We have all at some point in time enjoyed free music, free video and free file sharing - the latter being the most innocent of the all. Filesharing programs such as Limewire were originally used by academics to quickly and easily share large academic publications. The process is now being employed to cover all types of communication and media. However when does innocent filesharing become an illegal activity? Well, if you have ever downloaded music for free, off the internet then you have participated in an illegal activity similar to theft and trespass - however, the complexity and vastness of the www is such that it is almost difficult to find the culprits.
Illegal forms of filesharing are detrimental to artists, their intellectual property and the worth of this 'art form' that we as a society place on it. We continued our discussion on gaming and the elaborate world of online communities and games such as the World of Warcraft - a very popular multiplayer game.
The topic has really gotten me thinking about a potential essay topic - something along the lines of intellectual property control and regulation in the virtual world - something that is very 'now' and something that will shape our future.
Until Next Time
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