LegoDnD: In both that parallel and concerts, there's additional value in experiencing the art in-person
Agreed. Watching something on a cell phone or TV isn't comparable to in person. HOWEVER, in person i've been to 2 events where i'd rather have watched them on a TV. First was a dinosaurs show, where they wear suits and people bringing dinosaurs to life. Second was a Jeff Dunham comedy show. In both cases the affordable seats are SOOOO far back that you either see things as though they were 2" miniatures, or you have to watch the live screens they have set up which looked like blown up 200x200 pixel video screens. Not very good.
Yeah i suppose i could have spent thousands to be further up and closer to the action, but sorry i don't have that kind of currency, especially as a kid.
LegoDnD: There's always the argument that those who pirate wouldn't have purchased anyway
Maybe. But there's 10x more likelyhood of extra sales from people who liked the content, some bands and companies that never got off the ground except that they put their stuff out for free and then got customers where the big bands like the Eagles were all you'd be able to find, and unless you can listen to something you never know if what you're buying was a dud or a gem.
LegoDnD: Justified as it might be with big publishers, there is a loss of business with unregulated giveaways.
Is there? Keep in mind, 90% of your profits for games seems to be the first month of release, and then it tapers down. Same for movies in theaters.
Free giveaways may not result in sales at that time. But if i feel i have gotten sufficient good credit from a company from goods or services, i'd purchase. Back in 2010 or something i felt like i actually had money to spend, so i bought 10 CDs from my favorite game musician, and he slipped me an extra 2 discs. This totaled either $120 or $150 back then. And i don't feel i wasted my money, i bought directly from him so he got all of it, and i enjoyed his music literally for years before that point. (
Keep in mind it was mp3.com and other public sources before torrenting was a thing)
LegoDnD: I'm all for responding to "get used to not owning it" with "get used to not selling it", but the law is the law. It's better to be a self-aware crook than to pathetically deny legal wrongdoing.
Perhaps. But the MIAA and them found out that suing and going after people doesn't stop the problem, and only gives you a bad name in the process. Certainly a few people were punished, but they lost hundreds of thousands of dollars taking people to court that were ordinary people. And many of the laws are flawed and need revamping.
It's also said you would prefer someone to be downloading your stuff even 'illegally' than for no one to be doing it.
Maybe something they should do is make all content available for free. Oh i'm not saying you have the high quality content up, maybe you put out TV shows and movies and anime at SD 640x480 or 720x480, and at 22050 rather than 44100 or 48000 rates, possibly mono rather than stereo. Then offer the good stuff on Blueray or the like. Best of both worlds.
SultanOfSuave: Consider me hypocritical and unprincipled, but despite wishing for and supporting legitimate purchases, I'm still going to help them if I'm able. Though the hot tempered youths should seek help elsewhere. Curmedeonly and principled men aren't very forthcoming.
I'd also help and give advice; Though the product itself it '
use at your own risk'.
I figure if you beat them over the head they are bad, they are likely to close their ears, and continue on with or without help. But if they have a good experience, they are far more likely to purchase products they enjoyed, even if it isn't right away.
Which goes the opposite direction. If i get a very bad experience from a game and assuming i hadn't paid for it, then i'm far more likely to NOT purchase the game even if i found it was an anti-purchase or DRM measure, because the experience often will stick far harder.
'I can't seem to beat this guy, and i can't seem to go forward. Game must suck, check that off my list' vs
'Wow this game is awesome! I can't wait for it to go on sale!' There's also, literally more music than you can listen to in your lifetime,
more movies than you can watch to in your lifetime,
more games than you can play to in your lifetime,
and more books than you can read in your lifetime.
If something comes up as not worth your time, you can move to something else, and you're unlikely to look back. Don't beat down someone who didn't pay, welcome a gamer, and encourage him to support companies and entertainment he loves.