Ethics Newsline®

Is Illegal Downloading Theft, Plain and Simple?

Feb 25th, 2008 • Posted in: News

Some stories from the world press highlight the difficulty of confronting copyright infringement — including the definition of “theft”

VARIOUS DATELINES
New studies show that illegal downloading continues to be popular among the young, and according to various reports from the international media, the issue remains the focus of an intense legal, ethical, and semantic debate. Among the stories:

• A survey in the high-tech hotspot of Taiwan shows that young Internet users there are poorly informed about the ethics, legality, and safety of the things they download. Radio Taiwan International reports that a survey from a Taiwan business association found that 80 percent of respondents said they downloaded music for free, with about half of those respondents saying they did not know whether the downloads were legal. More than half admitted that their computers were infected by viruses after a download.
• Los Angeles Times editorial writer Jon Healy looked at some of the semantic ammunition being used in the legal and ethics battles over illegal downloading in a column last week. The recording and movie industries, he notes, “contend that copyrights are indeed property, entitled to the same protection as a home or a car. To counter the notion of ’sharing,’ they’ve advanced an equally powerful metaphor: downloading as theft. ‘When you go online and download songs without permission, you are stealing,’ the Recording Industry Assn. of American says on its website…. The imagery has been echoed by the news media, lawmakers, and college administrators.” But Healy argues that the metaphor can be overdone, citing legal experts who contend that simplistic comparisons to physical larceny make it easy for downloaders to ignore “histrionics” of this sort. Healy concludes that the issue involves balancing the interests of content creators against the public’s, which, he contends, is a much more complicated task than erecting a legal barrier against physical theft.
• Kansas City Star columnist Steve Rosen last week argued that illegal music downloading is a good chance for parents to teach their children a lesson on ethics. Citing figures from the NPD Market Research Firm showing that nearly a third of youths age 9 to 14 are downloading music illegally, Rosen called for parents to intervene: “I found the survey troubling for a range of reasons,” Rosen writes, “starting with basic right and wrong ethical issues of children engaging in illegal activity. What the study also showed is that many young children growing up in this digital age are unsupervised online. In fact, two-thirds of the tweens surveyed by NPD said they use the Internet without parental supervision. An additional 59 percent said they downloaded music without parental assistance.”

Sources: Radio Taiwan International, Feb. 21 — Kansas City Star, Feb. 19 — Los Angeles Times, Feb. 18.

For more information, see: Related Newsline story, Nov. 26, 2007 — Related Newsline story, Oct. 22, 2007 — Related Newsline story, Oct. 8, 2007 — Related Newsline story, Dec. 11, 2006 — Related Newsline story, June 5, 2006.

 Print This Story  Email This Story

One Response »

1. Ethics Newsline » News » FCC Hearing Highlights Emerging Ethics Issue of Net Neutrality on March 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 pm:

   [...] more information, see: Related Newsline story, Feb. 25 — Related Newsline story, Oct. 22, 2007 — Related Newsline story, Oct. [...]

• Subscribe

  Ethics Newsline®, published weekly by the Institute for Global Ethics, is the premier online source for news and information on ethics and current events. A new edition is available every Monday night. Subscribe FREE today!

