The United States of America is a free country, then why shouldn’t the internet be free? Why should we have restrictions placed on what we can and cannot do on the internet? Every day, millions of users share files on the internet through numerous online sources. Whether they download music, movies, or software, online file-sharing can give people access to a plentiful amount of information. These files are often free and easily accessible by anyone. The practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information represents file sharing (Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing and Copyright Infringement: Are You Vulnerable?). Conversely many people see file sharing as unlawful. The reproduction or distribution of any copyrighted digital media or information defines internet piracy. Many people see downloading copyright files such as music, movies, books, and software as illegal. Music files, some of the first types of files to be reproduced and distributed through internet sources, contain the file extension .mp3. Several popular file sharing programs were developed in the 1990s and facilitated internet piracy. Big industries try to combat file sharing to help increase their revenue, however internet piracy actually increases revenue of industries and has numerous other benefits (What Is Internet Piracy?). The copy and distribution of digital files increased due to technology (Torr). Internet piracy, considered a problem all over the world, stands as difficult to stop along with other kinds of piracy (What Is Internet Piracy?). Anything can be digitalized and once something becomes digitalized it will be shared all over the internet (Torr). Canadian and European laws allow for the downloading of copyright files for personal us...
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...Vulnerable?" Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing and Copyright Infringement. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
"Pros & Cons of Online File Sharing & Piracy." Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
Torr, James D. Internet Piracy. Detroit: Greenhaven/Thomson Gale, 2005. Print.
Washington Post. The Washington Post, 29 Sept. 2006. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
"What Is Internet Piracy?" WiseGEEK. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
"4 Ways In Which Internet Piracy Can Be a Good Thing." MakeUseOf. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
"Study Shows Online Piracy Is Good for Showbiz." WebProNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2014.
Thier, Dave. "DRM Hurts Companies More than Piracy, Developer Argues." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
"Online Piracy." Online Piracy RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Robbert Van Ooijen. "Why Piracy Is Good For Innovation." 'hypebot' N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
... middle of paper ...
...Vulnerable?" Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing and Copyright Infringement. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
"Pros & Cons of Online File Sharing & Piracy." Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
Torr, James D. Internet Piracy. Detroit: Greenhaven/Thomson Gale, 2005. Print.
Washington Post. The Washington Post, 29 Sept. 2006. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
"What Is Internet Piracy?" WiseGEEK. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
"4 Ways In Which Internet Piracy Can Be a Good Thing." MakeUseOf. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.
"Study Shows Online Piracy Is Good for Showbiz." WebProNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2014.
Thier, Dave. "DRM Hurts Companies More than Piracy, Developer Argues." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
"Online Piracy." Online Piracy RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Robbert Van Ooijen. "Why Piracy Is Good For Innovation." 'hypebot' N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.