File-Sharing Kids: “I really don’t care, it’s not my problem. Singers and actors are rich enough”
Written by enigmax on August 13, 2007According to a study into children’s safety and how they use the internet, European kids appear to have a basic grasp of the law when it comes to file-sharing. However, they aren’t really bothered by it and just carry on downloading - music in particular.
The ‘Eurobarometer’ study covers many aspects of electronic communication used by kids between the ages of 9 and 14 but of course, we’re interested in the internet section and in particular, file-sharing.
When asked how they ‘learned’ how to use the internet, many of the children said they couldn’t remember - an indication of how early in a child’s life computers are introduced these days and summed up nicely by a 9-10 year old boys group from the Netherlands: “There is nothing to learn” and from a group of German boys: “It is in my blood. I am a computer freak.”
Most say that they were shown the basics but went on to teach themselves and other people, including their parents: “My parents do not teach me, I teach them!” (Boys group, 12-14 years, Ireland)
In respect of file-sharing, the 9-10 year old groups didn’t show much interest, the complete opposite of the 12-14 year olds, especially the boys who really enjoyed downloading new games.
It’s obvious from the samples given in the report that those kids questioned in the older groups had some grasp of the law relating to file-sharing. However, the bad news for those planning on enforcing copyright law on them when they become adults is that they don’t really care about it. Right across the European countries questioned, for the kids, awareness of the law didn’t really translate into a concern for operating within it.
Amongst the kids there was generally an attitude of “everyone is doing it, so i’ll do it too”. Add this to the fact that many kids watch their parents file-sharing: “Dad does it all the time” (Girls group, 12-14 years old from Norway), there’s a real challenge for the media companies in trying to get these kids to stop or change habits in the future.
A group of 9-10 year old Belgian girls share the opinions of millions of file-sharers world-wide when they said: “But I do not understand that it is illegal”.
The older boys group (12-14 years) from Denmark said: “It’s illegal, but it does not look like it is illegal” while the girls from the same age group in Belgium proclaimed: “It is wrong but not our fault”.
Almost nailing current perception of European copyright law, the 12-14 year old boys group in Finland claimed “Downloading is illegal, it is not punishable whereas sharing the files is punishable”. It’s generally felt that downloading is not an offense in Europe, where uploading probably is.
The French boys get it totally right when they said: “People download, but if is just for themselves, it is less serious than downloading for burning and reselling”. Indeed, selling copyright material is generally a criminal offense whereas file-sharing is nearly always a civil issue in Europe.
The older boys from the UK could be forgiven for coming to the conclusion they came to: “I don’t really feel guilty. It wouldn’t be on the Internet if it was like really illegal, they wouldn’t have it there”.
The older Czech boys felt that paying for stuff wasn’t necessary: “They have a lot of money ! They don’t need my money”, an opinion shared by the Italians: “I really don’t care, it’s not my problem. Singers and actors are rich enough”.
Having paid their ISP for their internet connection, the 12-14 year old boys from Portugal feel they have done their part: “We pay because we are spending megabits!”
Most of the children when questioned said they intend to carry on downloading and nothing is likely to stop them, however something that continually crops up in the internet part of the report is the concern the children have for downloading a virus. Indeed this is their major concern, although a 9-10 year old boys group from Slovakia had a solution:
“… Just download anti-virus software.”
The report can be downloaded here.
Thanks to Chris Pirillo for the great artwork
Previously: Suprnova: What Will Change and What Will Remain The Same?
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93 Responses
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Ah but here’s the thing about concerts… not everyone will always want to go. They can be way too expensive. Artists that I would want to see, McCartney, Billy Joel, Harry Connick are all high priced tickets. And I myself prefer the CDs or files myself to the concert. They’re way cheaper and after you listen to them, you still have them (the concert is done and you’re left with just the experience, which may be awesome, sure, but what next? See them again in concert? Again, pricey!). Make concert tickets the price of CDs and I’ll go way more.
Anyway, i have enjoyed the discussion, especially that it seems to have taken place amongst mature individuals without any of the normal name calling and trolling I’ve seen elsewhere. For now, I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I respect your opinions thus far and indeed you have given me some new outlooks on the whole topic.
As I said, the matter is not really so black and white for myself either. I have downloaded songs or tv shows that were not made available to me through what I consider legal means (itunes or emusic). I do not mind paying for digital copies of songs at all. Same with DVD’s.
I don’t necessarily agree totally with your own outlooks, but i do see your arguments and accept them as an alternate viewpoint. I’d keep going back and forth, but I am spent for now! It has been fun engaging in this discussion. Thanks!
“Ahh,
there is hope for the future at last.
Just wait until those kids take over power.”
No, there isn’t. These children are just cheap, they will be as money hungry and as stupid as the batch we are currently on. There is no change in the human genome. There are very few people who download illicitly for a purpose other than to save money.
