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?