Downloading illegal games in Japan: From now on a fee of 20.000 euro or two years jail time

llegal downloads are for publishers still a big problem. So they usually lose (or lost) many sales on PC and PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Wii. In their opinion illegal downloading therefore has to be severely punished.

[Kingsora]

Soon: rapers, muderers sitting together in prison with the boy next door that downloaded one PSP game

[blumatt]

Well, it's pretty simple then: Pay for your games. lol

Is it really that hard? People need to pay for their music, movies, and games.

Side note, why are they paying in Euros and not in Yen? lol

Edit: So, people should get all their games for free?? Yeah, of course, that makes so much sense. /s That does suck about the price, but I mean let's say new cars cost way too much, does that mean you should be able to go steal one of those? Of course not!!

[Simon_Brezhnev]

Well Japanese do rape their consumers. I bet new games still cost like 100usd there if not more.

[Blankman85]

I don't understand why blumatt has disagrees. If you're gonna steal, be prepared to do the time if you're caught. It's that simple.

[LightofDarkness]

You've over-simplified the nature of copyright infringement far too much there, matt. The car analogy is simply irrelevant. I don't have the ability to download a new car with a few clicks of the mouse, and not actually deprive the original owner of their car.

In a world where that was possible, nobody would pay for cars ever again. There's no need to, because our economy assigns value based on the supply/demand ratio. Infinite, easily available supply = no value. It's practically air at that point. That is the unfortunate nature of digital media. It is the thread that unravels the entire structure of the economy, and how we can value art.

It's not so simple as giving the government broad powers to prosecute and impose incredibly unnecessary sentences that don't fit the crime. Grand theft should land you in prison, downloading a $60 videogame should result in either recompense (paying the publisher for the game, with perhaps a small punitive charge), or some form of probationary or community service related sentence if the defendant can't pay. However, we can't just send little Billy down the street to federal prison where we'll only turn him into an actual hardened criminal (I think we can all agree we don't need any more of those), especially when the crime is fairly trivial in reality.

It needs a much bigger discussion, and current methods of dealing with it are not viable.

[MikeMyers]

LightofDarkness is right, the penalty should fit the crime. However it is doubtful little Billy will get prison time for downloading one game. It is probably a scale they can use so if little Billy opens up a shop on the street and sells copies then he could go to prison.

This is a scare tactic by having big fines and the threat of jail time to discourage people from pirating. If they officially announced you will only get a slap on the wrist for one game then most people would ignore it. I also don't understand the euro being mentioned and not the yen.

The fact is we should all be paying for our games if we want to continue playing them in the future.

[nukeitall]

@LightofDarkness:

I completely agree. Why on earth are Japan spending hard earned tax money on housing petty criminals (if you can even call it that) in jail?

Let's spend the money where it matters, and it ain't in copyright infringement!

[creatchee]

I disagree with LightofDarkness. The point of a legal punishment is not to get back an equal or slightly greater value from said punishment - it is to deter people from committing the crime in the first place.

Example - if the punishment for stealing a $60 game was $80, then the risk is not that great. You weigh free vs an extra $20, decide that there is more benefit to take a chance than dealing with negative reactions, and steal the game. But But if the punishment was $50,000 and jail time, is it an automatically easy choice anymore?

For the people who still decide to pirate at that point, they deserve any punishment they get. Theu took something that did not belong to them without offering compensation. They are thieves. They are criminals.

[Fez]

@creatchee
In that case every crime should result in life in prison or the death penalty. Jay walking... death! Stealing a penny chew... death! They deserve any punishment they get, they are thieves and jay walkers. They are criminals.

@blumatt
People probably disagreed because the punishment is so far out of proportion.

[SandWitch]

A theft is not a theft if you don't take the original copy. Imagine that you find a ripped DVD (e.g. with pirated movie) in the street. If you take the DVD - you are thief? I think not. The same is when you find pirated software on the internet.

People, who rip pirated software and upload it to the internet should take all the responsibility and they should be called criminals.

I buy games myselft, but calling pirates a real criminals and putting them into jail is just nonsense IMO.

[creatchee]

Wow Fez - way to blow that out of proportion.

But stealing a penny chew is the same as stealing a video game is the same as stealing a diamond ring (although laws exist where value determines the severity of the crime). It's all stealing.

And jaywalking is a crime because it puts the lives of drivers and pedestrians in danger. Oh sure - it's no big deal when there's no traffic, but some people grossly underestimate their ability to cross the street in a timely fashion, cause accidents, and end up killing people or costing tons of money I repair, hospital, and litigation expenses.