And even fewer who can understand it and debate for it without looking like an idiot, saying that they are already too rich as their only excuse
I too have enjoyed the discussion and respect your opinions. I’ll agree to disagree, i don’t want to force my views on anybody. I also can’t really see the matter in black and white, more as shades of grey. It’s probably impossible for all to agree on this matter, especially whether if it’s right or wrong to take something for free that another has worked his/her ass of to make. In that case i’m not sure myself. Though what I see as the definite truth, whether its black or white or grey, is that file sharing is here to stay and criminalizing file sharers isn’t going to solve anything. We’ll have to adapt.
About concerts being expensive. Even if not everyone wants to pay the price, a lot of people will still come. The price is probably high because the artists are quite popular. My point is that concerts is their main source of income and they won’t die without their cd-sales, which i guess the big corporations take the most money of anyway.
[quote comment="147183"]“Ahh,
there is hope for the future at last.
Just wait until those kids take over power.”
No, there isn’t. These children are just cheap, they will be as money hungry and as stupid as the batch we are currently on. There is no change in the human genome. There are very few people who download illicitly for a purpose other than to save money.
And even fewer who can understand it and debate for it without looking like an idiot, saying that they are already too rich as their only excuse[/quote]
If you want better excuses maybe you should not debate with the kids then. Do you consider yourself as money hungry and stupid as you seem to describe both the kids and older generations? Whether greed or stupidity is a part of the human genome belongs to another discussion because i don’t see how it is connected to file sharing.
File sharing is a result of how internet and p2p technology have changed the way in which people interact with information as Agmar so nicely put it. File sharing is illegal because of the laws which are out-of-date and obsolete. It should not be compared to stealing, however that still doesn’t make it morally right, that is what the minds of the people will define. But one thing that is sure is that people will continue to share and the peoples opinions will reflect in the laws because the laws are shaped after society. When society changes the laws will have to change too.
This will probably be my last post here. I’ve enjoyed this discussion too and you’ve given me a lot to think about. Bye and thanks!
You know, after reading a countless number of similar threads in the past, I’ve come to the conclusion that every copyright discussion thread has the following ingredients:
* one group that goes “omfg, gag lool” and generally doesn’t contribute
* one group that goes “fuck the media companies, hell fuck everybody! ohyeahIdownloadhah”
* another group that goes “you are wrong, stealing is wrong ,have thee no shame?!”
* a new group which arguments against it with intelligent arguments
then we have the following sub-ingredients which may or may not be a part:
* the annoying joker person that makes a mockery of the thread (that would be me)
* a comparison with fascist or nazism policies
* bad analogies to filesharing and how it’s illegal because “it’s NOT like copying your car! it’s nooot!”
* even worse arguments of laws and whatnot
* pure namecalling
so, in the future, I urge everyone to stop participating in these threads, because they are boring, pointless and basically a rehash of every other thread like it. Nobody ever reaches any kind of conclusion, or solution to the problem either, which is rather funny to note.
My solution though, would be simple: outlaw media companies and make media free by law. That would force the artists to seek out other ways of revenue, or quit, which is the best thing, because the world has a huge media underground which is far better than it’s commercial counterpart.
Really gets on my nerves that people actually believe the RIAA that p2p file sharing of copyrighted material is stealing. I am not saying it isn’t illegal, but it isn’t stealing.
Heck, even the RIAA themselves are unable to prosecute for theft, they prosecute you for copyright infringement.
So would people please stop saying that its stealing when it isn’t. Its IP infringement.
I also wish that people would stop saying that an illegally shared file is a lost sale. It isn’t it. It is only a POTENTIAL lost sale. As it is impossible to ascertain at what price that POTENTIAL lost sale would become an actual sale then the RIAA and the music industry are talking out of their arse when they say they lost x amount of revenue.
singers, and TV guys are rich enough… pirate forever… really, if they disappear or go broke, I could care less… I can live without music or crappy movies… fuck you, rich artist… (Metallica, I’m looking specially at you, you SUCK)
hey cold fission…. yes you must be well read and somewhat educated… but work on your sentence structure before you bag on others for having a low IQ.
It has been proven in science that although IQ tests do project overall intelligence, Your IQ AIN’T a determining factor of your “smartness” so to say.
do some more reading, check out some solid information on IQ THEORY then maybe you will be a bit less of……. AN INSECURE ASS HOLE.
“Almost nailing current perception of European copyright law, the 12-14 year old boys group in Finland claimed “Downloading is illegal, it is not punishable whereas sharing the files is punishable”. It’s generally felt that downloading is not an offense in Europe, where uploading probably is.”
Actually that’s how the law used to be, until January 1 2006 when Lex Karpela came into effect and made downloading illegal too. Perhaps the kids haven’t been following it. But not that anyone follows that law here -.-
I think everyone pretty much understands the same thing.
