Getting Music, Movies and More
(Legally)
I think all moms sing to their kids, but my sister and I were especially
fortunate -- our mom sang with a concert-quality voice. As a matter of fact,
the greatest a cappella rendition of "Silent Night" ever heard by man or beast
might have occurred one winter evening, many moons ago, inside a tiny
Southern Oregon church. When my mom finished the last note, no one
moved, no one spoke, and the only sounds that could be heard were those of
quiet weeping. She says -- at 70-plus years of age, still teaching piano and
voice -- that she can no longer sing; but that's okay because whenever I hear
"Silent Night," it's always sung by my mom, and strong men still cry.
It was from her, I'm sure, that I got my love of music. Now, understand that
the only instrument I can play is the stereo, and I can't carry a tune in a tin
bucket. But I definitely appreciate and enjoy the efforts of others more gifted.
In addition to a love of music, I also gained from my mom an appreciation of
movies that bordered on obsession.
When I first realized that not only were movie and music downloads available
from the Internet, but that they also could be had at little or no cost, I was
absolutely euphoric. That euphoria, however, quickly faded when I realized
there were serious ethical issues involved with many sites set up for music
and movie downloads. When you decide to download one of those items,
there are a few things you want to keep in mind:
Ethics: Even though Web sites have been shut down, laws have been
passed, and people have been sued, it's still possible to find Web sites
offering pirated music and movie downloads. No matter how you ratio-
nalize it, downloading an unauthorized copy of a song or a DVD is, at the
very best, unethical.
Safety: It doesn't happen as often as it used to, but it's still possible to
run across a Web site offering spyware cleverly disguised as a harmless
music or movie download. Additionally, some file-sharing programs can
open your private information to public scrutiny.
For centuries it's been recognized as fact that an author or artist creating an
original work, a publisher who creates authorized copies of the original, and
individual owners of these copies all have certain rights. Although a few
copyright laws existed in earlier eras, most agree that the precursor to
modern copyright law was the Statute of Anne passed by British Parliament
on April 10, 1710. Copyright law has continued to change and adapt since the
Statute of Anne was adopted, but the basic need and purpose has remained
the same: To protect the creator and the contracted publishers of artistic and
intellectual work.
Part VI: Entertaining Electronics
Page 308
