Re: Bootlegs are they ethical?
Robbie Robinson ([email protected])
Wed, 05 Aug 1998 23:11:50 -0700
Josh Faul wrote:
>
> I got to thinking, are bootlegs ethical? We know they're illegal and U2
> has publicly stated something to the effect that they don't care about
> it as long as no one gets ripped off. But they were probably just saying
> this because they knew full well there is NO WAY they could ever stop
> it. So if it's going to happen anyway they just don't want anyone to get
> ripped off.
>
> One can always bring up the point that U2 has no interest in releasing
> the concerts to the public therefore by making and selling bootlegs one
> isn't stealing profits from the band or the record company. While this
> is true it still doesn't change the fact that it is illegal. Maybe U2
> themselves don't care about bootlegs but I'm sure that Polygram does.
> And since U2 are under contract with them Polygram would have the final
> say in matters such as these.
>
> So maybe we should all think twice before ordering that next boot or
> making that CD-R. I'm just as guilty (if not more so) than most of you.
> But if this activity is illegal and U2 doesn't want us doing it then we
> as fans should stop doing it. I think that U2 would only really have a
> problem with the people making profit off of their work. You didn't
> write the music you didn't perform you didn't record it so what right do
> you have to charge money for it? (other than to cover you costs and ONLY
> your costs)
>
> To me it would make sense for U2 to record all their shows from the
> soundboard and then make them available to the public through mail
> order. This would completely eliminate bootlegging and it would ensure
> that fans get a good product at a fair price. Plus it would mean extra
> income for them.
>
> Just my $0.02
>
> Slicer
You be silly, boy :p
Who cares about ethics in this world except people taking
college ethics classes. Are you taking a Introduction to
Ethics course right now? ;) I've always thought it was kind
of funny that they wouldn't "Introduce" you to Ethics until
you were in college. It's kind of too late by then, isn't it?
U2 members probably have bootlegs of other bands.
Ever thought of that?
They've also made it clear they just don't want the fans to
be ripped off. They didn't say if they cared if the bootlegger
made a profit or not. I don't see why Polygram would care any
more than U2 does. They'er not going to issue CDs of the shows,
so they'd never make any money off them anyway.
Ocassionally the record companies make some loud noises about
bootlegging and then everything goes back to normal.
I think the only thing that really worries them is the
people that are printing up huge numbers of counterfit copies
of official release CDs and videos and selling them cheap.
They're not going to spend much time or effort on small time
dealers and fans trading and selling boots of shows that
they never intend to release anything on anyway.
Getting abstract and philosophical on the subject will
just give you a headache ;)
Robbie
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on Wed Aug 05 1998 - 23:18:22 PDT