Here:
http://gulfnews.com/news/gu...

Not such a fun crime anymore, is it?

[Fez]

@creatchee
Well they know the punishment...death. For the people who still decide to steal a penny chew at that point, they deserve any punishment they get.

[SilentNegotiator]

No problem, since Japan is so good about doing world wide rele-

Oh wait...

[hkgamer]

Price is in Euros because it is a Dutch site.

Don't understand why you have that many disagrees though. People should pay for things that are not available for free, especially items that are not a neccesity.
Gaming is for entertainment reasons only, if you cannot afford it then wait for a price drop, buy it second hand or borrow it off a friend(I understand that renting is not allowed in Japan).

@Simon

You cannot compare game prices from one country to another, Japan's economy is different. They probably earn alot more than people in the US. If you still feel you are getting ripped off then just don't support that industry or complain to the press. Japanese publishers/retailers believe that the market price is that much, similar to how Armani or Prada pricing their items. Only companies that cannot do that are petrol(gas) companies because the governemtn will intervene since it is classed as a neccesity.

@light of darkness

I understand what you are saying, but the new ammendment to the law is just a maximum penalty. Laws are also different in each country and for Japan I think it is only a scare tactic or maybe something to tell people that illegal download is bad for the society.

@nukeitall
If people pirate, companies will make less money, therefore pay less taxes or worst case scenario go bankrupt and leave thousands unemployed therefore leading to a whole load of tax money gone.

@creatchee
completely agree, or maybe they should make a new law, physical theft = physical jail, digital theft = internet ban for life. =D
Don't think anyone can survive without the internet in this day and age.

@Gynga
I think if you find something on the floor you are supposed to report it or take it to the police. It's like finding a wallet on the floor and keeping it, that is not allowed. Or in this case, which is seeking out sites to illegally download is the same as scoping busy areas to see if anyone drops something and then taking it for yourself. It is not like finders keepers.

OK... ranted on for enough.

[gaffyh]

Japan is probably one of the few countries where not many people actually pirate games, because it is not part of their culture. This legislation is created to prevent that even further. I don't agree with the harshness of it, but you can see why they're doing it. Japanese gamers actually tend to buy games unlike gamers in the West.

[PopRocks359]

"The punishment should fit the crime."

Why do I get the feeling that this is coming from people who strongly believe that there is no crime in this instance at all?

[ChocolateGiddyUp]

"new cars cost way too much, does that mean you should be able to go steal one of those? Of course not!!"

If stealing cars were as easy as downloading music and movies, we'd all have a fleet of Lamborghinis.

[Dir_en_grey]

@gaffyh
Nah Japan actually caught on to pirating with the DS pirate cart "Magic Controller/MagiCon".

Every middle school kid would want one and their moms will just buy it for them without knowing what it is. People selling it were even out right advertising it on their store fronts. They would get fined and told to take down the signs but stores would just start selling it a week later after they got caught and fined. Pretty much every mom and pop shops would sell them.

Kids learned to install firmware on the PSP and that is pretty wide spread in Japan too.

And all that created a bunch of kids that now knows how to pirate and the possibility of finding out how through the internet, pretty much just like any other country. They would brag on their twitter about their new pirated games without even knowing or fearing the law.

It is a wide spread problem so this is most likely why this law was created to bring focus and let people know that it is a crime to pirate and DL illegal stuff.

They won't be sending people off to jail left and right, they'll just fine them/parents as a warning.

@ChocolateGiddyUp
Yeah people don't care about internet pirating and think they have the right to because it's so easy and risk free

[extermin8or]

I agree generally although I fully intend to sell my copy of skyrim on ps3 and when I eventually get a new laptop hopefully later this month; pirate the pc version of the game; purely to spite them because I bought the game day one and they've just stuck 2 fingers up at ps3 players from day one; the lack of communication about when issues will be delayed, they only announced dlc timed exclusivity just after the games release instead of before so many people bought it; it wouldn't have stopped me but I would have liked to know; then quietly quietly announcing the ps3 may never get the dlc for skyrim ever; I want the full post launch support they had been discussing prior to launch not just some of it, they should have tested that the engine/game functioned on ps3 correctly. So therefore I refuse to give them any more of my money; feels like they already robbed me .... Only reason I'd give them money is if Skyrim gets Dawnguard fully working before otherwise.. but otherwise I disagree with pirating a game unless it's in protest almost and for a good reason :p

[doogiebear]

@ LightOfDarkness: You sir are a very ration and mild tempered individual. Please run for President, because I dont like our choices here in America.

