Deliverable 7 - Persuasive Research Paper

Running head: PERSUASIVE RESEARCH PAPER 1

PERSUASIVE RESEARCH PAPER 4

Persuasive Research Paper

Name: Marquita Brown

Institution: Rasmussen College

Date: May 7, 2019

Persuasive Research Paper

Should people who illegally download music and movies be punished?

Despite the fact that many people do not realize so, downloading and distributing any copyrighted content is prohibited by the copyright laws of the country and offenders can be prosecuted if found guilty. According to the Copyright Act that was constituted in 1976, individuals prosecuted for infringement of copyright laws will be subject to a fine ranging from $750 to $30,000 and may face criminal charges if they wilfully distributed copyrighted content that may result in a sentence of up to five years (Masters, 2019). The internet has however made it easy for people to gain access to copyrighted content, due to the multiple websites that allow users to make free downloads.

Legally, the law prohibits the distribution of copyrighted content without the approval of the owners of the content. This means it is the person distributing the content that commits the punishable offense, and not individuals that gain access to the content through the distributor. Websites that allow users to download copyrighted music and movies online, therefore, carry the majority of the blame for piracy. By uploading copyrighted content online and allowing users to download it freely, these websites violate copyright laws and their owners are eligible for conviction. For example, the owner of one of the most popular torrent download sites was recently arrested and prosecuted (Shead, 2016). People who download copyrighted content, therefore, perform a lesser evil, and should not be punished for simply making a rational decision to access free content instead of paying for it.

The fact that most people are aware that movies and music can be freely downloaded from the internet makes it difficult to convince people to opt to pay for the content instead. It is basically the failure of regulators to ensure that websites that offer this content are not accessible. Due to the fact that authorities are not in a position to control the existence of websites that offer free downloads, it is doubtful that measures can be put in place that will ensure people that actually download this content are identified and prosecuted. When an individual knows that they can save money that would have otherwise been spent at a theatre, they will definitely opt for free content that can be downloaded from the internet freely. To control piracy, the government should instead focus on online content providers who violate copyright laws. Comment by Steve Honeywell: This is a more advanced suggestion from me: beware of overwriting. “Due to the fact that” is just a fancy, five-word way of saying “because.” Simpler is always better. Comment by Steve Honeywell: Accurate? True of everyone?

People also settle for downloading free content due to the absence of legal options that would allow them to successfully buy the content they need. According to Sanchez (2018), despite complaints by the music and movie industry on illegal downloads, there are usually no legal means available on the internet through which they can legally download content. This means musicians and film producers have not created websites that can distribute their content at a fee to users, which leaves users with no choice but to download illegal content. Comment by Steve Honeywell: I’m not following the logic of the argument here. Even if there is no legal way to download content, that doesn’t mean I don’t have access to that content another way.

Freely downloading copyrighted content is a crime that should be discouraged in order to promote the entertainment industry. However, people that download free media content online should not be punished because it is not their fault that the content is available for download in the first place. Regulators should pay more attention to websites that provide the content in the first place if they are to successfully control piracy. Comment by Steve Honeywell: Does this mean that if someone leaves their car unlocked with the keys in it that they are responsible if it is stolen, and the thief should not be punished? It’s not the thief’s fault that the car was left open and available. That’s not a flippant question, because I do understand the point you are trying to make here, but it seems like what you are saying is that people cannot be responsible for their behaviour if they find themselves tempted. If someone in a medical clinic leaves out someone’s medical records, I’m still liable for a crime if I take them.

References Masters, T., 2019. Punishment for Violating Copyright Laws. [Online] Available at: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/punishment-violating-copyright-laws-55157.html [Accessed 1 May 2019]. Sanchez, D., 2018. 83% of All Music, Film & TV Piracy Is Motivated by a Lack of Paid Options, Study Claims. [Online] Available at: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2018/06/06/muso-global-piracy-study/ [Accessed 1 May 2019]. Shead, S., 2016. A Ukrainian man has been arrested for allegedly running a $1 billion piracy site. [Online] Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/suspected-kickass-torrent-artem-vaulin-arrested-2016-7?IR=T [Accessed 1 May 2019].