Piracy Ruins Profits!
Yeah, right. If only they had the data to backup such a claim. Isn’t it amazing how the RIAA and the MPAA consistently claim that piracy is destroying their bottom lines, yet their profits continue to grow? The RIAA claimed that a poor economy and a reduction in physical production of CDs had nothing to do with declining sales, instead blaming piracy for their woes. Funny how their profits increased when the economy grew stronger. Yet they’re still suing their own customers, despite independent studies that show that “piracy” may actually increase sales. Why would anyone buy big-label music? Just say no.
The MPAA released those silly ads (where the grips, production assistants, set painters and the kid behind the concession stand claims that piracy is going to cost them their jobs) trying to guilt people into ceasing their illegal ways. They also threaten to bring lawsuits against P2P and Bitorrent sites that host movie downloads. Yet for all the money they’ve wasted on these ads and the money they potentially will waste on legal fees, the film industry’s profits grew 9% this year from last. That’s a record setting $44.8 billion kids. Not bad considering the lackluster quality of movies being released to theaters these days. Oh, and those worries that piracy would ruin DVD sales? Those are up 10% to $21 billion. This from an industry that once tried to make Betamax and VHS illegal. Typical long-term visionaries, these folks.
So regardless of your position on illegal downloading of movies and music, just remember that the companies that are busy suing their customers, buying your Congresspeople and trying to dictate technical/consumer innovation and choice are still raking in plenty of money. I’m a fan of capitalism and free enterprise, but these companies must stop lying and maliciously assaulting consumers.
