Tag Archives: copyright

bm257 Filesharing Philosophy with Peter of the Pirate Bay.

In some parts of the world people still use the term “steal” to describe getting music through bittorent or other systems. At the same time, many people use the term filesharing or downloading to describe that same process. Laws might get passed and moral judgements might be imposed, but how logical are such views when it comes to the sharing or copying of digital material.

My guest today is Peter of the Pirate Bay, one of the most popular sites on the internet, period. Moreover, someone who has a strong commitment to struggle and educate people when it comes to the nature of filesharing. Looking beyond scare tactics and the manipulation of governments by large corporate interests, Peter has alot to say when it comes to how we think or could think about the world reknowned practice of downloading things from the internet.

I also recommend the most recent Yeast Radio, which features Peter in a debate on intellectual property. And a previous edition of Chaos Radio International which provides alot of essential information about pirate bay, why and how it does what it does.

 

bmtv52 Robbing the Poor to Feed the Rich

This brief entry was roughly recorded during my day in Quarteira, Algarve. As I walked through a famous street market, where indeed lots of bootleg merch is sold, all of a sudden dozens of police run in, many in full riot gear brandishing shotguns and automatic weapons. It was an string operation against the poorest segment of the population… gypsy street merchants. Their goal was to find all merchandise with brand names, confiscate it and punish the vender. Several officers wore ski masks to not be recognized. All in all, further proof of the fascist tendencies that have returned to a nation like Portugal, in this case not under the guise of anti-terrorism, but the dreaded “anti-piracy” which allegedly is destroying the obscenely wealthy corprorations of the world. This.. is robbing the poor to feed the rich.

ps- To the so-called police officer who came up to me and in a threatening manner said I could not film: Smile asshole, you and your gung ho colleagues are on the internets.

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