But tech and privacy experts have warned that the laws bring with them some unavoidable downsides, including potentially driving people to seedier corners of the web.
Hmm, if only there was something in history (cough Prohibition cough drug bans cough piracy cough) that could’ve predicted this. It’s almost like people will do the easier thing when the legal thing is harder to do.
You don’t have to go back that far, just look at digital music. People were trading files on Napster, and the music industry was having a fit. Steve Jobs opened the iTunes Music Store and started selling all files for .99, people started gobbling them up, and piracy went down. Then along came Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, etc., and most people are happy to pay. Why, because it’s so much easier and convenient than trying to pirate it and get it on your phone/player.
Don’t get me wrong, people still pirate, but the percentage is low compared to what it was before these easy legal options. People will always take the easiest route, legal or illegal.
Hmm, if only there was something in history (cough Prohibition cough drug bans cough piracy cough) that could’ve predicted this. It’s almost like people will do the easier thing when the legal thing is harder to do.
Especially when the legal thing is stupid and intrusive.
You don’t have to go back that far, just look at digital music. People were trading files on Napster, and the music industry was having a fit. Steve Jobs opened the iTunes Music Store and started selling all files for .99, people started gobbling them up, and piracy went down. Then along came Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, etc., and most people are happy to pay. Why, because it’s so much easier and convenient than trying to pirate it and get it on your phone/player.
Don’t get me wrong, people still pirate, but the percentage is low compared to what it was before these easy legal options. People will always take the easiest route, legal or illegal.
Netflix appeared, piracy dropped. And when the movie streaming market fragmented, piracy shot up. Like they say, it’s a service problem.
YES! Exactly my point. Thank you!