[LINK] We're all pirates (again)

[Darryl (Dassa) Lynch]

|> -----Original Message-----
|> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au [mailto:link-
|> bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Michael Skeggs
|> mike at bystander.net
|> Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 5:15 PM
|> To: Richard Chirgwin
|> Cc: link at mailman.anu.edu.au
|> Subject: Re: [LINK] We're all pirates (again)
|> 
|> >From the article:
|> 
|> "The impact on Commonwealth revenues last year was $190 million, which
|> will rise to $1.1 billion in five years for a total loss of $3.7
|> billion in five years. "
|> Presumably from foregone taxes?
|> 
|> The counter argument is that the pirates spent whatever they might
|> have spent on hollywood stuff on local goods, so the taxes were still
|> paid, but the dollars stayed in Australia rather than ending in Ms
|> Gaga's record label's pocket.

The figures seem to be assuming that people would actually go and pay for
the movies/songs/whatever if they couldn't download them for free, this is
something I'd be doubtful about.  There would be a percentage but certainly
not 100%. It also ignores how people may go on to purchase the same goods
they downloaded or influence others to purchase who may not have otherwise.

Darryl (Dassa) Lynch