This last week has been a good one for illegal file sharing. A group calling itself "Media-Defender Defenders" successfully hacked the computers of Media Defender, a company that hires itself out to the music and film industries to help thwart piracy--particularly peer-to-peer files sharing. Thanks to the hackers, approximately 700mb of Media Defender's recent internal email has been posted on the internet. I am moved to blog this morning by a quote reported in the Wall Street Journal by the Media-Defender Defenders (the hackers). The Journal quotes Media-Defender Defenders as saying: "By releasing these emails we hope to secure the privacy and personal integrity of all peer-to-peer users."
"Personal integrity!" Give me a break! Webster's definition of "integrity": "Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty." So--Media-Defender Defenders are saying that he/she who steals the intellecutal property of another is adhering to moral and ethical principles? That the theives have "soundness of moral character" and are "honest"? Sorry--I just don't get it. I have represented songwriters and musicians for over 25 years and the ones I know don't get it either. They and their families deserve better than this.
Copyright © 2007 C. Stephen Weaver
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