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Are IT the new moral guardians?

Posted in General on March 10, 2008 at 6:53 pm

“Hey you – want a copy of the latest blockbuster or a full copy of that latest software package? Keep it under your hat - nudge nudge - but there is someone who knows someone who can sort you out if you know what I mean”. Grr, I don’t know about you but this sort of thing just grates on me.

More and more these days I have been noticing an uneasy hushed silence as I enter a room. I believe this is because I seem to be the only one endlessly reminding people that copying (or buying copied versions of) software, games and movies is not legal. I’ve lost count of how many times I have had to remind people that downloading or ripping music that you haven’t payed for and don’t own is not legal (unless it has been offered free!). Of course I can’t be sure that anyone is actually doing anything wrong because I haven’t seen it with my own eyes but drop into a conversation that you believe that copying DVD’s is wrong and it seems that conversation runs dry pretty quickly. I used to enjoy car boot sales but stopped as they seemed to be overrun by dodgy DVD dealers. What reply do I always get - “Those mega-corporations have loads of money already and we aren’t doing any harm”. Really?

Two unusual things have been added to the list recently - the other day I had to ask if a video clip being played in a Power Point presentation was licensed for public viewing and then I had to remind someone that copying pages from books using a scanner needs a license. I was even harping on about Second Life (Is Second Life just a den of iniquity?)at the back end of last year as I noticed how simple it was to get online and be dumped in the middle of mature content.

Last week Microsoft and their Ultimate Steal offer became a talking point as a number of people I know are part time or distance students. There even seems to be some confusion over Student versions of software as it would appear that even small children (five and under) that go to Nursery can apparently get full bundles of software for a fraction of the price of the retail package. What a three year old child will do with Microsoft Access is beyond me but I imagine that Mommy and Daddy or Granny and Grandpa might find it useful (I just hope the child understands when they grow up!). Ok, software licensing is a nightmare at the best of times so I guess it can be understandable if someone misinterprets the license agreement from time to time.

The worrying trend is that I seem to be becoming a minority. I didn’t set out to be the one waving the moral flag but as many of these activities are being ‘enabled’ through technology I am left wondering if IT have actually become the new moral guardians.