• Video: ‘To Catch a Pirate’ is like ‘To Catch a Predator,’ only with pirates

    Thursday, August 13th, 2009

    Nicholas likes video games, soccer, UFC, and astronomy–particularly the study of asteroids. He went to NYU. → Learn More

    Another day, another fun video. Today’s is “To Catch a Pirate,” a clever parody of the hit American TV show that’s “devoted to the subject of identifying and detaining those who contact people they believe to be below the age of consent over the Internet for sexual liaisons.” Only this time, we’re dealing with filthy pirates. Software pirates, to be exact. Makes sense: the BSA is behind the video.

    My one concern with the video—it’s otherwise a silly parody that won’t harm anyone—is when the host accuses the pirate of “stealing” software. I know the BSA is in the business of stopping software piracy, but there is a difference between copyright infringement and wholesale theft. If I walk into Wal-Mart and physically steal a copy of Microsoft Office, that’s one less disc the store has on hand to sell.

    And if there’s any underlying hope to this video, it’s that if the BSA can commission a video like this, then perhaps it’s not going to go the RIAA route of demonizing its customers. Rather, I don’t know, maybe it wants to engage them in a productive manner?

    Sponsored Ads

    blog comments powered by Disqus

    Sponsored Ads

    Sponsored Ads

    Upcoming Events

    E3 2012

    Los Angeles, CA

    Disrupt SF 2012

    San Francisco, CA