Dear anti-downloading people...

[BWC Boston]

Curious: Is downloading TV stealing?

What if you don't keep it? Just watch and delete?

[The Girl]

I'm pretty sure that's how downloading was originally supposed to work.

[Natty P]

Why even bring this up? It will devolve into what these discussions always do.

[Olivier E.]

there's no differnece between watching tv or downloading your series(for the ones you do)m I prefer to watch them on TV, but where I live I've a lot of channels at disposal, so i get most series and here pay-tv only exists for sports and 24hour reality tv.

I'm also not that tv interested that I've to watch every episode of every series, they always come back, even MASH runs somewhere.

If you watch it and delete it, I see it the same as when you saw it at a friends home who paid for it, for me there's no difference

The problem is only when you start selling it

[Haborym]

I don't know about aniti-downloading people, but if I miss an episode, I download them. I see very little difference between DL'ing and TIVO.

With a show like Lost, I'd rather wait for it on DVD than go on watching if I've missed an episode. I'm sure networks would rather I downloaded an episode, if I miss one, and continue watching.

The only time that I think it's 'stealing' is if it's on a cable station you don't have, or if it's on DVD. I think 'stealing' is a harsh word though. In my opinion, the entertainment industry should get their head out of their collective asses and stop denying that downloading digital media is the future.

[Natty P]

The problem is, whether or not you have access to the media you are downloading, you are still enabling people who don't access to said media.


Not that I care, I download shit all the time, just saying.

[Taxman]

The industry has a problem with us when we skip commercials using DVR. I am sure they would put an end to on-line episodes if they could.

[NickT]

Curious: Is downloading TV stealing?

What if you don't keep it? Just watch and delete?
Ethically, I think there is a difference between DLing shows to watch and DLing them before burning them to disc for future viewing, when DVDs are available.

Legally, I think I'm right in saying it is stealing, but some aren't so strict in enforcing it.

Although, wouldn't that mean you're not counted on viewing figures? Dunno how they collect that stuff :)

[Olivier E.]

Ethically, I think there is a difference between DLing shows to watch and DLing them before burning them to disc for future viewing, when DVDs are available.

Legally, I think I'm right in saying it is stealing, but some aren't so strict in enforcing it.

Although, wouldn't that mean you're not counted on viewing figures? Dunno how they collect that stuff :)

there are 3000 people, from different classes, different households, which get a box, and there's everything recorded, what people watch, how long and who, each person in the family has a tv remote, the numbers are than multiplicated with the percentage of people living in a country.

This is how it's done in most countries, with pay tv I don't know, but I presume they have a spy in the D-Box

[Kenneth I. Wolfe]

The industry has a problem with us when we skip commercials using DVR. I am sure they would put an end to on-line episodes if they could.

Exactly.

At least Tivo compensates for the commercials.

[Captain Nate]

Curious: Is downloading TV stealing?

Being generous, I'd say its stealing if it's DVD quality and you keep it.

[Dave From Idaho]

The thing about downloading TV episodes for later viewing is a argument of a different nature. We are talking about free television, where if you want to do it, do it, you can Tivo it whatever. The people that went into making the TV show already got their money from the time the contract is signed and the ratings are in.

The main problems comes from the advertisers. The ones who pay the money for the commercials. And they also tried banning Tivo for a while because if you download a TV show an/or Tivo the show, like most people, including myself, we fast forward through the commericals to get right back to the show. Well, to the advertisers, we are preventing them to market their product, and if 6 out of 10 households have Tivo and/or downloading the programs, then they lost those 6 households of potential consumers of their product.

But it sort of comes full circle. The advertisers help pay for the TV shows, and since we are all downloading/Tivoing the TV show, we are no longer being persuaded to buying their product, then soon those advertisers would have to pull out of the deal with said network/TV show, and since there is no advertisers to back said network/ TV show, the TV show will ultimely fail and soon canceled.

In contrast, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest programs that draws in many people every year. They make tons and tons of money BECAUSE of the commericals alone. Rarely, does anybody watch the game, but rather the commercials and that is EXACTLY what the advertisers want.


I hope that makes sense.

[Taxman]

Exactly.

At least Tivo compensates for the commercials.Yeah, but they are trying to find a way around that.