[Elwenil]

The sheer amount of thieves, criminal apologists, immature morons with overblown senses of entitlement and all around fools in this thread sicken me. Some of you need a good lesson in the finer points of property ownership and the simple black and white difference between right and wrong. Grow up, plain and simple.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

@extermin8or

I understand a lot of people feel that way, but that doesn't entitle you to pirate the game, specially if you sell your copy (since you can't even clain it's a backup).

If the game doesn't work as advertised, start going back to the store and asking for a refund. If everyone would do that retailers would start passing the problem onto distribution/publishers and, eventually, the gaming industry would have to quit the "unfinished releasing" tactic and start making sure to support gamers correctly. Companies don't like wasting money.

The same goes for worthless or cut-off DLCs or pre-order bonuses, everyone complains about it, but you don't see sales decreasing for either uncomplete games or their would-be expansions. Stop buying and they'll either adapt or go out of business.

[Allsystemgamer]

LOL XD

[MMOGames]

It says downloaders won't actively be detected, and only the owner of the pirated material may lodge a complaint through the courts. That means in order to do that, the owner would have to detect it themselves - which may have some privacy invasion laws.

Seems like a scare tactic, put a big penalty on it, but make it so hard to convict that no one actually bothers. Hope everyone gets scared and crime goes down.

[SilentNegotiator]

LOL, in that case, they should start their own website where you can pirate their stuff. They'd probably make more money from non-Japanese regions that way.

[neogeo]

I will tell you how this fails in the USA. The average prisoner in America cost tax payers almost $22k per year. So If someone steals a $60 game I'm not willing to help pay 44k for it.

[miyamoto]

So that means its safer to own a PS3 in Japan, then... where its not too easy to pirate games for.

[t0mmyb0y]

All I know is my gut says maybe a certain place is effed. Not saying that place is mentioned in this article, but they are, and I would be suicidal if I lived there too.

[Christopher]

Why not? They already sit next to embezzlers and home robbers.

[sjaakiejj]

Theft is a serious offense. Perhaps not as serious as rape and murder, but still not to be taken lightly.

There's plenty of people in jail for a crime that shouldn't have gotten them there, but I don't believe that Piracy is one of them.

[born2live]

For the 100th time, copying is not stealing! Get that in your head!! Using copyrighted material for a profit without authorization from the author is a crime! Making a copy for your own use, without distribution, should be a misdemeanor at worst.

[sjaakiejj]

"Making a copy for your own use, without distribution, should be a misdemeanor at worst."

The product was made by someone. That someone is selling it. You are acquiring it without paying them, and without their permission. On top of that, you're depriving the owner of the monetary value attached to that product.

That's pretty close to the definition of theft - The wrongful taking of personal goods or property.

I know people like to 'moralize' piracy in order to feel better about themselves, but you're still taking what isn't yours, regardless of if it's copying or taking the physical object.

[born2live]

@sjaakiejj

You assume that, if someone did not copy a game, he would probably have bought it - that's a false assumption. He would most likely just not play that game, or buy it from a cheaper source (second hand), which still would not generate any more revenues for the copyright holder! Piracy is not nearly as damaging as they would like you to think. No money is stolen from the guy who made the game because you can't prove that he would have made that money in the first place! They will make you think that there are billions of dollars lost on piracy when the actual truth is that the money was never there in the first place!

Don't let their propaganda get to you.

I agree though that piracy is not good from a moral standpoint, but of all the crimes in the world, on a scale of 1 to 10, it scores a -1. I agree that there should be a fine, but it should be proportional to the "crime" (5-10 times the lowest price on the market seems fair to me - punitive enough, without being ruinous - as far as I know, no one died of hunger because 1 individual made a copy of a game). A lot of our fellow bloggers above seem to agree that the punishment suggested in this article is not proportional to the crime (who gave the example of a prisoner costing $22k a year to taxpayers vs a game that is worth at most $60? This is sheer stupidity, and obviously the work of lobbyists - no sane person would think that $60 is worth 2 years of prison)

The real criminal is the uploader - it is possible to prove that the uploader is depriving the copyrightholder of a source of revenue. But it's much harder to find the uploader, isn't it... So, instead of going after him, which is very demanding in time and ressources, they are going after kids, students, and single moms, who can't defend themselves because they lack the monetary ressources to do so, and fine them outrageous amounts of money or sue them with a panel of corporate lawyers to make up for not being able to find that 1 guy who uploaded the file.