• Weekly Archives

  Select Issue August 25, 2008 August 17, 2008 August 11, 2008 August 4, 2008 July 28, 2008 July 21, 2008 July 14, 2008 July 7, 2008 June 30, 2008 June 23, 2008 June 16, 2008 June 9, 2008 June 2, 2008 May 27, 2008 May 19, 2008 May 13, 2008 May 12, 2008 May 5, 2008 May 1, 2008 April 28, 2008 April 21, 2008 April 14, 2008 April 7, 2008 March 31, 2008 March 24, 2008 March 17, 2008 March 10, 2008 March 3, 2008 February 25, 2008 February 18, 2008 February 11, 2008 February 4, 2008 January 28, 2008 January 22, 2008 January 14, 2008 January 7, 2008 December 31, 2007 December 17, 2007 December 10, 2007 December 3, 2007 November 26, 2007 November 19, 2007 November 13, 2007 November 5, 2007 October 29, 2007 October 22, 2007 October 15, 2007 October 8, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 24, 2007 September 17, 2007 September 10, 2007 September 4, 2007 August 27, 2007 August 20, 2007 August 13, 2007 August 6, 2007 July 30, 2007 July 23, 2007 July 16, 2007 July 9, 2007 July 2, 2007 June 25, 2007 June 18, 2007 June 11, 2007 June 4, 2007 May 29, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 14, 2007 May 7, 2007 April 30, 2007 April 23, 2007 April 16, 2007 April 9, 2007 April 2, 2007 March 26, 2007 March 19, 2007 March 12, 2007 March 5, 2007 February 26, 2007 February 20, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 5, 2007 January 29, 2007 January 22, 2007 January 16, 2007 January 8, 2007 January 2, 2007 December 18, 2006 December 11, 2006 December 4, 2006 November 27, 2006 November 20, 2006 November 13, 2006 November 6, 2006 October 30, 2006 October 23, 2006 October 16, 2006 October 10, 2006 October 2, 2006 September 25, 2006 September 18, 2006 September 11, 2006 September 5, 2006 August 28, 2006 August 21, 2006 August 15, 2006 August 7, 2006 July 31, 2006 July 24, 2006 July 17, 2006 July 10, 2006 July 3, 2006 June 26, 2006 June 19, 2006 June 12, 2006 June 5, 2006 May 30, 2006 May 22, 2006 May 15, 2006 May 8, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 24, 2006 April 17, 2006 April 10, 2006 April 3, 2006 March 27, 2006 March 20, 2006 March 13, 2006 March 6, 2006 February 27, 2006 February 20, 2006 February 13, 2006 February 6, 2006 January 30, 2006 January 23, 2006 January 16, 2006 January 9, 2006 January 2, 2006 December 19, 2005 December 12, 2005 December 5, 2005 November 21, 2005 November 14, 2005 November 7, 2005 October 31, 2005 October 24, 2005 October 17, 2005 October 11, 2005 October 3, 2005 September 26, 2005 September 19, 2005 September 12, 2005 September 6, 2005 August 29, 2005 August 22, 2005 August 15, 2005 August 8, 2005 August 1, 2005 July 25, 2005 July 18, 2005 July 11, 2005 June 27, 2005 June 20, 2005 June 13, 2005 June 6, 2005 May 31, 2005 May 23, 2005 May 16, 2005 May 9, 2005 May 2, 2005 April 25, 2005 April 18, 2005 April 11, 2005 April 4, 2005 March 28, 2005 March 21, 2005 March 14, 2005 March 7, 2005 February 28, 2005 February 22, 2005 February 14, 2005 February 7, 2005 January 31, 2005 January 24, 2005 January 18, 2005 January 10, 2005 December 20, 2004 December 13, 2004 December 6, 2004 November 22, 2004 November 15, 2004 November 8, 2004 November 1, 2004 October 25, 2004 October 18, 2004 October 11, 2004 October 4, 2004 September 27, 2004 September 20, 2004 September 7, 2004 August 30, 2004 August 23, 2004 August 16, 2004 August 9, 2004 August 2, 2004 July 26, 2004 July 19, 2004 July 12, 2004 July 6, 2004 June 28, 2004 June 21, 2004 June 14, 2004 June 7, 2004 June 1, 2004 May 24, 2004 May 17, 2004 May 10, 2004 May 3, 2004 April 26, 2004 April 19, 2004 April 12, 2004 April 5, 2004 March 29, 2004 March 22, 2004 March 15, 2004 March 8, 2004 March 1, 2004 February 23, 2004 February 17, 2004 February 9, 2004 February 2, 2004 January 26, 2004 January 20, 2004 January 12, 2004 January 5, 2004 December 22, 2003 December 15, 2003 December 8, 2003 November 24, 2003 November 17, 2003 November 10, 2003 November 3, 2003 October 27, 2003 October 20, 2003 October 14, 2003 October 6, 2003 September 29, 2003 September 22, 2003 September 15, 2003 September 8, 2003 September 2, 2003 August 25, 2003 August 18, 2003 August 11, 2003 August 4, 2003 July 28, 2003 July 21, 2003 July 14, 2003 July 7, 2003 June 30, 2003 June 23, 2003 June 15, 2003 June 9, 2003 June 2, 2003 May 27, 2003 May 19, 2003 May 12, 2003 May 5, 2003 April 28, 2003 April 21, 2003 April 14, 2003 April 6, 2003 March 31, 2003 March 24, 2003 March 17, 2003 March 10, 2003 March 3, 2003 February 24, 2003 February 17, 2003 February 10, 2003 February 3, 2003 January 27, 2003 January 21, 2003 January 13, 2003 January 6, 2003 December 23, 2002 December 16, 2002 December 9, 2002 November 25, 2002 November 18, 2002 November 12, 2002 November 4, 2002 October 28, 2002 October 21, 2002 October 15, 2002 October 7, 2002 September 30, 2002 September 23, 2002 September 16, 2002 September 9, 2002 September 3, 2002 August 26, 2002 August 19, 2002 August 12, 2002 August 5, 2002 July 29, 2002 July 22, 2002 July 15, 2002 July 8, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 24, 2002 June 17, 2002 June 10, 2002 June 3, 2002 May 27, 2002 May 20, 2002 May 13, 2002 May 6, 2002 April 29, 2002 April 22, 2002 April 15, 2002 April 8, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 25, 2002 March 18, 2002 March 11, 2002 March 4, 2002 February 25, 2002 February 18, 2002 February 11, 2002 February 4, 2002 January 28, 2002 January 21, 2002 January 14, 2002 January 7, 2002 December 24, 2001 December 17, 2001 December 10, 2001 December 3, 2001 November 19, 2001 November 13, 2001 November 5, 2001 October 29, 2001 October 22, 2001 October 15, 2001 October 9, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 24, 2001 September 17, 2001 September 10, 2001 September 3, 2001 August 27, 2001 August 20, 2001 August 13, 2001 August 6, 2001 July 30, 2001 July 23, 2001 July 16, 2001 July 9, 2001 July 2, 2001 June 25, 2001 June 18, 2001 June 11, 2001 June 4, 2001 May 29, 2001 May 21, 2001 May 14, 2001 May 7, 2001 April 30, 2001 April 23, 2001 April 16, 2001 April 9, 2001 April 2, 2001 March 26, 2001 March 19, 2001 March 12, 2001 March 5, 2001 February 26, 2001 February 18, 2001 February 12, 2001 February 5, 2001 January 29, 2001 January 22, 2001 January 15, 2001 January 8, 2001 January 1, 2001 December 25, 2000 December 18, 2000 December 11, 2000 December 4, 2000 November 20, 2000 November 13, 2000 November 6, 2000 October 30, 2000 October 23, 2000 October 16, 2000 October 9, 2000 October 2, 2000 September 25, 2000 September 18, 2000 September 11, 2000 September 4, 2000 August 28, 2000 August 21, 2000 August 14, 2000 August 7, 2000 July 31, 2000 July 24, 2000 July 17, 2000 July 10, 2000 July 3, 2000 June 26, 2000 June 19, 2000 June 12, 2000 June 5, 2000 May 29, 2000 May 22, 2000 May 15, 2000 May 8, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 24, 2000 April 17, 2000 April 10, 2000 April 3, 2000 March 27, 2000 March 20, 2000 March 13, 2000 March 6, 2000 February 28, 2000 February 21, 2000 February 14, 2000 February 7, 2000 January 31, 2000 January 24, 2000 January 17, 2000 January 10, 2000 January 3, 2000 November 30, 1999 December 27, 1999 December 20, 1999 December 13, 1999 December 6, 1999 November 29, 1999 November 22, 1999 November 15, 1999 November 8, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 25, 1999 October 18, 1999 October 12, 1999 October 4, 1999 September 27, 1999 September 20, 1999 September 13, 1999 September 6, 1999 August 30, 1999 August 23, 1999 August 16, 1999 August 9, 1999 August 2, 1999 July 26, 1999 July 19, 1999 July 12, 1999 July 6, 1999 June 28, 1999 June 21, 1999 June 14, 1999 June 7, 1999 May 31, 1999 May 24, 1999 May 17, 1999 May 10, 1999 May 3, 1999 April 26, 1999 April 19, 1999 April 12, 1999 April 8, 1999 April 5, 1999 March 29, 1999 March 22, 1999 March 15, 1999 March 8, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 22, 1999 February 15, 1999 February 8, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 25, 1999 January 18, 1999 January 11, 1999 January 10, 1999 January 4, 1999 December 28, 1998 December 21, 1998 December 14, 1998 December 7, 1998 November 30, 1998 November 23, 1998 November 16, 1998 November 9, 1998 November 2, 1998 October 26, 1998 October 19, 1998 October 13, 1998 October 5, 1998 September 28, 1998 September 21, 1998 September 14, 1998 September 7, 1998 August 31, 1998 August 24, 1998 August 17, 1998 August 10, 1998 August 3, 1998 July 27, 1998 July 20, 1998 July 13, 1998 July 7, 1998 June 29, 1998 June 22, 1998 June 15, 1998 June 8, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 25, 1998 May 18, 1998 May 11, 1998 May 4, 1998 April 27, 1998 April 20, 1998 April 13, 1998 April 6, 1998 March 30, 1998 March 23, 1998 March 16, 1998 March 9, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 22, 1998

