credit for my effort. I didn't want money, and for certain I'm not seeking publicity or fame (two things that scare me) for what I write in this area. But, for someone who could not have possibly seen the world that way to steal my very thoughts and claim them as their own, and make money off them, well, it offends me.

On the issue of bars and nightclubs playing shows and movies: Did they pay for the license to do that? I seriously doubt it. They are stealing from the content creators in order to get you to give them money, be it a for cover charge, your drinks, your food, that game of pool or darts, etc. They are making money off the work of others, without compensating those others. It is one aspect of piracy, and it is illegal under state, federal, and international law.

We need to support each other, not steal from each other. We also need to support the people, groups, businesses, etc. that support us. Pay for the CD, DVD, or book. Tell others about what you found that you like. Click the ads of sponsors on web sites you like to visit, so they can get paid. Even better, buy something through those web site ads. Tell the sponsors of your favorite radio or TV show you appreciate their support, and buy something from them. If you must borrow from someone else's work, make sure to credit them.