Downloads free but not fair

DOWNLOADS:
FREE, BUT NOT FAIR
Fast broadband connections have made way for fast downloads. And few people even think of it as illegal.

Games, movies and music are now only a download away. And youngsters have no qualms doing just that. Says Eliyas , an engineering student, “I usually borrow from others who’ve downloaded stuff , so I don’t feel guilty because I’m not directly involved. “ Medical student Rahul B says, “ I’ve never though of it as illegal. It’s just timepass I don’t forward or circulate stuff I download.” Rekha another student , explains why she downloads movies. “ I can’t afford multiplex tickets fro every film I want to see. What I download is entirely fro personal use, so I don’t think I’m breaking any ways.”
Some says they are selective about what they download. According to Darshan Y, engineering stydent, “ Even the DVDs you rent are often paired. So you are part of the chain anyway . But I know Bollywood suffers because of piracy, so I never download Hindi films.”
Easy option
Says Aditya, who downloads international music and movies, “now, you have peer-to-peer sharing procedure fro downloads, which means you don’t have sit for hours to finish the job. I just put on the list and leave for college and by the time I get back the job is done.”
Adds shwetha, I find downloading an easy option; when I get clear print quality free of cost, why should I spend on originals ?” Her recent downloads include Ratatouille, Chak De! India, the Bourne threequel and Transformer. “I’m crazy about sitcoms too and am tempted to download them way before they are aired in India,” she adds.
Agrees Darshan whose sitcoms downloads include 24, Prison Break and Black adder, “ I download sitcoms because it’s exciting to watch them at a stretch, rather than waiting for the weekly episodes.”

It’s free!
For rahul it’s entirely about saving money. “I download themes, songs and games for my cell phone because I believe in experimenting with them and obviously this ahs to be free of cost. Often I like just one song an album, so I download that one song rather then buy the whole album, “ he says. Naturally. These music and movie buffs rarely every buy original stuff. “I don’t think I would have actually bought albums or DVD more than six times in the last four years.” Says Aditya.

Bad for business
Ashwin S Nair, area manager for a music retail store, concedes that when youngsters-a key segment of the market for their business-Download music and movies. It means a loss in revenue. “ To give you an example we have a store in manipal that does good business among the student community. But last year, after many of the institute gave laptops to students, we recorded a drop in sales. What happened was that some students were downloading stuff and circulating in on campus. “ Ashwini adds that it’s to be that practice that several companies are slashing original prices. As fro games, Rekha venkatesh , game developer, says student can’t download games from the net as they’ll never get the whole version. But what they is by one original game and copy and circulate.”

Expert View

People have to be made aware of the security threats of downloading; companies also have to cut prices. A professional photographer will by original software for his use, but a layman who just want to experiment will download the software. So if companies make soft ware more affordable, more people will be encouraged to buy originals. Software users must also be made aware that free downloads come with a lot viruses and are also vulnerable to hacking.”

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