Monday, May 05, 2003

Attention all digitally-oriented Christians: This is a call for a higher standard in the area of copyright infringement. Just because the internet has made it really easy to steal music, movies, and software, doesn't make stealing right. I confess openly that I have given into this temptation in the past, but not anymore. Napster has been replaced by Kazaa, but using these tools the way MOST people use them is still illegal and still wrong. We must have the wisdom to discern between "fair use" and taking what's not our own. 


I love the technology of digital media, but it will not survive if it continues to be misused. But much more important than the future of the technology, is our witness for Christ and the state of our hearts. What are non-Christians to think when we violate both the law and our consciences by "sharing" media? What does God think?

1 comment:

TheChadster said...

Kudos, Paul. Hit the nail right on the head, there. I don't do KaZaA for the obvious moral reasons, but there are many other reasons that one should consider:
1: Most everyone who does file sharing are on a 56k or lower connection. Do you REALLY want to waste that much time waiting to download one little song?
2: If you have a broadband connection with transfer limits, like me, there's always the chance you can go over your upload or download limit. If you're not careful, you can go overboard, just like my friend over here did. Lost his DSL service because of it...
3: Why do file sharing when there are so many other legal ways to listen to music? Internet radio, pay download services, free independant songs, or simply buying CDs! Is it worth the risk of prosecution and headache to do follow any of those paths? I think not.
So, for me, file sharing stinks on the moral AND practical level. And with the RIAA cracking down more and more on those who do it, it's time for everyone to move on.