Piracy may be morally reprehensible, but with laws like that, you are not protecting the citizens - you are giving more rights to a company (legal entity) than to an actual human being (assuming that the copyright is held by a company, which it is, in most circumstances)!

Edit: and your reasoning is hypocritical. EVERYONE has infringed a copyright at least once in their lives, be it by photocopying parts of a book, recording a tv program or radio show, etc. Have the decency to admit it, and then I dare you to say that you should have done prison for that crime.

[rainslacker]

@born

Speaking for the US laws here since I don't know about Japan.

pirating is not stealing, it's copyright infringement. Whether or not you resell the copy is irrelevant. The owner of the copyright is well within their rights to pursue legal action against you. There were some record labels that pursued this pretty heavily before the advent of iTunes and similar services.

Technically you are allowed to make a copy of any software you own. So if you have an original copy that you purchased of the software, then yes you can have a copy. This was settled by the courts during the VHS tape days.

If you do not own the original copy of the software then yes you can make a copy of it, however you are not allowed to use it. All major software comes with licensing agreements, and part of that agreement is to not use an un-purchased copy of said software. Some do say that you can not have a backup, however, as said above the courts said that you are allowed to.

It really bothers me that so many people are so oblivious to how wrong downloading media is, when it's meant to replace purchasing. There are a few examples where I think it's not a bad thing; such as demoing a CD you want to buy, and getting a DRM free version of a game you purchased(although technically against EULA).

I pirated for many years back in the PS1/PS2 days, I even installed mod chips for various systems. But it was the people like you who try to justify what you do, instead of just admitting that you are violating copyright laws, that made me realize that I was no better than a common thief.

Edit @ born: I read your response that you wrote while I was typing this, and think I shouldn't have called you out, but other than that my points still stand.

[sjaakiejj]

"Have the decency to admit it, and then I dare you to say that you should have done prison for that crime."

That's kind of the problem. Yes, I have done it, as has everyone else, and I have no problems with admitting it. The difference is that I feel guilty about having done it, unlike the people who try to justify that act.

And yes, I should have had the risk of being prosecuted like any other criminal or thief while committing those acts of piracy. The difference is that I was still a child when I did it, and as I grew older I started to understand what I was actually doing.

And no, I never said that a pirated game is an otherwise guaranteed buy. Just like a shoplifter probably wouldn't have bought the products that they stole. Does that make it okay for him to take them? On that note, where do you draw the line? Why is it okay for someone to download a game, but not to steal it from a store shelf? It's the same thing, the person probably wouldn't have bought it, yet he still owns a product that isn't his.

That's my point. If you want to experience a game, pay for it.

[jerethdagryphon]

Gynga: the idea that its not theft because you didnt take a physical copy

is flawed completely , data can be copied infinitely your right. but does that give the right of ownership to the owner of a copy.

it doesnt if i hack your computer and download all of its data is that theft.

the art you made, story's you've written, inventions you designed,

its all mine now but i haven't taken the original.
i can now give that shiny new os you were planning to sell away cause well its not theft.

is that really how you see things if so you got problems.

[Grenade]

Why do the Japanese have to pay in Euro?

[Allsystemgamer]

To get more people in prison?

[MMOGames]

There's no currency exchange booth at the prison ;)

[torchic]

guys come on, I'm pretty sure the article authors just converted from Yen to Euro so that it makes sense for people living outside Japan -.-

[knifefight]

Did you really miss the joke? Like, and you felt like you should explain the headline because people didn't understand?
Serious question.

[torchic]

@knifefight

well dude, if I missed the joke I'm sorry that I'm not as infinitely smart as you are, being able to catch on to jokes in an instant.

many people were asking the question so I thought it was a legitimate question.

sorry again mate.

[knifefight]

It's true, asking people to be as smart as me is pretty tough task at time. Well, we both learned from it though, and that's what's important. Cheers.

[MrDead]

Why not just post a bill demanding you pay for the game?

[Blankman85]

They don't do that for bank robbers and shoplifters, why should gamers/pirates get any special treatment?

[Eamon]

because bank robbery and piracy are two different things.

Shoplifters don't get as much punishment as bank robbers.

Depending on the nature of the shoplifting crime, (if it was stealthy and nobody noticed) it could be punished with a fine or community service. If the shoplifting involved pointing a gun at the owner, that's more severe. Bank Robbery usually involves pointing guns in an organised crime and possibly stealing TREMENDOUS amounts of cash (compared to a silly $60 game).

It's like saying, murderers get a life sentence, so why should people who get charged with manslaughter be any different?