[Blandy vs Terrorism]

I'll remember to give my parents a stern talking to next time they tape a tv show when they're gone and miss it.

[Smokinblues]

I'll remember to give my parents a stern talking to next time they tape a tv show when they're gone and miss it.

the problem is that's a one to one deal.

originally free with commercials or not, downloading is still mass distribution of someone else's intellectual property almost always without the original commercials, and without the original owners consent. just because the end result may be the same thing, it's not exactly the same thing.

[Boris the Blade]

Stealing is awesome because you get stuff for free. Screw all the hardworking people who make anything. I robbed the Salvation Army santa once. Actually, I mugged him because he looked at me funny, but I wasn't above taking his money when I was done.



I shouldn't have to say this, but I'm joking.

[Blandy vs Terrorism]

Yep. It's one of "those" threads again.

[Blandy vs Terrorism]

Ok, how about this for example:

I missed all of JLU season 1 and most of season 2. I downloaded a couple of episodes to try them out, because downloading the entire season for something I've never seen and don't know if I like to begin with would take too damn long. I loved those episodes. I then proceeded to download the rest. This is before I heard of the DVD sets coming out sometime in the future. Now that I have heard that it is being released, and plan on buying them, is that a problem?

[Boris the Blade]

Ok, how about this for example:

I missed all of JLU season 1 and most of season 2. I downloaded a couple of episodes to try them out, because downloading the entire season for something I've never seen and don't know if I like to begin with would take too damn long. I loved those episodes. I then proceeded to download the rest. This is before I heard of the DVD sets coming out sometime in the future. Now that I have heard that it is being released, and plan on buying them, is that a problem?
This is basically what I do.

I like to have the actual format of the thing. When a DVD set comes out for a show I download, I'll buy it. I've got my home theater setup, and I have a library of DVD's, and it's better to me to have the thing than downloading it and making a copy. TV is different, because if I miss it, with my schedule, it's nigh impossible for me to catch it again, so a download works. I watch it a couple times before I delete it.

[copypastepuke]

i need to download all of lost.
i saw the season premier and it got me hooked. i have never seen this show. somehow i just missed it and avoided all of your threads about it. but now i am learning the error of my ways.

[Smokinblues]

Ok, how about this for example:

I missed all of JLU season 1 and most of season 2. I downloaded a couple of episodes to try them out, because downloading the entire season for something I've never seen and don't know if I like to begin with would take too damn long. I loved those episodes. I then proceeded to download the rest. This is before I heard of the DVD sets coming out sometime in the future. Now that I have heard that it is being released, and plan on buying them, is that a problem?

technically, I think, you've stolen one form of the content and decided to buy it in it's authorized form later. TV shows don't bother me nearly as much as songs and movies and such, but it's still the same idea.

And while free content as tease/incentive to buy can be a great marketing technique. but it should be up to the owner of the content to decide whether or not they want to do that. Obviously it doesn't work that way, but still.

[Blandy vs Terrorism]

technically, I think, you've stolen one form of the content and decided to buy it in it's authorized form later. TV shows don't bother me nearly as much as songs and movies and such, but it's still the same idea.

And while free content as tease/incentive to buy can be a great marketing technique. but it should be up to the owner of the content to decide whether or not they want to do that. Obviously it doesn't work that way, but still.
For music, I use the same concept. If it's a band I'm unsure on, I'll download a couple songs that I hear praised all the time. If I like those, I'll either buy the album, or go on MusicMatch and download the album for $10. Lately I mostly go on MusicMatch because then I can just put it directly onto my Dell Digital Jukebox.

[Mike Haseloff]

Curious: Is downloading TV stealing?

What if you don't keep it? Just watch and delete?Yes.

You will. You won't.


Buy the DVD, or a tape from the distributor you dirty, filthy scum sucking maggot.


I'm pretty sure that's how downloading was originally supposed to work.I'm pretty sure I DON'T appreciate you specifically.

That is just ridiculous. Downloading these types of things was perpetuated by people that WERE NOT affiliated with companys distributing materials. For some silly reason, they don't believe in the honor system.

MAGGOTS! :mad:
Now, stop distracting me from downloading Lost... we don't get that shit until NEXT YEAR!