Economics

Freedom: An Unfair Price for Downloading

In the article, "Trois strikes and you're out," a new system of harsh penalties for illegal music and movie downloaders is proposed. The system would penalize those who download such copyrighted material illegally by cutting off their Internet access, a solution to the problem that Economist.com suggests is unpopular, especially among the younger generation. France's proposed law would even create a new law enforcement agency that would follow the illegal activities, sending warnings to those who are downloading illegally. Upon the third offense, the abuser would loose his or her ability to connect to the Internet. Although the new law was set to go into effect April 9th, a surprising congressional vote actually struck it down. Despite this fact, Economist.com suggests that other European nations are considering similar policies that would hurt illegal downloaders, but help record and film companies.

Although this policy proposes a unique way for governments to deal with those who violate the law, it has implications that are far more serious than a few illegally downloaded movies. Traditionally, the fine for such offenses has been just that, a monetary fine. Making the punishment for such offenses an inability to access the Internet, however, begins to deprive citizens of their rights. The Internet may hold access to illegal movies and music, but it also holds a wealth of information, including blogs, news, educational information, and personal information. Depriving a person of the use of the Internet is essentially depriving him or her of access to libraries, to free speech, and to freedom of information. People who steal money from houses are not barred from living in them, nor are those who steal books forbidden from libraries. The punishment for copyright crimes via the Internet should be the same as these crimes have ever been, a fine. If one person steals another's property, the thief should have to pay; he or she should not be deprived of the right of speech and information.

References

"Trois strikes and you're out." (2009, April 16). Retrieved 21 April 2009, from The

Economist. Web Site: http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13496729&source=hptextfeature