[mike1up]

Because Crime doesn't pay.

[TopDudeMan]

I think a reasonable fine would be just slightly more than the cost of the game (just because there are people who need to be paid to handle the processing of the fine). I don't sympathise with pirates, but there's no need for some ridiculous fine. Where does that money even go?

[born2live]

Funny you should ask... The RIAA for example does not, in fact, refund the infringed artist - they use that money to pay themselves!! the whole copyright thing in the US at least created a niche of lawyers who make a living off sueing kids, students and monoparental moms "on behalf of" the artist, who never actually sees a penny from it! In some cases, the artists themselves did not want to sue their own fans, but the case was out of their hands and the lawyers representing the RIAA kept going on - it's their money they are after, not protecting the rights of the artist!

Obviously, this is specific to the music industry - I have yet to find a case of a guy who got sued for copying an illegal videogame and went to court for it in the US - these matters are usually settled out of court. As far as I know, there aren't any trade group efforts to protect the copyrights of videogame developpers... not yet...

[kneon]

It needs to be substantially more than the cost of the game otherwise it's ineffective as a deterrent.

I have no problem with fines in the thousands of dollars but jail time should be reserved for repeat offenders and those distributing pirated games.

[MmaFan-Qc]

a thief is a thief, no matter what is justification is, i may not agree with the punishement, but its a good way to put shit in perspective.

[HammadTheBeast]

Asian prison rape can't be too bad...

[WitWolfy]

LOL you stereotype

[Wigriff]

Er... they don't use Euro in Japan; they use Yen. The fines are up to 2,000,000 Yen. Excellent reporting.

[tee_bag242]

Heard of news being localized for its readers ?

[Wigriff]

I'm supposed to take criticism and corrections from a guy who names himself after a lewd sex act? I'll get right on that...

[tee_bag242]

Lol maybe it's time you started

[BigDog55]

Why don't they go after the person that uploads it?? If anybody here was walking down the street and found a $20 they would pick it up!!

[Tetsujin]

That's how I see it; punish the one who uploaded it to begin with, not the people downloading it. Apparently someone in house started most of the uploads on the internet and yet the people downloading it get fined while the suppliers get nothing done - and yes I am aware that some people at home have the time/resources, however most of what you see on the internet is from in house, especially with certain games on broken street dates and dvd screener movies.

[EPIKgamer]

That is not a proper analogy, a better one would be if a bank robber stole everything from a bank and then immediatley ran outside and threw it around everywhere for people to pick up, at that point it is obvious that it is stolen money and you are a criminal for partaking in such an act since it is obvious the money belongs to the bank.

[pompombrum]

What about when game companies (CAPCOM *cough cough*) steal from gamers? Do they get 20k fines or two years jail time too?

[ronin4life]

They lose sales.

At least that's what's SUPPOSED to happen...

[PopRocks359]

It's not theft when the person Capcom "stole" from willingly paid for it. That's called a scam.

[Hicken]

A scam is still stealing. Just because you were tricked doesn't make it any less of a theft on the scammer's part.

[MoonConquistador]

Hicken, have you been bubble raped, here have one for adding some intelligence

[rainslacker]

It's not even really a scam. It's just poor business ethics, and not really caring about their customers. They get more money from the people who probably wouldn't be able to say what Capcom is(and likely clueless to what's going on), than they lose by treating their core customers well.

A scam implies that they are intentionally misleading the customer and delivering a product that is different than promised. They've been fairly upfront with their crap business practices, I just think they may think they aren't as bad since it's making them money, thus being a good business practice for them.

[-Gespenst-]

Way too far. Some people don't have enough money to buy all the cool videogames, albums, films they want to see, so they're forced to download a few.

How are people supposed to expand their horizons / tastes if governments police them like this? Capitalism's just having a tantrum at the moment.

[kneon]

Forced? Really? So video games, films etc. are a necessity of life? You have no right to any of these, just because someone doesn't have the money doesn't justify stealing.

The only situation in which you are "forced" to steal may be if your choice is steal some food or die.

[AceofStaves]

People aren't entitled to entertainment media. It's not a necessity of life. If you can't afford to buy your games, you need to learn to budget, be patient, or find another hobby.

[Emilio_Estevez]

Capitalism also means working for the things you want. If you can't afford them, stealing is not the answer. Maybe a 2nd job or spending less frivolously is.

While I agree this seems a but harsh, at the same time everyone knows how rampant piracy really is. We all know lots of people who do and someone somewhere was going to draw the proverbial line in the sand somewhere. In Japan, this is it.

