A large, extremely powerful magnet would be sufficient to do that. Every file that has been on your computer has left a trace, and the only way for this to be erased is multiple fills and formats. Or, just buy an external hard-drive and use that.

Would that mean that over time these traces of data would make one's computer more sluggish, or at the very least have less space on the hard drive?

 

Any data which you think you have deleted (In Windows) is actually still on the disk. The space it occupied is just shown by the system as unoccupied, and the file remains until the parts of the drive that it was on are overwritten (and even then a trace will still be left). Because of this system, windows is actually faster than what it would be if it actually deleted the files, because it would take a while to erase big files.

HD + Industrial Magnet = No Trace.

 

Then again, HD + Industrial Magnet = No HD

The lower price won't be worth the "hassle" of illegal downloading because a lot of people download and get half-assed results. A cheap, simple, fast media distribution system is what companies need. The principle rule of capitalism: invention is the mother of nessesity. Comapnies will need to make this new system when they need the money. Not the case right now, is it? So the companies are crying to Obama because they get a couple of billions of dollars a year when the average person gets faced with unemployment and bills. [bleep] them.

Yes, but those who pirate consistently and efficiently won't stop. And they would be the ones doing the most damage, no?

The people who hold the files and share it do (Pirate Bay), not the downloaders. From my experiences, most people don't seed (share) what they download. Plus this just shows that the efficient ones won't stop. It's like banning beer or pornography, it will continue forever.

 

So instead of banning it completely and crying to Obama, media companies should try to draw consumers away from piracy. It's like competition that can never go away so: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Do you have any idea as to how file sharing and p2p works? NO torrent sites hold ANY illegal material on their servers, they simply hold torrent files and mange trackers. The 'illegal' files are transferred from one computer to another without the use of any website's server - it's Peer to peer. This is why many torrent sites are still able to operate because they don't host anything illegal on their sites. It could be questioned if they can be prosecuted for ASSISTING copyright infringement. In which case they'd have to sue Google and every other search engine out there - completely ridiculous (although I recently heard that companies have tried to do this).

 

I think a very important thing to bring into this is the recently resolved Viacom vs Google case where Viacom wanted to sue Google for millions because they allow copyrighted material on YouTube. Even though YouTube actively remove copyrighted material if they are made aware of it by rights holders, they wanted to FORCE YouTube & Google to pay up for uploaded content that is simply out of their control. They can't watch every minute of video uploaded to YouTube - it would be physically impossible.

Where do you think pirates find their aoftware? Sites like that. People who share their stuff of course are important, but to Harriator's post, these guys do more "damage" to the media industry than simple downloaders.

 

Either way though, piracy is not as big of a issue as companies want you to think.

For every torrent site taken down, ten more pop up. The system is become even more decentralised to the point where you don't even need trackers. The more the companies push on what they see to be the problem, the more the internet just works around it.

Exactly. Instead of taking them down, change your policy.

So, if this bill gets passed, I could get fined for three songs I DL'd illegally that I deleted almost a year ago. :S

 

Heh, sounds good to me. That is all.

If this was the fifties, it wouldn't be absolutely hilarious.

Missed it by that much, RIAA...

Please don't tell me that propaganda is being serious.

[bleep] this, I don't live in the US, I'm going to continue to "pirate". If something is exceptionally good, I'll buy it, no doubt. But for all the other things, no. If anything, people in the US should starting "pirating" more.

 

People in the united states DO pirate more. That's why the sudden urgency to smash the banhammer on bittorrent.

We've also got a huge population and I'm pretty sure one of the 'A's in RIAA is America, so piracy's probably the lesser of two evils for a big part of it.

Re GuardKnox, I meant pirate more than they are now. If that's possible. :-k

 

They can't catch all 300 million of you.

Why do they try to do things like that while to me, piracy actually helps promote whatever music it is. If it wasn't for that, there's a lot of albums I wouldn't have bought. I also see some small bands/people promoting file sharing, since the bands actually make their money on the trips, not the albums where most of the money goes to the label. Anyway that was a few years ago, now I go to youtube to listen to the music before buying it.

Hah, America.

Exactly. Instead of taking them down, change your policy.

My point was that ideally, instead of making the music cheaper altogether, the salaries in the music industry should be more equalized, so that if anyone at all out there is genuinely affected by piracy, the impact is lessened thanks to a higher salary, if not rendered negligible, while those who receive ridiculous sums are getting paid a little less.

Exactly. Instead of taking them down, change your policy.

My point was that ideally, instead of making the music cheaper altogether, the salaries in the music industry should be more equalized, so that if anyone at all out there is genuinely affected by piracy, the impact is lessened thanks to a higher salary, if not rendered negligible, while those who receive ridiculous sums are getting paid a little less.

