Virtual Shoplifters: The Ethics Of Downloading Music
Virtual Shoplifters
Everyone knows that shoplifting a CD is illegal and morally wrong. However, not all people agree that downloading music or copying a CD is theft. Most people are aware of the copyright laws, but some people are confused about the ethics of downloading music. I am one of those people who is confused. I download music on occasion. I have never felt I was participating in an unethical activity. However, I do understand that downloading music is cheating the artists from earning the money they deserve. How can I decide for myself whether downloading music is ethical or unethical?
While I was searching online for articles about downloading, I discovered the website for the Recording Industry Association of America, …show more content…
People can use intellectual property simultaneously without interfering with other people’s rights. If I were to download a CD I wouldn’t be robbing the opportunity for someone else to buy the CD. On the contrary, if I were to shoplift a CD it would take away the possibility of someone else purchasing that CD. The organization’s laws made me question how I felt about downloading as a whole. On one hand, I believe that downloading music is not like stealing at all. I consider theft as physically taking an object from someone else. Downloading music doesn’t take away something that can be potentially sold by the owner, so to me, it can’t technically be considered as theft. On the other hand, I agree that downloading music is becoming a problem for many industries and the artists as …show more content…
I decided to search for articles that specifically addressed these issues. I came across several articles that addressed the huge impact of intellectual property theft. The article I found most meaningful is from the Music United Organization. The article states that music piracy causes $12.5 billion in economic losses every year. Along with this, the article states that approximately 71,060 U.S. jobs are lost every year due to music downloads (“Piracy”). This fact illustrates that not only does piracy affect musicians, but many other people as well. Record companies and music store clerks are some of the other people it hurts. I agree that downloading music affects more than just the artist. This article gave me a better understanding on how serious downloading music really
Everyone knows that shoplifting a CD is illegal and morally wrong. However, not all people agree that downloading music or copying a CD is theft. Most people are aware of the copyright laws, but some people are confused about the ethics of downloading music. I am one of those people who is confused. I download music on occasion. I have never felt I was participating in an unethical activity. However, I do understand that downloading music is cheating the artists from earning the money they deserve. How can I decide for myself whether downloading music is ethical or unethical?
While I was searching online for articles about downloading, I discovered the website for the Recording Industry Association of America, …show more content…
People can use intellectual property simultaneously without interfering with other people’s rights. If I were to download a CD I wouldn’t be robbing the opportunity for someone else to buy the CD. On the contrary, if I were to shoplift a CD it would take away the possibility of someone else purchasing that CD. The organization’s laws made me question how I felt about downloading as a whole. On one hand, I believe that downloading music is not like stealing at all. I consider theft as physically taking an object from someone else. Downloading music doesn’t take away something that can be potentially sold by the owner, so to me, it can’t technically be considered as theft. On the other hand, I agree that downloading music is becoming a problem for many industries and the artists as …show more content…
I decided to search for articles that specifically addressed these issues. I came across several articles that addressed the huge impact of intellectual property theft. The article I found most meaningful is from the Music United Organization. The article states that music piracy causes $12.5 billion in economic losses every year. Along with this, the article states that approximately 71,060 U.S. jobs are lost every year due to music downloads (“Piracy”). This fact illustrates that not only does piracy affect musicians, but many other people as well. Record companies and music store clerks are some of the other people it hurts. I agree that downloading music affects more than just the artist. This article gave me a better understanding on how serious downloading music really