Megaupload shut down

[Jupiter551]

For those who are on the fence and download things you would not normally buy, do you have issues with people downloading your videos if they weren't going to buy them anyway?

Not in the case of models but artists ranging from Neil Gaiman to Radiohead have either made their works available free and/or stated they'd rather people experience them free than not at all. There's a lot more to this debate than a simple "if you didn't pay for it you shouldn't use it", especially when you start getting into DRM (digital rights management) that states a person doesn't actually own the copy of the software they bought and the license to use it can be revoked without notice at any time blah blah.

This isn't about artists work being stolen so much as corporate fatcats trying to figure out what part of the internet they can shove their faces into and take a big bite.

 

[BrotherNature]

This isn't about who is giving away their content. This is about content that the owner has not agreed to give away.

If someone wants a copy of a video game because they wouldn't buy it anyway, why would it be different for a model's videos?

 

[Jupiter551]

This isn't about who is giving away their content. This is about content that the owner has not agreed to give away.

If someone wants a copy of a video game because they wouldn't buy it anyway, why would it be different for a model's videos?

Because assessing the quality and fun of a video game before playing it is much more difficult than deciding whether you like the look and body of a model on cam? If there was a demo of the game you'd have a fair idea if you wanted to buy it. The model is basically giving you a demo on cam.

 

[Jupiter551]

How about libraries, video stores, radio stations. Are they all stealing and piracy too? Why haven't they been subjected to the same sort of witch-hunt?

 

[BrotherNature]

This isn't about who is giving away their content. This is about content that the owner has not agreed to give away.

If someone wants a copy of a video game because they wouldn't buy it anyway, why would it be different for a model's videos?

Because assessing the quality and fun of a video game before playing it is much more difficult than deciding whether you like the look and body of a model on cam? If there was a demo of the game you'd have a fair idea if you wanted to buy it. The model is basically giving you a demo on cam.

Why would someone buy a video game if they had a fully working version?

In terms of a model, someone may not know much about the quality of the videos for sale and what happens on them. If they liked one then they could buy another.

See? The argument works both ways.

 

[BrotherNature]

How about libraries, video stores, radio stations. Are they all stealing and piracy too? Why haven't they been subjected to the same sort of witch-hunt?

Radio stations actually pay songwriters for playing their songs and expose the public to the music, who in turn buy the music.

Video stores pay a % of rentals to the content owner. The renter does not own the video.

Libraries lend content but the person checking out the content does not own it.

 

[Shaun__]

Just found out Megaupload was planning to start a new music store allowing artists to keep 90 percent of the profits. The record companies would not have liked that. I wonder if they nudged the feds to take action.

 

[luvsyou]

I'm surprised models are not supportive of shutting them down. You don't mind if someone takes your videos and posts them free and won't take them down? You get nothing from them and it undercuts you selling your videos.

I don't have a dog in the fight and generally don't do the whole file sharing thing.

It's just interesting to listen to people complain about evil corporations for wanting to be paid when they want the same for themselves.

 

[Shaun__]

I'm surprised models are not supportive of shutting them down.

A lot of models used them to host videos they were selling.

 

[BrotherNature]

Just found out Megaupload was planning to start a new music store allowing artists to keep 90 percent of the profits. The record companies would not have liked that. I wonder if they nudged the feds to take action.

Why would record companies care? Artists can sell music in their own website and make 100%.

This is a bogus story that Megaupload was going to become legit in one area.

 

[Parsnippy]

Almost all upload sites have the same copyrighted downloads. The only reason this happened to Megaupload is because of some mess where they were hosting the material on servers rented in the USA.

There's no reason why the sites themselves should be shut down. It's very difficult for them to monitor and filter copyrighted content. All it really takes is for someone to upload something, name it "dwwaoihdwho" and pass the link around to their friends. Not that most of the uploaders are that smart, they don't need to be. If the US wants to regulate this, it should work on punishing the uploaders, not the sites which are actually supported by the artists who are apparently being defrauded.

 

[Jupiter551]

Why would someone buy a video game if they had a fully working version?

In terms of a model, someone may not know much about the quality of the videos for sale and what happens on them. If they liked one then they could buy another.

See? The argument works both ways.

Uh oh, my dad lent me a book last week, I guess that's piracy? Fuck...

People DO download stuff and then buy it anyway, I know they do because I'm one of them.
Some video games I first downloaded and played (in most cases for a number of hours or days), and then bought:
(for brevity's sake I'll limit this to the last 12 months)

Shogun 2 Total War
The Witcher 2
X2: The Threat
X3: Reunion
Terran Conflict
Thief: Deadly Shadows
Portal 2
Napoleon Total War
Empire Total War
Mirror's Edge
Fallout: New Vegas
GRID
Batman Arkham Asylum

**Edit: BrotherNature I'm trying my best to keep this civil, but you seem to see no shades of grey in this issue - that all the corporate and government stance is correct, and all the users, audience and downloaders are despicable. If you really think that, then great, but did you sign up here just to argue about piracy or something?

