Comm203 Piracy

I have to agree that the way they went about shutting down Megaupload wasn't good. The reaction of frequent visitors was incredibly negative and that could've probably been avoided by a little forewarning before the site's subsequent closing. It also didn't help that this was in the wake of SOPA, something many internet users, whether they pirated videos or not, were dreading.

Oftentimes, shows that aren't available immediately in some countries when they air in their production country cause more people to want to enjoy shows at the same time as those who are able to watch things immediately. Being a part of an online community that surrounds a show that doesn't air in your country until months or even years after the original air date can be frustrating and alienating and people sometimes feel like pirating is the only way to keep up with the conversation. If networks would take a more active role in making content available online, it would be much more profitable. With the arrival of Hulu and other such sites that stream TV and movies, people no longer have to wait to watch something on TV and I think we've gotten used to that. There is a certain laziness that goes with pirating, particularly movies that aren't hard to obtain legally, whether it's in theatres or available to rent and/or buy on iTunes or Amazon.

While I don't condone piracy, I can see why some people feel the need to do it. And, as the article says, the Megaupload site's demise had a negative effect in some cases since people weren't sharing their experiences by word of mouth anymore. Only those with immediate access to new releases can talk about them, and that puts a stopper in what could be a prosperous market.

Comm203: Rhode Island sues

I think it's ridiculous that that amount of money would be given out without some sort of guarantee of its repayment. A background check should certainly have been in place as well as some sort of credit check to be sure that the company this huge amount of money was going to would be good for paying it back. The article doesn't say why everyone in 38 Studios was fired, but I imagine it had to do with money and to think they took this loan with apparently full knowledge of their imminent decent into bankruptcy is simply evil.

Helping out a failing company is an altruistic idea but oftentimes others (in this case the taxpayers in Rhode Island) end up being the people who pay for it. Regardless, I think the way the state and the lawyers involved are handling it is sufficient, even though it should not have been an issue in the first place. It also seems like the Governor himself in the video in the article did not understand how this could have happened and is only dealing with the repercussions of the deal. It is amazing to me that someone who is supposed to be fully involved and in charge of the situation could know so little. Much of that video seemed to be a political campaign, too. It felt like he was preaching so that the people, when the time came, wouldn't vote him out of office.

In firing all of its employees at once, 38 Studios left 379 people without jobs and without income. The idea that any company would go into business not knowing whether it was safe to invest in or whether it could provide safety for its employees is not a functioning company and its ridiculous that it's allowed to happen.