Which is that copying isn’t stealing and that if you weren’t going to buy it in the first place you are not doing any wrong, also if it is distributed in a poor fashion (as music and TV are especially) or unreasonably then they only have themselves to blame.
I think most people feel a slight twinge of guilt if they DL something they know they would and could have paid for (which was distributed in a good timely quality fair way) but instead chose to DL and keep their money. (though in most cases the astonishing soulless greed demonstrated by the wealthy corporations and wealth of many artists manages to significantly lessen such twinges)
The idea that because you exist you must purchase our product and not doing so is stealing is rather abhorrent.
Also you can legally copy patents or designs for your own use and if I could materialize stuff at will I would have no issues with making Buggati Veyrons and Rolex’s materialize for my own use.
I wouldn’t shed a tear for De Beers as I make diamonds appear.
This entertains me. As a ‘young adult’ in America, I understand copyright laws-perhaps better than some adults, due to my being on public forums for art sharing, and I understand the variation between ‘copyright’, and the ‘creative commons’ copyright, et cetera.
However, music? Bite me. While it is ‘wrong’, I don’t particularly care. If people my age were downloading music with the intent to re-sell, or redistribute for a profit, then there would be a problem. However, as I, nor any of my direct compatriots profit from the endevor, I really can’t be bothered to care.
There you have it.
If they were going to gain any money from me, wouldn’t I just pay for it in the *first* place, instead of downloading it for free?
Also: I’m willing to pay $25 for a CD, when the record companies stop wasting space with the ‘default’ format and switch to MP3 and fill up all 703MB of the space. I see no point in paying $25 for 10 songs when that *exact* same CD can hold up to 150, 200 maybe 350 at most. (I think it’s 200, right?)
Exactly. I only get $20 allowance a week (and I have to admit, I’m all the fail at saving money). That’s why I’ve downloading all 5 seasons of Angel instead of paying the $100 some odd for them.
I’m currently looking for a job. Once I get that job (and have my money taken away by the gas company, car insurance company and medical insurance company), if I have enough money left, I’m totally planning on buying the DVDs.
Now, as far as music, I have a *huge* issue with paying for it (that’s no longer an issue, thanks to iTunes :D). I feel that if I am to pay for a music file, any music file, I should be able to rip or burn it as many times as I want, as often as I want and *anywhere* I want. Until iTunes came out with the DRM free MP3s, I saw no reason to waste money on them.
Also: Artists won’t get money for me for their concerts. I find concerts rather boring, and hate the live performances just as much. The screaming fangirls ruin the whole thing for me. That, and how goddamn loud it is, combined with the screaming fangirls. Yes, I know you love The Wonders. Now sit down and STFU, because I WANT TO LISTEN TO THEIR GODDAMN SONG!! I don’t want to hear you screaming “OH!! I LOVE YOU!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
If I were to pay for a concert, I’d prefer *not* to hear people screaming, kthanx. If I want to hear people screaming, I can go to WalMart. If I go to a concert, I go to hear *the band* or *the artist* perform. Not their screaming fangirls.
Also: I download files, but I try not to upload them when I can (yes, I’m the dreaded leecher). I assure you, if I did not live in the US (MPAA/RIAA capital of the universe), I’d seed every time I turned on my external drive. But because I live in the US, I have to be more wary of some pompous company suing me because I allowed someone from Russia to download a whole season of their show, that the person in Russia can’t pay for because the paying sites are only for Americans. End run-on sentence.
I think anti-file sharing laws are kind of like prohibition laws, ordinary people(not just criminals) will break them without thinking twice, which will cause people to have less respect for other laws too, I think they should just legalize it
Kids are our future,
http://kidzstuffz.com
The truth of everything is everybody is greedy scum.
The people who steal the music do so and try to justify it by saying it is their right. In reality these people are greedy and don’t want to pay for it if they can get it free. They want more material. This is no worse then the company owners who try to justify their greed by the so called “losses” from piracy.
On the other side of the fence are the rich stock holders and CEO’s and whoever else, who have tons of money, and the more they get the more they want. They therefore try to gain even more money by saying they would have made so-and-so amount if it weren’t due to the “losses,” and in turn spend their life trying to gain every dime they can even if they already have millions.
In the end both sides are greedy bastards who will lie, cheat, and steal to get their way, with each trying to justify it. And if the positions were switched, everything would be the same. The ones who were claiming it is their “right” to have the music will then turn and call it “piracy that must be stopped” in order to fill their pockets. And the ones who would have owned parts of these companies would then be the ones claiming it’s their “right” to jack someone else’s music. It’s pathetic to watch the crooks on both sides argue.
there’s a way to keep my stuff away from being pirated: i recorded and burried 10 feets under the ground somewhere in amazon.
coz i know for sure that if it
- could be digitally-copied
- needed by people
- published today
- and there’s thing called “internet”
then creating my stuff would have been only 10% and so-easy-part, the rest 90% is others and definitely-not-under-my-control.
got it?
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