 

[Marokite]

It's not looking good... copy/paste from models only thread I posted in:
If you have questions about sites not listed let me know and I can do some digging, find out their stance since megafail.

Here are some alternative sites to consider. I don't know how much space a model typically needs per video, but maybe one of these will help. I listed the file sizes allowed for each service.
http://www.filedropper.com/ (5GB per file)
http://www.2shared.com/ (possibly unlimited)
http://www.sendspace.com/ (500MB standard or 10GB for Pro accounts)
http://www.fileswap.com/ (1Gb standard or 2GB Premium)
http://www.speedyshare.com/ (unlimited)

 

[BrotherNature]

**Edit: BrotherNature I'm trying my best to keep this civil, but you seem to see no shades of grey in this issue - that all the corporate and government stance is correct, and all the users, audience and downloaders are despicable. If you really think that, then great, but did you sign up here just to argue about piracy or something?

I have said no such thing. I simply asked if the people who were ok with downloading files have the same tolerance if someone downloads their files.

It should be a simple answer. I didn't start this thread.

 

[Shaun__]

Just found out Megaupload was planning to start a new music store allowing artists to keep 90 percent of the profits. The record companies would not have liked that. I wonder if they nudged the feds to take action.

Why would record companies care? Artists can sell music in their own website and make 100%.

This is a bogus story that Megaupload was going to become legit in one area.

You fail at business. If you are a megastar you can sell things on your own website and do fine. If you are not then you need to be in a store so people can discover you.

Megaupload was stealing content to make money. Record companies have very slanted contracts that take advantage of the artists. Movie studios cook the books to hide all profits in order to not pay people money. It is hard to pick a side when everyone is wrong.

 

[BrotherNature]

You fail at business. If you are a megastar you can sell things on your own website and do fine. If you are not then you need to be in a store so people can discover you.

Are you saying that everyone on iTunes gets discovered?

 

[Jupiter551]

Megaupload was stealing content to make money. Record companies have very slanted contracts that take advantage of the artists. Movie studios cook the books to hide all profits in order to not pay people money. It is hard to pick a side when everyone is wrong.

You're right, but on a human level if I have to pick a side I'm going to go with that of a music/games/movie/literature lover who just wants to experience some art and simply cannot afford to experience all that's out there.

I've sat outside concerts to listen when I've had no money. Unlike other things, these don't go missing when they're experienced. If a 15 year old kid doesn't have $799 to buy a complete boxed set of Mozart's symphonies should he really just have to miss out? Do you think Mozart would want that? Or Neville Marriner the conductor? They're music lovers too, get real. I've downloaded that boxed set and listened to it for real-time months, and it was only when someone asked me what I wanted for christmas and I said "I'd really love Mozart's symphonies by Marriner and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields" and they got back to me and said umm...do you know how much that costs?

Whatever, I'm a dirty thief I guess. I use a copy of photoshop I didn't pay for either, it's not a matter of Adobe losing money because I didn't pay for their product. I don't HAVE $1500 to spend on software I use to make emotes and fool around.

I follow my own moral compass about things like this, and frankly if more people did I think the world would be far better.

 

[antilogy]

Whatever, I'm a dirty thief I guess. I use a copy of photoshop I didn't pay for either, it's not a matter of Adobe losing money because I didn't pay for their product. I don't HAVE $1500 to spend on software I use to make emotes and fool around.

I don't HAVE 200 tokens for a model's video so I should just steal a copy off of megaupload to get my rocks off.

 

[Shaun__]

You fail at business. If you are a megastar you can sell things on your own website and do fine. If you are not then you need to be in a store so people can discover you.

Are you saying that everyone on iTunes gets discovered?

No, I am saying they have better odds on iTunes then on GeoCities. Especially since GeoCities has been shut down. I think iTunes takes a 30 percent cut of everything they sale though.

 

[Jupiter551]

Whatever, I'm a dirty thief I guess. I use a copy of photoshop I didn't pay for either, it's not a matter of Adobe losing money because I didn't pay for their product. I don't HAVE $1500 to spend on software I use to make emotes and fool around.

I don't HAVE 200 tokens for a model's video so I should just steal a copy off of megaupload to get my rocks off.

Oh wtfever. I don't download videos of models I like - I tip them, when I can. Just like I buy games, books and music, when I can. But when it comes right down to it I would rather spend money to buy a model's video and help her make a living than put the same money in some multi-billion dollar corporate pocket. Like I said, I follow my own moral compass about what's right and wrong and no, I'm not going to stop downloading games and books and sometimes tv shows.

I always hated megaupload btw, stupid waiting times, one file at a time. TPB is better in every way for downloading.