 

So you want to tell people how to run their business? That doesn't really sound fair.

 

The opinions I see in this thread are freakin ridiculous. I had no idea that people were still so absorbed in downloading stuff... It's just media, why not pay for it? I dont understand...do you really need 6000 songs and 200 movies on your coputer?

 

I mean, the stuff they make these days isnt even very good...maybe it would be better quality if everyone stopped taking things that they didnt pay for.

Exactly. Instead of taking them down, change your policy.

My point was that ideally, instead of making the music cheaper altogether, the salaries in the music industry should be more equalized, so that if anyone at all out there is genuinely affected by piracy, the impact is lessened thanks to a higher salary, if not rendered negligible, while those who receive ridiculous sums are getting paid a little less.

 

So you want to tell people how to run their business? That doesn't really sound fair.

He's telling us how he'd run his music business if he had one and giving advice to the companies if they want to survive. They can either adapt or die out by their arrogance. History has a lot of examples.

 

The opinions I see in this thread are freakin ridiculous. I had no idea that people were still so absorbed in downloading stuff... It's just media, why not pay for it? I dont understand...do you really need 6000 songs and 200 movies on your coputer?

I'm not in for piracy for media, I'm in it for software. As a novice, young, jobless filmmaker (who really does it as a hobby) where the hell would I get 3000 dollars worth of software to have a competing chance against other filmmakers (who most likely pirated their stuff too)?

 

I mean, the stuff they make these days isnt even very good...maybe it would be better quality if everyone stopped taking things that they didnt pay for.

Haha, that's cute. "in my day, we walked 50 miles to still uphill in both directions...and had good music!"

 

And according to the "Rule of Mainstream" if people bought what they wanted, stores won't sell anything BUT mainstream. XD

 

I'm not in for piracy for media, I'm in it for software. As a novice, young, jobless filmmaker (who really does it as a hobby) where the hell would I get 3000 dollars worth of software to have a competing chance against other filmmakers (who most likely pirated their stuff too)?

 

 

If you can't afford it, then don't do it. Simple as that. I am sure there are plenty of people who would love to boat in their spare time, but cannot afford a boat. Why should they just get a boat for free and then deprive the boat company of all its money?

 

He's telling us how he'd run his music business if he had one and giving advice to the companies if they want to survive. They can either adapt or die out by their arrogance. History has a lot of examples.

 

The media business is trying to run its business the same way that the automobile industry, fast food industry, grocery stores, department stores, jewelry stores, etc run their business. Suggesting that they change their business to accomodate for illegal activity is asinine.

Suggesting that they change their business to accomodate for illegal activity is asinine.

You're missing the point. I'm not a supporter of piracy, especially when it comes to inexpensive stuff like music and movies, but I firmly believe that as long as it's possible, people will do it. And the only way to cut it out efficiently is to cut out many freedoms, as exemplified by the possibility to have criminal thoughts.

I think the biggest problem I have with this is the whole Minority Report Thought Crime. I don't want to be living in a country when that becomes a reality. Too scary for me to witness.

[bleep] it, I'm moving to Sweden. [bleep] this [cabbage].

 

This country has gone to hell. It's become a fascist oligarchy where the richest businessmen get whatever they want.

 

How is it fascist? Sure, America is Corporatist (a core tenant of fascism), but how is it fascist?

Canada and our file-sharing haven ftw.

 

That's all I have to say, other then the change Obama wants is the wrong kind of change. Like getting 1000 pennies for a $20 bill.

[bleep] it, I'm moving to Sweden. [bleep] this [cabbage].

 

Sweden is pretty much [bleep]ed now. They have new laws coming in including things like being able to use the military against citizens, much much less information given to the public about what is going on in politics, (for example not knowing which mp voted for what and any) swedes having the same rights as illegal immigrants etc.

Try the Netherlands, everyone speaks English here anyway so thats no problem.

[bleep] it, I'm moving to Sweden. [bleep] this [cabbage].

 

Sweden is pretty much [bleep]ed now. They have new laws coming in including things like being able to use the military against citizens, much much less information given to the public about what is going on in politics, (for example not knowing which mp voted for what and any) swedes having the same rights as illegal immigrants etc.

Off-topic:

Forgot highest taxes in the world lol.

And the military against citizens is due to politicians thinking our immigration politics are the best in the world, and now there are riots a couple of times per year in the less sexy parts of cities.

How about Finland, about half of each empty CD/DVD/whatever disc's price goes to Teosto (the Finnish equivalent of RIAA etc). I have five Linux CD's I've burned myself, that means I've paid about 2€ to Teosto for something completely free.

 

BTW I will be doing P2P file sharing as much as possible, with legal files (Linux ISOs) so I cannot be sued for anything. This way I can both annoy the copyright guys and help the Linux community. :)