Pro-file-sharing video from European Green Party
The European Green Party -- which controls about ten percent of the continentwide vote -- has put together a PSA in support of file-sharing and new laws that legalize the activity. Called "I Wouldn't Steal," it's an answer to the terrible "You wouldn't steal a car" nagware ads that run at the beginning of your store-bought DVDs (Hey, MPA, here's a hint: if I went to the store and bought the DVD, you don't really need to lecture me on the evils of downloading. I bought the DVD).
Whenever you rent a movie, the multinational media industry forces you to watch their propaganda. They claim that [downloading movies is the same as snatching bags, stealing cars or shoplifting]. That’s simply not true – making a copy is fundamentally different from stealing.Link (Thanks, David!)The media industry has failed to offer viable legal alternatives and they will fail to convince consumers that sharing equals stealing. Unfortunately, they have succeeded in another area – lobbying to adapt laws to criminalize sharing, turning consumers into criminals. They argue that their laws are necessary to [support artists], but in reality all they’re protecting is their own profits.
See also: IT Crowd Season 2, Episode 3: Great anti-piracy PSA sendup
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I hate that blasted advert. Nice to see someone with a bit of clout have a go at it.
Odd. The first person in the video is wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh - an icon of terror.
Right, a Symbol of Terror... that not only is a common head-dress in many arabic nations, but also ya href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keffiyeh#Military_use">worn by various western militaries (I assume when in the appropriate environment) and loads of people in general.
It's also a symbol associated with left youths in europe, often seen on punks, which is probably why it appears in a video made by the green party.
Symbol of terror my ass...
As far as I can remember, the adverts to which you refer show someone downloading what we assume is pirated material. I don't remember copying being depicted, although copying is implicit.
Thanks Aaron - you managed to put Spankbot in his place in a much more informative manner than I would have, given my first knee-jerk reaction.
Seriously, the whole xenophobic ignorant american cliche has be done to death already. Try something new Spankbot, thanks for coming out.
Great advert, and I especially like the blip track they used for the soundtrack. I'm gonna have to look up Casual Belly.
Spankbot... if you're seeing icons of terror everywhere, you should really visit an optometrist. *AND* a psychiatrist.
#4. Here's a "you wouldn't steal a car" original on YouTube. This particular one says we shouldn't BUY pirated movies (i.e. down the local market). They have a point in that you're passing money to criminals who might (or might not?--I don't know the statistics) be involved in more serious criminal concerns.
When I saw this advert in the cinema a guy said very clearly "No, I download mine instead," which got a good laugh from everyone.
Thats the Palestinian version of the keffiyeh and, at least here in the UK, it's typically worn by people who want to show their "solidarity" with groups like Hamas. So, ya, many see it as an "icon of terror", rightly or wrongly.
No longer available on YouTube, as far as I can see. Why was it taken down?
Oh - now I can see it. Sorry!
Nowadays, on tv in sweden the lobbyists don't advertise downloading as stealing, but liken it more to getting into the tanning booth with a paying customer or peeing next to someone who paid to use the public toilet. So, I guess they're now trying to say downloaders are leeching off of paying customers and paying customers should be annoyed by it.
As propaganda, I think that kind of angle is maybe more effective than saying that downloaders steal (from mega-rich faceless multinationals)...
And as with any commercial, the "better" it is, the worse it is, since it can dupe more people.
Its also important to note the Green Party of the United States is the only American political party to call for the boycott of Israel through their continued human rights violation. The Keffiyeh's presence shows global solidarity. Go Cynthia! Share files and help end the American Blackout!!