From the dramaticMegaUpload takedownto draconian legislating likeSOPA , it is easy to take over that commercial-grade art profits ( such as from record album sales ) are a sink ship .
Not so fast , argue a young study from self - proclaimed open market advocatesComputer & Communications Industry Associationand Techdirt foundersfloor 64 . CalledThe Sky Is lift , this January 2012 written report provides compelling subject after compelling case to prove that artist are actually flourish . It also depict that , when they believe the artists and the consumers , the corporate entity actually advance , too .
The cogent evidence is in the number , and the group advertize the spot home with a cool infographic , record below . The viral visual shows that the consumption , sale , and outgrowth of video game , euphony , books , and film and video have been skyrocketing over the past few years .
The write up itself has a solid essay on these maturation area , as well as ten case studies . Great instance range from the game company Valve successfully plow with piracy to comedian Louis C.K. grossing a million - plus dollars on a DRM - free special he put up for sales event on the Internet . In each example , it come down to a dewy-eyed concept : consumer want to digest their artists .
Use New Rules
In the report , the argument here is n’t that plagiarization has n’t impress the said industry – it manifestly has affect business sector models . alternatively , the report labour commercial-grade art businesses ( not creative person themselves , but businesses ) to intercept screak about the new challenges today and learn how to make a stronger net using new rules .
As the study ’s sum-up states :
“ We hope that this report will help stir the debate off from a focussing on a narrow set of interests who have yet to take reward of the unexampled opportunities , and towards a more positive recognition of the widely - undetermined opening presented by new technologies to make , push , distribute , connect , and monetize . ”
WasMegaUpload a unambiguously illegal enterprise ? It earmark people to house their larger media and share it with other masses , but the same description could be used for Silicon Valley Darling River Dropbox , and Box.net , and so on .
Would the passage of SOPA really have helped the music industry get back to the good ol’ days of piracy - free music ? It ’s doubtful , but it definitely would prevent the kind of rampant , viral sharing that helped indie artists likeSoulja Boyand Drake become stars and , later , made literally tenner of billion of buck for these same companies .
The Recording Industry Association of America was not available for comment , but on its site it argues that$12 billion is lost annually to piracy . The real interrogation is : Is getting rid of MegaUpload the best mode to battle digital theft ?
In Light Within of the increasing cosmos , receipts , and opportunity uncommitted today , it ’s hard not to see the MegaUpload takedown as the digital eq of a televised drug female chest . The move is bully for show , but it does n’t really aid in the foresightful run .
We can expect piracy numbers to continue at their same grade until the music companies themselves change their strategy . Based on this new report , some are already reaping the benefit .