Copyright Wars
Translated by mastermind Joe Timberwolf aka Jörg Fassbender.
This for once is a very German strip. It refers to a topic which is very hot right now in Germany. In the last couple of weeks a kind of “copyright war” evolved in this country. Roughly speaking, it seems to be artists vs pirates (we actually have a new party in Germany called “The Pirate Party“). While the Pirates demand the reformation of the German copyright laws, some artists complain about the lack of appreciation for their work and fear the consequences of a drastic change in the laws. It has become a very furios and complicated debate, the disputants make use of very strong language and the positions of the different parties are hardening.
I’m trying to keep track of the debate, but it has really become almost incomprehensible. There are many dangerous half-truths, misunderstandings and false accusations on both sides and therefore it’s hard for me to form an opinion. As the term “webcomic artist” conveys I can understand parts of the argumentation of both the net community and the artists, but I cannot take position as long as I don’t understand all the facts.
I just wish that the debate would be less aggressive, so that there’d be a chance for a REAL discussion. 
America just had a bunch of trouble with that. Well, more than the usual, anyway. As a writer, I actually count myself as an artist, and I hate piracy, but there are exceptions. (For example, why would I want to pay for Michael Jackson or Queen music? They’re rich enough! Lol, just kidding.)
We actually have a “pirate party” since a year back. They don’t have any power though.
Yeah, I know their origins are in Sweden. Right now, in Germany they surprised everybody with their success. So they definitely have an audience!
The problem with the “copyright wars” in the USA is that it’s not artists-vs-pirates as much as it is Hollywood-vs.-pirates, and what Hollywood wants done to stop the pirates would hurt all artists, writers, designers, and ordinary people who are just trying to do their jobs and live their lives. I am very anti-piracy–I think if you want to enjoy someone else’s hard work, you should be willing to pay for it, but I do NOT agree with the laws that are being pushed in our country right now as they would restrict legitimate creative expression more than anything else.
We already have copyright laws in this country. We just need to enforce them.
+1
From what I know on SOPA and PIPA, I can only agree, Lydia. Well said.
Surely bittorrents are the end of entertaiment industry, just like Tv was for movie industry or recods for live conserts.
If we don’t take action soon there will be no entertaimen industry it will perish like its predisessors.
Well, MrNice13, I don’t know about that and I don’t think this will be the case. Because last time I checked, movies and live concerts were still here. And the way I see it, the entertainment industry can take this.
People will keep on buying DVDs and going to the movies and buying records in spite of bittorrents. I’m not saying it’s right, because it’s not, but people still buy stuff and it’s very hard to prove that the entertainment industry looses money from people using bittorrents.
Maybe I should strart stating the tone of my comments (like the elcor in mass effect). be cause once again my sarcastic comment has been understud as serius (difference being that this time reply was polite and stated the other side of the argument without using the argument “You’re a Fag” even once).
(Politely) Hopefully this misunderstanding doesn’t create bad blood between us.
Nope, not at all. I even wanted to ask you if you are being sarcastic, but didn’t want to come off as being rude.
But the “like its predecessors” should have given it away.
hey it’s been awhile but why is itn’t the lastest we can not comment on?
Hi DJJones, good to have you back. You can comment on whatever you like. Or dislike. Or… ahh, you get it.