I've already listed some of the dozens of games I've bought that I wouldn't have otherwise bought if I hadn't played a pirated copy and loved it so much. Neil Gaiman made his novel American Gods free for a month or so to commemorate his blog's anniversary, and after reading it I went and bought all this other books. In AmberCutie's room every other day there's guy's who've signed up to tip her simply BECAUSE they saw her in some video someone posted somewhere. In three cases that's sales actually generated by "piracy" that wouldn't have otherwise been generated.

Ever watched a porn video on a tube site? A song on youtube not uploaded by the record company? Grats you're a thief too.

Ever exceeded the speed limit in your car? That's even worse, you could have killed someone.

 

[antilogy]

Ever watched a porn video on a tube site? A song on youtube not uploaded by the record company? Grats you're a thief too.

Ever exceeded the speed limit in your car? That's even worse, you could have killed someone.

I'm simply playing the devil's advocate. Whether it's from a fat cat executive or a model trying to make rent it's still taking content without payment.

Not being able to afford things is a fact of life, so should accepting the consequences of being caught when you steal. :twocents-02cents:

 

[Mfcwatchdog]

I'm simply playing the devil's advocate. Whether it's from a fat cat executive or a model trying to make rent it's still taking content without payment.

Not being able to afford things is a fact of life, so should accepting the consequences of being caught when you steal. :twocents-02cents:

and who gave you the right to judge other people or play the devils advocate?

 

[SatanJonez]

I'm simply playing the devil's advocate. Whether it's from a fat cat executive or a model trying to make rent it's still taking content without payment.

Not being able to afford things is a fact of life, so should accepting the consequences of being caught when you steal. :twocents-02cents:

and who gave you the right to judge other people or play the devils advocate?

The internet.

 

[Mfcwatchdog]

I'm simply playing the devil's advocate. Whether it's from a fat cat executive or a model trying to make rent it's still taking content without payment.

Not being able to afford things is a fact of life, so should accepting the consequences of being caught when you steal. :twocents-02cents:

and who gave you the right to judge other people or play the devils advocate?

The internet.

ridiculous argument.

 

[SatanJonez]

I'm simply playing the devil's advocate. Whether it's from a fat cat executive or a model trying to make rent it's still taking content without payment.

Not being able to afford things is a fact of life, so should accepting the consequences of being caught when you steal. :twocents-02cents:

and who gave you the right to judge other people or play the devils advocate?

The internet.

ridiculous argument.

 

[Parsnippy]

Ah. The old Ironed Kitten manouver...



Well that's the end of that one.

 

[AshaSnow]

**Edit: BrotherNature I'm trying my best to keep this civil, but you seem to see no shades of grey in this issue - that all the corporate and government stance is correct, and all the users, audience and downloaders are despicable. If you really think that, then great, but did you sign up here just to argue about piracy or something?

I have said no such thing. I simply asked if the people who were ok with downloading files have the same tolerance if someone downloads their files.

It should be a simple answer. I didn't start this thread.

I don't care if people download my files because I do exactly the same thing with movies and tv shows. There will always be people willing to pay for the content so I just hope they come by and do so The internet is what it is and I'm wasting my time if I try to police all my videos. Plus, free advertising! ...besides that stupid pikachu video THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE MY NAME ON IT! Gah. Look up masturbating pikachu on xhamster and you'll see what I'm talkin' about.

 

[Jupiter551]

..besides that stupid pikachu video THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE MY NAME ON IT! Gah. Look up masturbating pikachu on xhamster and you'll see what I'm talkin' about.

I haven't even SEEN it and I know about it, just through having heard about that crazy chick that dressed up like a pokemon and masturbated :lol:

I'm still hoping you'll let the cheese guy take you pvt, I can see it now "Amateur masturbating with kraft single"

 

[Shaun__]

I don't care if people download my files because I do exactly the same thing with movies and tv shows. There will always be people willing to pay for the content so I just hope they come by and do so The internet is what it is and I'm wasting my time if I try to police all my videos. Plus, free advertising! ...besides that stupid pikachu video THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE MY NAME ON IT! Gah. Look up masturbating pikachu on xhamster and you'll see what I'm talkin' about.

I just looked it up and saw what you are talking about. I just know somewhere a Pokemon fanatic has that video on an endless loop.

 

[AmberCutie]

**Edit: BrotherNature I'm trying my best to keep this civil, but you seem to see no shades of grey in this issue - that all the corporate and government stance is correct, and all the users, audience and downloaders are despicable. If you really think that, then great, but did you sign up here just to argue about piracy or something?

I have said no such thing. I simply asked if the people who were ok with downloading files have the same tolerance if someone downloads their files.

It should be a simple answer. I didn't start this thread.

I don't care if people download my files because I do exactly the same thing with movies and tv shows. There will always be people willing to pay for the content so I just hope they come by and do so The internet is what it is and I'm wasting my time if I try to police all my videos. Plus, free advertising! ...besides that stupid pikachu video THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE MY NAME ON IT! Gah. Look up masturbating pikachu on xhamster and you'll see what I'm talkin' about.

Lol I just bumped the comments on it on xhamster to identify you.