[Saryk]

Rampant piracy? I have no love for a cheater or a pirate, but look at the numbers. If pirates were doing that much damage companies would be in the hole, they are not. Consider the source!

[Emilio_Estevez]

I'm not talking about #'s or $'s. I'm talking about how everyone here knows many people that pirate games, movies, music, books, software, anything they can. That's the truth. That makes it a problem.

[PopRocks359]

@Saryk

This comes after a year of video game companies losing tons of money and many developer studios being shut down.

Next.

[Saryk]

@PopRocks359
Like? 38 Studios was self inflicted, big budget new title (which I bought) in a recession.
That’s it.
Who are these many developer studios?

[XabiDaChosenOne]

There is always that chosen few in these threads that feel they are entitled to luxury and/or its a necessity to life smdh. People these days are so mentally backwards its insane.

[TheLyonKing]

20 euros, thats not too bad.

now if it was 20,000 euros now thats a lot ;)

[Trago1337]

Get a job hippies!

[TheFurryPanda]

I think the main issue is: if the material hadn't been pirated would it have been viewed anyway? (So, is the company actually losing money?)

I know many times my friends have downloaded seasons of shows that have caused me to watch the newest seasons live on television or buy random merchandise from the show because it's something physical I want. But, I would have never paid 200 bucks to watch a couple seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with almost no knowledge of what it was about or if I'd like it. Heck I wouldn't have even shelled out 20 bucks for a season of it.

I think it's the producers who need to change not the consumers. We live in an information age, supply us services like hulu where I can watch tv or movies and just watch ads like I would commercials on my time. That way you make money from the consumer through ads and don't have to put ridiculously long ads at the beginning of legitimate dvds and blurays we buy telling us how piracy is wrong (we already bought the disc..) and the upcoming movies they're releasing (I don't need ads when I shelled out 20 bucks for !:30 of entertainment.

[ChronoJoe]

Cute. Trying to scare people into buying games legally. Way to go Japan.

Seriously though, there are oh so many means of making yourself entirely anonymous online, that any laws ultimately redundant.

I don't play any illegal games and that's the complete truth. However, if I wanted to grab some it's unbelievably easy. If I want, I can even make it look like a neighbor downloaded them.

Threats like this are not the correct approach. Ultimately only punishing the clueless, and not the serial downloaders or uploaders. It's comparable to locking up petty drug criminals and leaving their suppliers on the streets (America).

[jd666]

Why should they have to do the time if they do the crime? They're exempt from paying for games, morally and lawfully!! They're elite gamers for crying out loud!! They'll whine like spoilt brats if they don't get a version of a game and steal it when they do and god help you if they don't like the ending of your game!! There's nothing elite about theft, however u dress it up!!

[JasonKCK]

It all looks good on paper. We have laws like this in the US and they dont realy work.

[Cam977]

Huge shame this wasn't put I to action during the PSP's golden days.

[Unlimax]

Everyone , If that policy happen to Anime Shows .. We finished !!!

[Snookies12]

Nah man, Crunchyroll... Plus there are some sites like Funimation that just let you stream their stuff for free anytime.

[NewVegasTroop]

OMG if that happens...how are we going to watch GOOD entertainment?!!! i mean, there are only three shows i enjoy from american television: family guy, robot chicken, the office (but steve carell is gone now so not as enjoyable anymore). what else are we suppose to do...fap?!!

BTW you guys seen sword art online??? perfect show for a gamer AND an otaku!

[rainslacker]

While technically wrong to download it, I think anime is served pretty well by the streaming sites. So many people use it to find anime they like, which I think many eventually invest in in some way. These are people that actually support their community too, and greatly encourage people to purchase shows they like to get more like them.

Even before downloading was the norm, fan-subs were pretty popular among anime fans, although the people wouldn't fansub something that was or was going to be released in that region. It's not to say that new releases and stuff should be ripped and put up immediately for download though.

[jjb1981]

It's the same as stealing from the store. Pay for the games you love to support the developers so that they may continue to make more.

[Megaton]

Ridiculously unbalanced approach to dealing with it. Let's ignore the fact that pirates have been found to actually purchase more entertainment media than non-pirates...

http://arstechnica.com/tech...

http://torrentfreak.com/int...

...and pretend that they're all really the greasy basement-dwelling thief caricature that the big media cartel has invented. Even in that case, 2 years of jail time for copying media for personal use is ludicrous. The only thing you'll achieve is the resentment of all the new real criminals you're farming in those prisons.

