Random thoughts regarding filesharing

I know I only have one reader on this blog. Which suits me just fine, since I don't want to get involved in the blog-community, because then I have to pay attention to my language, grammar and make sure I have somewhat a 'red thread'. I can write anything that I like, in any way I like, without regarding whos reading. But, if, for some reason, someone else manage to fall into my little blog. This is a varning, be advice that I might write like a madman. And even though I am working in a larger essay towards the philosophy of filesharing, this has nothing to do with it. Just my ventilation. And the reason why I write in English is because I prefer it. Think it's more fun to write in then Swedish.

Today, after reading some blogs and surfing around, I got a quite interesting thought. On a show on tv, there was a debate regarding filesharing and the proposition for a new law (IPRED), where the defender of the law, Johan Pehrsson (fp) (the liberals), compared filesharing with stealing a lawn mower. Quite an interesting comparison, for it does truly show his competence within the area. A lawn mower... God damn. Anyway, let's make an example of it all to illustrate how well the new law works.

Now, imagen that your lawn mower get's stolen. It's in the middle of the summer and your grass is growing like only grass can. You really need cut it, otherwise your partner will, literaly, kick your ass. After looking around for a while, you see your lawn mower on your neighbours lawn. Of course, that bastard has stolen your very own lawn mower! The first thought would have been to just go over there and steal it back, but trying to be the really superb citizen, you quickly realize that you aren't allowed to take the law into your own hands. So you do what the law requires you to do, you call the cop and let them sort this mess out. The police comes over and arrest your greedy neighbour and you get your lawn mower back, all is well.

But what happens if we apply the new rules of IPRED in our beloved example of the stolen lawn mower? The pre-settings are the same, your lawn mower is stolen and you have seen it on your neighbours lawn. Now, instead of calling the police you call the new cooporation; that has it's own interest in lawn mowers (they came into being due to politicans who knew nothing of lawn mowers or their technology). Let's call them IPFI just for the sake of argument. They don't work in the same way as the cop though, but it's the only option you have(in truth, they would have come anyway, they just lurk out random places where lawn mowers have been stolen). Well, they show up and instead of having gadgets like the cops have, these just have a a briefcase. Like lawyers, in fact, that is exacly what they are. They don't even ring on your neightbours door. They just put a piece of paper in his mail box and leaves. They are sueing him. "Pay this idiotic high sum(that we decided with a dice and multiplied it by 10 000) or go to the court. Remember, you are alone with no economic or knowledgeable resources."

And of course, you, the true owned of the lawn mower, doesn't see a penny of the money your neighbour payed. In fact, the IPFI, took your lawn mower for themself and keep it with thousands other lawn mowers. They now, through some very "clever" (more as greedy) contract, own your lawn mower. Welcome to the world of music ... oh, sorry, lawn mowers.