Leaving the ship

It's not that long ago since The Pirate Bay-suit was to be found on the cover of basically every newspaper. Not strange at all, considering the importance of the matter. This was a matter that people got engaged in. One way or the other, the outcome of this lawsuit would effect you.

As we all know, it's pretty common amongst young people to download stuff free of the internet, such as music and movies. Now, I think we can all agree that this ain't right. The artist or actor or whoever is behind it, deserves to get paid. No one likes working for free. The reason people still download, without a guilty conscience, got to do with the industry. We don't mind paying the artist, but we do mind paying the industry.

Now, the record industry is panicing. I think we all can understand why. They're making less money by the minute. But think about it. It's called a RECORD industry, ain't it? The problem is that people doesn't want to by records anymore. They want music, and they want their music in different formats.

A fact that we can't seem to get past is the fact that the industry is somewhat late. There are a bunch of ways to download music and such for free, that are far better than what the industry has got to offer. Personally, I don't mind paying. Not at all. It's just so much easier to use the channels that are free, simply because they are easier to use, more effective and have got a bigger collection of what I want.

That being said, I am also one of those who appreciate holding a CD or an LP between my hands. There's something special about hearing a record from beginning to end, just as the artist intended, while you are reading the booklet and studying the cover.

It is also a fact that those who download the most, in general are the same ones that buy the most. It's basically those who are most interested in music and/or movies. That does give you something to think about, doesn't it?

I have to say that it's quite awhile since the last time I downloaded anything. Lately I have bought or borrowed the music and movies that I would like to see or listen to. As I said, I like the feeling of actually holding the thing. To be able to find it on the shelf and putting it on. But I don't like wasting my money on things that turns out to be garbage and a waste of space. Therefore, unless I already know that it's good, I like to test it before I buy it. If I download a movie and thinks that it's good, then I will buy it. Is that so wrong?

Now, what made me write all of this, was an article in Dagbladet about the fact that Peter Sunde has decided to quit as a spokesperson for The Pirate Bay. The reason for this is very simple. It takes to much time. Some people are of course claiming that he is jumping ship, but the way I see it, this ship has reached an harbour and is now getting a new captain.

There's not really a point for Sunde to keep spending so much time and energy on this, when it soon will be out of his hands anyway. Of course there will be more time spent in the courtroom, but they are done running the place and are wisely moving on to other projects. The public battle is over, for this time, and even though we can make a discussion as to who won, I think they deserve a break from the spotlight for now. I'm pretty sure that the eye of the public will follow them anyway.