The Constitution Times

Weak User Risk Argument based on small possibility — p2p client without knowing it is a p2p system. Based on this weak justification, the brochure draws another possible outcome — system exposed to malicious application, which most of the time Windows System are Vulnerable to. This entire argument basically summaries “This application is risky because there exist risk.” Are they saying because virus spread via Email means we should stop using Microsoft Outlook? Should they also stop using Microsoft Windows considering its reputated security cheese-holes, which even the Network Security Specialist there can’t find anyway around it?

One-sided definition of Copyright and Piracy; over exaggerating the scope of copyright and the power copyright owners deserves. Huge publishers who owns large amount of copyrights tends to amplify their intellectual property rights — total control over their intellectual property — in order to maximize profits; as they normally buy over creative property from their original creator/author and that are the only valuable assets they possess. Copyright laws includes fair use/dealing which intent to protect the interest of the general public — the original purpose of copyright; copyright gives creative property owners the necessary protections, to encourage creation. The brochure mention nothing about fair use/dealing, and constitute any form of copying — commercial or not — as piracy.

The brochure also try to generalize creative (intellectual) property and physical property together — the typical trick by the publishing industry. Creative property is not physical property, unlike what the brochure try to assume. Copying an mp3 from a server cannot be equal to stealing a CD from a shop; because copying leaves the original copy intact unlike stealing a CD which leave the shop 1 less CD to sell, thus counted as 1 less profit. It is like visiting a bookshop with the rule of ‘no browsing, because you can be charged for stealing as well’.

It is unsurprising; MPA, the corporate association vow to protect their member publishers’ profit, created this brochure. I respect property; I respect creative property; I respect copyright. But the brochure need to try harder to provide better information of copyright.

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ADOLF LAM
Commenting on Local Economic Issues