• Monthly Archives

  February 2008

  S	M	T	W	T	F	S
  « Jan				Mar »
  					1	2
  3	4	5	6	7	8	9
  10	11	12	13	14	15	16
  17	18	19	20	21	22	23
  24	25	26	27	28	29

• More from this category

  • Nominating Conventions Also Put Spotlight on Large Funders
  • Gymnastics Officials to Probe Claims of Underage Chinese Olympians
  • Business Ethics Spotlighted in Series of Reports
  • Media Ethics Featured in Variety of Press Reports
  • Psychologists Consider Barring All Participation in Military Interrogations
  • Medical Ethics Featured in World-Press Reports
  • Moonlighting Poses New Ethical Dilemmas
  • Olympic Games Begin as Ethics Issues Remain Unresolved
  • Reporters, Editors, and Others Ponder Limits of Coverage
  • Massive Internet Breach Highlights Security Failures of Retailers
  • Archive for 'News' »

• Departments

  • Statline
  • Commentary
  • News
  • Research Report
  • Quote from the Ethics File
  • Interview
  • Book Review
  • What They're Saying
  • Letters From Readers

• Support Provided By

  

• Contributors

  • Rushworth M. Kidder, Founder and Contributor
  • Carl Hausman, Editor and Writer
  • Jeff Spaulding, Managing Editor and Contributor