Internet piracy refers to using the internet to reproduce and redistribute media content, violating the copyrights of the original owner. It is very common today since it is easy to upload content onto the internet. Internet piracy happens because some content or product is not available in a given location or format.
However, some on the internet believe that all the content in the world should be free for everyone to access. Others do it because they simply cannot or do not want to pay for such content.
Moreover, service providers like Xfinity internet keep an eye if their subscribers have anything to do with internet piracy. It will send a warning to those who make illegal pirated activities like hosting pirated content, downloading, and streaming.
Types of Internet Piracy
The internet is big and there are many different kinds of media content circling it. Besides, there are many different ways of pirating such content.
- Streaming sites. Streaming sites that redistribute copyrighted media allows internet users to view these unauthorized content without having to download them. These streaming sites might provide links to media content belong to other websites. Hosting unauthorized content and providing links to such content are both illegal.
- Cyberlockers. These are file storage and file-sharing services for media file types like photos, videos, and sounds. Usually, search engines do not index such services. Users may find them on blogs, forums, or social media. Their fast, convenient and anonymous distribution of content can be downloaded or streamed, often generating profit through subscription services.
- Peer-to-peer. When using a peer-to-peer network, digital content stored on one computer is available for copying for users in other computers. It is legal to share content, but exchanging copyrighted materials illegally is not. The P2P method is usually shared among friends and peers. It allows people from all over the world to access the shared files. They just need to be part of the P2P network. However, It is also risky to allow strangers access to files on the computer..
- Torrent sites. Torrent downloading allows internet users to upload and share content on torrent sites so that others can download it. They rely on donations from members to run smoothly. It can include any media content like e-books, software, films, songs, games, etc.
- Counterfeiting. This includes pirating copyrighted materials such as software, or games by imitating their programming and redistributing and selling it. Counterfeited packaged software programs or games are commonly found in compact discs, or on torrent websites, along with their manuals, license agreements, security features, etc.
Internet Piracy Laws in the US
There are piracy laws in the US that protect the illegal reproduction of copyright materials and content. The US Congress enacted the No Electronic Theft Act (NET Act) in 1997 for the same purpose. Any person found guilty of reproduction and redistribution of digital content like CDs, films, DVDs, e-books and other copyrighted digital media for his monetary gain will have to serve up to five years in prison with fines. However, here is a plus point; this penalty will be even applied to persons who are not gaining any profit from digital piracy, which means streaming and downloading media content by internet users.
The Streaming Act of 2020 focuses on persecuting the commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that profit from illegally streamed copyrighted materials. The law also states that it won’t take action against the person(s) who accessed the pirated streams from the same service or unwittingly streamed these contents.
How should you deal with internet/digital piracy?
We should take Internet/digital piracy seriously since they disrespect and misuse the original owner’s copyrights. Following are the actions you can take.
- The US Department of Justice should push for more effort in the investigation and prosecution of counterfeiters involved in the black market. Prosecuting such persons abroad since many countries do not have strong internet piracy laws, but persons inside the US can be tracked down easily.
- Service providers like the internet services providers can also work together to prevent internet users to access pirated content, by sending them a warning or completely canceling their service.
- Media and software companies should try to secure their products by imposing encrypted, copy-protection locks, and use other technological fixes to fix the security of their products and services.
- Media companies should try to reduce the price of their media content so that it is easier for people to pay for such content. For instance, Apple’s iTunes Store is now selling music at a lower price to internet users.
- Congress has allowed for ownership of content to the author till the end of his lifetime plus 70 years, but critics argue that these ownerships should end much quickly and content should be available to the masses. As a result, it would provide the public with free content such as e-books, songs, movies, etc. for their own benefit.
Internet piracy is a serious violation of copyrights materials and laws are there in place to protect the owner’s rights and property. By knowing what internet piracy is, internet users can learn to avoid any legal issues while browsing the internet.