here is the full subject for context: https://imgur.com/a/HmNaMIu
You have to choose one of 2 exam papers. Would you choose the second subject ? the one revolving around piracy denial that is.

  • enkers@sh.itjust.works
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    6 months ago

    Here’s my mildly diplomatic answer that’d probably get tossed:

    Piracy has become a plague on our society, but there’s a more sinister cause to it. The average labourer can hardly afford to pay the same fee to access culture that the wealthy person can, and this has caused a significant and justified uptick in piracy.

    This situation can be averted by increasing minimum wages and supporting universal basic income. If everyone knew they could at least make ends meet, they’d have some left over to pay for the culture that mattered to them.

    • GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml
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      6 months ago

      It’s not only price. I don’t agree that spotify has the right to a monopoly in music sales. Neither shall youtube have it for videos or adobe for image editing.

      There is a market imbalance and the only protest that’s left for me is to pirate content.

      • best_username_ever@sh.itjust.works
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        6 months ago

        I would ask how it is theft when I’m prevented from buying media from other countries. I can’t buy Romanian movies or Swedish books. It’s illegal for me to give them money. Where is the theft here?

      • enkers@sh.itjust.works
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        6 months ago

        Haha, yeah, that’s why I said it’s my diplomatic answer, as it doesn’t utterly reject a capitalist framework.

        • GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml
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          6 months ago

          Neither does my statement reject capitalism. I reject the monopolies. There is not really a competitive market. It may or should be a natural monopoly but there are means to produce competitive markets but they are not yet implemented.

          Capitalism does not exclusively mean monopolies. Recap: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism

          Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit.[1][2][3][4][5] Central characteristics of capitalism include capital accumulation, competitive markets, price systems, private property, property rights recognition, economic freedom, profit motive, entrepreneurship, commodification, voluntary exchange, wage labor and the production of commodities.[6][7][8][9] In a market economy, decision-making and investments are determined by owners of wealth, property, or ability to maneuver capital or production ability in capital and financial markets—whereas prices and the distribution of goods and services are mainly determined by competition in goods and services markets.

          • Stretch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            6 months ago

            Unrestrained capitalism will always trend into monopoly. Capitalist-first democracies espousing “free market” historically never properly regulate their markets, resulting in this state, and the rhetoric all tends to place the market above the people, hence copyright being perverted into arcane lifetime-plus ownership schemes with fingers into everything. Meanwhile, culture is commodified and restricted from those who create it.

            I know we aren’t arguing different viewpoints; only choices of words.

            Sigh… Back to my FOSS life without AAA gaming with my son in another country…

  • The Octonaut@mander.xyz
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    6 months ago

    You are being tested on your comprehension of the text given, not asked for your opinion on piracy and copyright.

  • eskimofry@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    So it’s morally fine for assholes to pay money and buy up rights to creative works and deprive people of enjoyment just because their imaginary concept of ownership trumps ours?

  • GravitySpoiled@lemmy.ml
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    6 months ago

    I’ve got no idea what your exam is but why does it provide the answer (aka notes) to the question?

    It’s incredible that you shall not discuss it but actively denounce it. What idiot wrote this? Please denounce him.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      It’s an exercise in reading and writing, not an opinion question. They want to see that you can understand the text given, and write on a given topic.

  • Stretch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    6 months ago

    My submission:

    The hysteria surrounding piracy is a smokescreen for the real issue: the outdated and oppressive copyright regime. The software industry’s revenue losses are a myth, and the notion that piracy kills creativity is a tired cliché. Piracy has always existed, and artists have always found ways to thrive. The software industry’s failure to adapt to changing consumer habits and technological advancements is the real reason for their declining revenues. Meanwhile, copyright laws often benefit exploitative corporations, rather than creatives. By enforcing draconian anti-piracy laws, we’re allowing copyright to become a tool of censorship. Instead, we should promote a more permissive approach to copyright, recognizing that sharing and collaboration are essential to a thriving cultural landscape.

    • zaknenou@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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      6 months ago

      nice essay. I’m curious for your input on this: you’re a software creator and you want to monetize your software, how is this achievable under piracy ?

      • Stretch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        5 months ago

        To borrow heavily from the ideas of Glyn Moody (grab a free copy of one of his books here), I would first address what I believe to be a false premise.

        The question assumes that piracy is a fixed reality, and that the goal is to find ways to monetize software despite its existence. But what if we flip that assumption on its head? What if, instead of trying to fight piracy, we design business models that make piracy irrelevant?

        The software industry’s failure to adapt to the realities of the digital age is a stark reminder of its own inertia. For too long, it has relied on a broken business model that treats customers as mere consumers, rather than as active participants in the creation and dissemination of value.

        Instead of trying to prop up the concept of artificial scarcity, the industry should be embracing the abundance of the digital realm. This means recognizing that software is not a physical product, but a flow of information that can be easily copied and shared.

        One approach is to focus on providing services and support around the software, rather than just the software itself. This could include offering subscription-based models, where users pay for access to regular updates, security patches, and expert advice. It could also involve creating communities and ecosystems around the software, where users can collaborate, share knowledge, and contribute to the development process.

        Another approach is to adopt open-source principles, where the software is freely available, and revenue is generated through customization, integration, and consulting services. This not only reduces the incentive for piracy but also creates a more collaborative and transparent development process.

        Ultimately, the software industry needs to stop fighting the tide of technological progress and start embracing the opportunities it presents. By doing so, it can create new business models that are more resilient, more equitable, and more aligned with the values of the digital age.