THE MEANDERWALKER

Wired published this great article in its March issue addressing the fact that video - including film and television - is traveling down the same path that music did in the late-90’s and into the early-2000’s. That path being the quick descent into free mass distribution via the Internet; also know as Piracy.

I know that I’ve nearly exhausted the conversation about how I don’t like to pay for music anymore — or anything on the internet really (with the exception of my Flickr pro account, but they lucked out with that one). But I can’t emphasize enough about what it means that I, a typical 20-something with disposable income, haven’t bought a CD in almost 5 years and I rarely buy DVDs either now, although I watch movies and tv shows available on DVD all the time.

The article gives a quick but detailed analysis at the status quo of video piracy and how to deal with it, but here’s the take away:

The lessons from the music fiasco are clear: Trying to limit the inherent advantages of digital files is a losing strategy. The way to stop piracy is to make everything available — easily, legally, and at a fair price.

Anyone can find and learn to use torrents. Why not embrace it and figure out another way to make it profitable?

Related Wired reading in that regard: Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business.