Maybe we're going about this all wrong, maybe there is a happy Internet resolution but one that, instead of revolving around a victor, revolves around a compromise. It isn't about winning, it's about saving both the entertainment industry and the rights that exist within the online realm. It's not one way or the other, but a symbiotic relationship where they function together as one.
Music and movies are suffering from the effects of piracy, this is a fact. There are, however, proven techniques that exist that works both the Internet and the business - look st iTunes and Netflix as prime examples, and look at Blockbuster as proof that yes it has been effective.
But this notion of business through the web hasn't fully been embraced yet - the outdated network television system is still holding on when in reality it should be put out of its misery, and the courts are still routinely prosecuting downloaders.
Naturally, I have a suggestion, at least for television. It is one to capitalize on the technology rather than work against it and one that can be easily applied, and if it works a model that can be applied to other avenues. It is, quite simply, to put out a whole string of episodes - if not an entire season - of a show all at once. With the notable exceptions being the current events shows, which could be released as more of a podcast. This model accommodates the currently reality of the world better than the once-a-week, set time schedule for shows.
People program their PVRs and buy DVD box sets to avoid being anchored to a couch or chair once a week. I know a couple who actually refuse to start watching a show until it is at least a half season old to ensure they have plenty of material ahead of them should they adopt that show. The appreciate the flexibility. And I personally prefer the ability to watch marathon runs of a series to catch up rather than waiting a week at a time when I finally reach the same point as the series.
Don't even get me into breaks in the seasons, which hopefully in time become an archaic remnant of the past. At times these breaks are unbearable, especially when a series is uncertain to return the next fall/winter/spring. And people have also become accustomed to a more on demand lifestyle which thus eliminates a whole lot of patience.
So in this case industry charges a fee to download, places advertisements on the download pages and within the shows as well. It is responding to the nature of the times and it is progressive. And besides industry really should be embracing the changing dynamics.
The Pacific 10 Conference, a sports conference within the NCAA, the US college and university sporting league, recently announced their decision to stream content from all their members on a website to help garner revenues. Televised sports, especially of the college football and basketball variety, comes with many millions of viewers and thus dollars attached. This here is a great example of refusing to fight against that sort of potential, but rather capitalizing on its possibilities. College and university students spend more time online downloading shows anyways so this really is a natural evolution.
Canada's response is the Sports Streaming Network (SSN). The website streams video from games and generally the local radio reporters covering university games of all sorts. SSN tries hard to broadcast all sports across the NCAA's Canadian counterpart, the CIS, and it does a good job, but it could be done better. It supports but does not appear to be attached to the governing body or conference, and while it is improving it could be better.
There's really so much room for cooperation here that could make something great. It doesn't have to be a war, even if that's the path things are headed at the moment. The Internet can be a free domain that makes industry money, if the two sides make it so easy, cost efficient, and practical to purchase shows online rather than download torrents.
There has really been no olive branch extended, no signs that show industry and government are willing to do anything but place rulings and regulations on the web. There are enough avenues for hackers and activist groups to exploit online that it means this battle will rage on. With any luck cooler heads will prevail. There is a chance, however, that things will get worse instead of getting better.