[jd666]

I once read a study that found that drug dealers actually boost their areas local economy , doesn't make it right though does it?

[Megaton]

Doubt you could come up with a more nonsensical comparison if you tried. Pirates buying more media than non-pirates completely contradicts the case against them. Drug dealers buying cigarettes and food in their neighborhood means what, exactly?

[Qrphe]

Offtopic analogy

But yes, you make a good point for legalization and regulation of drugs

[kagon01]

If it wasn't from the fansubs, and word of mouth anime wouldn't be that popular like "those" overrated series...(crunchyroll wouldn't exist in the first place if it wasn't from "them")

http://www.sankakucomplex.c...

[PurpHerbison]

Haha! 6 posts deep and N4G has already reared it's ugly head. Come on now.

[MastaPiff]

Man... FUNK THAT!!!

I don't care if I'm rich, poor, don't have thumbs or live underwater! There's always more games than I got money for & you know MastaPiff is getting his game on regardless. The game I pirate today might be the sequel I buy tomorrow, that probably wouldn't happen if I couldn't get my PROPER sneak peek. Game publishers don't just give all their ridiculous profits to the developer that created that amazing piece of code. They give it to that guy's boss & the CEO's while that dev is slaving away on the next EA game. It's all a hustle in the gaming industry & I NEED MINE (CEO's know!). The pub's hustle dev's then hope to hustle me! NOT GONNA HAPPEN! Lot of ppl taking the high road but I smell a few hypocrites, you never pirated a game on your phone? You currently own every game you play on those emulators!? GTFO... I didn't know Mitt Romney posted comments on N4G. Real life out.

[Qrphe]

I hacked my PSP and did download games for it. Memorable mentions are Birth By Sleep, Crisis Core, Phantasy Star 2, Ys Seven and Persona 3; I loved them all.
And guess what? I later ended up buying FF7 from the PSN store and for PC, KH 3D, and all the Ys games from Steam. I waiting for Ys Celceta, Persona 4 and Phantasy Star Online 2 as well.

I can GUARANTEE you, that if I had never hacked my PSP, I would have NEVER gotten into these franchises.

[MoonConquistador]

LOL@MastaPiff - Once you pick your way through the comedic delivery, there's some good points in there.

As soon as pricing becomes reasonable for everyone, and quality is assured in every single game (or movie or music albums), then we can start to implement these draconian punishments.

Until then, I'd like the option of trying before I buy. Hell I can't even borrow certain games from friends now to try.

There needs to be a good balance to this

[cl1983]

Either find a legal free trial copy, rent from a store or borrow it from a friend.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Isnt the punishment supposed to be commensurate to the crime?

This seems out of step...

[Qrphe]

"Illegal downloads for publishers still a big problem. So they usually lost many sales on PC and PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Wii, etc"

[citation needed]

[Sucitta]

you do realize that we are SHARING digital media?

the internet has allowed human beings to network and share already purchased digital products.

greedy corporations do not like when we are able to share, so they come up with fancy titles like copyright infringement.

you, the they steal they go to jail sloth, have been conditioned your entire life to be a good consumer slave. you accept the fact that you must work at a job that you do not like, making millions for a small handful of fat-cats, all the while taking home enough to feed and shelter your family.

piracy/sharing is a DIRECT result of corporate GREED. It's really that black and white.

Funny now Minecraft creators have urged people to pirate their game for free, knowing that this results in free advertising as well as more sales, so long as their game is good and worth the purchase.

stop being the slave you've been conditioned to be., its disgusting.

[MoonConquistador]

Good points Sucitta +bubbles even though it sounds like you just finished watching Fight Club

Some people need to wake up and smell the s*** they are shovelling

[rainslacker]

Outside of DD, restrictive DRM, and online passes, you are still able to share your physical media without any problem, and I doubt any company would care if you did. However if you purchase a DD or physical copy of a game, and then your friend wants to play too, then downloads it(or you make a copy), that is not sharing. That is copyright infringement. That term came around long before companies went digital and the ability to easily and cheaply distribute media became available. It's there to protect the original creator of the content from losing sales, and having their work stolen.

We have been conditioned to pay for the things that others create that we wish to use. It has been that way since early man first came up with the barter system. These companies are not doing us a favor by producing expensive games just so we can play them. They are producing these games to make a profit. You can go through all the justifications you want to say how piracy can help software sales, as some developers say, but in the end your comment is way off base and totally irrational.

