What

Is Pirated?

When one thinks about piracy, they may think about illegal music. Many people do not realize that when they download music without paying for the song, they are pirating music. Nowadays there are computer programs and websites used for piracy. Music is not the only area of piracy. Movies, games, and software are all illegal to pirate.⁶

There are, of course, pros to internet piracy. First off, you save money. By illegally downloading, one doesn't have to pay for the media. When one buys a new computer, CD/DVD burners are pretty much standard. When a person has a burner, why would that person want to pay $20 for a CD that he can download music for free and burn onto a blank CD that can cost about $5 for 50 CDs? The last pro about piracy is for up-and-coming bands. This is free publicity. Many bands such as Dispatch, OAR, and Phish are popular due to piracy. But if the band wants their music to be pirated, then it is okay.⁷

There are many cons to piracy. First, in 2001 there was a 10% drop in CD sales due to piracy. Second, someone can get the same song they just heard for free without leaving their room. They are a few clicks away from free music, programs, movies, or games. Some people have said, "piracy feeds a growing black economy in which criminal networks use piracy to fund other activities, such as drug, dealing, arms trading, money laundering, and terrorism", yet the author mentions that this is a ridiculous statement, because the author says when he pictures someone pirating music, he pictures a college student in his/her dorm room downloading a song they just heard on the radio.⁵