Are free movie and music downloads killing the entertainment industry?

Are free music and movie downloads killing the entertainment industry? in a word.. no.. that is, not if they are legal. In a word, YES. if they are not. Don't get me wrong.. like everbody else, I enjoy receiving gifts and free stuff too.. but stealing?????, and I know that sounds harsh but, let's be foreal here... when a person or group of people invest tons of talent, time, money, sweat, tears and somtimes even blood to create a product (music or film) to sell for POSSIBLE profit.. and before they can even finish editing the film or distributing the CD's.Free digital copies appear on the internet available for download. I think it's fair to say that those people were robbed.

For example: A high quality Stage 6 DIVX digital wide screen version of American gangster starring Denzel Washington.

was made available for free download on the web 2 weeks before it was released in theaters.. WTF?.. This film and many others such as: I am legend starring Will Smith, Jackass 2.5, A perfect holiday starring Charlie murphy and queen latifa, The santaclause 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 starring Johnny Depp.. the list go's on and on and on... unreleased movies, directors cuts, screeners, and even some where a camcorder was used in the theater to record entire films...

are still available for download on sites such as the ones below,

Some of these "free movie download" sites are bold and brazen.. while others use proxy services such as the one below to conceal thier identities.

This is piracy at its worst...

Beside the major negative finacial hits that all involved with the making of these films will take ie: royalties, reduced box office turn out, DVD sales and rentals, ect... I wonder what kind of impact this will have come time for nominations and awards..

And what about all the music downloads? I wonder how much illegally downloaded mp3's, itunes, ect... contribute to albums that are double platinum in illegal downloads.. but dont even go gold in the stores... that must really suck.. and mostly for the artist.. not the RIAA (Recording industry of America)

Have you noticed that theres been a steady increase of one hit wonders lately.. Most recording artist barely break even during the first album... the record lables take most of the revenue generated by the 1st album.. because the 1st standard contract given to new artist.. traditionally, sucks... the second album is where the artist stands to make good money for themselves and thier families... so when people say screw the RIAA.... and the record lables. they are really saying.. screw themselves & screw the artist because.. The record lables have already made thier money.... the artists (the intelligent ones) in turn.. being human and all.. are forced to say.. screw this.. And quit making music to seek more rewarding ventures.. and we in turn get stuck with crappy, unintelligent, cookie cutter music....

By the way, anyone who's even thinking about a career in the music business should follow the link below for a bit of advice..

For those of you who feel that downloading this stuff is not stealing because you were not personally involved with the initial theft, upload, and distribution of the material. I say to you, what if your grandmothers purse was snacthed? and the dude who robbed her set up a little stand on the main street of your town with a big picture of your grandma and a sign that says "I snatched this old ladies purse.. come, lets share the contents" How would you feel about the people in line at this thiefs stand?" I mean, they know the purse is stolen, but,, hey, they did'nt take it... they did'nt break her arm and knock her to the ground... thier innocent bystanders.. I think not.

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