While it is true piracy can help some games flourish, it can also kill the sales of others. Take a look at a majority of the PSP library to see how poorly some of their biggest titles did, but also had really high download rates. Then look at what it did to pretty much abolish developer support for the system. In the end piracy does a hell of a lot more harm than good for the industry and the consumer. For the most part the only people getting any benefit from it are the pirates who don't pay for the hard work of the developers, and a few niche developers who work the system to endear the pirates to them.

The problem with using Notch as an example is that he does promote people to pirate his product, thus lifting that part of the copyright protecting his work. Most developers do not want to do this though. If a person says you can pirate my work, then you have permission and it's no longer infringement. For him and some others it's a marketing tool. It's also one that the pirates picked up on and use as a basis for their arguments on why it's OK to pirate any and everything.

[ChunkyLover53]

Typical Dictatorship, makes me so glad I'm an American. Even though I'm not fond of our current President or situations, I'll always be thankful that I was born and raised here in the good ol' USA.

[Luke_fon_Fabre]

I'll pirate like mother 3, but I don't understand people that port new games.

[Snookies12]

Yeah, there are some games you simply can't get a hold of in other countries... How else are you going to get a chance to play them if you don't find a way to download them? It's not the downloader's fault that the company never released a certain game in your area.

Things like this are circumstances where it shouldn't be a big problem to pirate a game. Though I would never get a game that's less than about 5 years old. Regardless, things I download I usually end up buying anyway if I can find them later on down the road.

[Jason_Tanner]

Yes, you should pay for games/movies/music ie: somebody else's work. Work has worth and people have a right to demand money for their time, talent and work. Just because some many of these things are available digitally doesn't negate the fact that if you get it without paying for it that it is still stealing. Here's some alternatives to stealing:

Wait for a sale, borrow from a friend, buy used, ask for it as a gift idea, trade for it, etc.. Point being there are plenty of ways around illegally downloading something and owning it legitimately without paying full price for it new. You wouldn't want your boss to short your check, don't do it to someone else.

[MoonConquistador]

Jason, in theory yes, but until you get to view, listen or play it, how can you place value on it and tell if you are being ripped off.

If you get a preview track on amazon, trailer at the cinema, or demo of a game, they will show you the best bits creating a false illusion of quality. I've paid to get into films at the cinema where the only entertaining bits have been what was shown in the trailer.

If Neil young, or muse create an album, its on sale for the same price as manufactured pop crap with no soul, created by record company executives to fleece you out of money.

Ask any up and coming band if illegal file sharing has hampered their career and they will tell you they make more in follow up sales or concert tickets. Napster wasn't shut down by up and coming bands who probably needed the money more than well established artists. It was shut down by metallica who were already millionaires and owned more than most do in their lifetime. Eg, its fuelled by greed as Sucitta explained above

[BitbyDeath]

The real problem with music/movies/games is how much money they make.

IMO They should all be priced accordingly to how well they sell.

IE if COD has a budget of $100,000, as soon as sales match that budget, then the price should drop by $10. Every double of the budget there after continues to reduce it by $10.
eg. $400,000 = $40 game $600,000 = $30 game etc
Eventually the highest selling game could sale for as little as a $1.

Everyone would benefit.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Why would they do that? In what world does that mak any sense at all? They are here to make money, and to make as much as possible. You dont live your life that way so dont expect them to do it.

[BitbyDeath]

Hence why the system is broken, i'd gladly do the same if it applied to everyone.

Bank owners don't need to be earning millions/billions of dollars per year same with sports stars.

[SuperStrokey1123]

Who cares what they "need" to earn. Thats none of your business. The system is not broken, only you are broke.

I suspect you wouldnt do the same either...

[tiffac008]

If you think that law from Japan is bad then you guys need to look to our great Cybercrime law here in the Philippines where it acts just like SOPA and libel was inserted at the last minute to quell Freedom of Speech.

[Psychotica]

Good

[WitWolfy]

Lets say I pirate a xbox 360 game to play online.. I will eventually buy the DLC for that game just to squeeze out a bit more fun out of it.. So the company still makes money... Doesnt it?

[MoonConquistador]

Not quite the point I was making with finding out quality first wit wolfy. I don't agree with piracy full stop, but I won't say I'm whiter than white and have never downloaded something from the net.

I've downloaded albums of bands before, and if they are good, I'll go buy it and probably go see them in concert if they tour.

If you had liked the game that much after copying it, you should really be buying a genuine copy, even if you wait a few weeks til it drops in price.

There's a difference between applying a bit of quality control and copying a game you liked denying the developers their rightful slice. Maybe if they set the price at a more reasonable level, you would have, who knows.