Legit cassette, pirated CD: A test of consumer dignity
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The (in)famous U.S. rapper 50 Cent says he gives no s**t where his fans get ahold of his music -- legitimate recordings or download sites, even pirated or illegal ones.
While this may not be the general sentiment of most artists, songwriters in particular, but perhaps 50 Cent is only making peace with the fact that piracy is irrefutably invincible -- and widespread.
Call it a given, call it practical, call it stealing, but buying pirated material is actually a direct exercise of the core principle of consumerism -- get more for less.
It costs only about half of the retail price for quality that is more often than not, merely tolerable. But these days, quality is improving exponentially that it is hard to tell the difference between original and pirated recordings or films.
Even though this situation may be a status quo, particularly in Asia, there are always the few who stand up against the flow.
Daniel, 24, says he is proud not to be one of the crowd. He claims he purchased all original, legal software and hardware.
It's just the right thing to do, he says.
"People create things and work hard to get them through all the production and distribution hassles, and then you just deprive them of what they deserve just because you can't pay the price? One word: stealing," he said.
Daniel refuses to engage in further debate, simply because he believes this issue is not open to debate.
He says it's a matter of choice, and asserts that he doesn't look down upon others who religiously purchase pirated software.
"I am aware of their reasons, and they're both justifiable and rational in an unfortunate way. I do know the legitimate ones are superfluously expensive, or it takes (months) for the original movies to get here.
"But for me personally, it's simple. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Borrow or rent -- the services are everywhere. Instead of buying pirated CDs, you get original cassettes. Instead of buying pirated Windows, you get Linux," he added.
Daniel remembers when he became more choosy about buying CDs or cassettes.
"It was sometime after the (1998) economic crisis, when prices just started ballooning. I remember buying cassettes of foreign artists before that for only Rp 8,000 (83 U.S. cents), now I have to pay Rp 23,000," he recalled.
"I can't exactly say that no pirated cassette vendors existed before the crisis. But afterwards, they've (come out of the woodwork) and are everywhere you look. I suppose there's no one to blame here. The demand goes up, here comes the supply."
Marie, 21, practices the same purchasing ethics as Daniel for similar reasons. But she also has another reason, one that is so close to her heart that she tells very few friends.
"I'm an aspiring singer and songwriter. Um... it's kind of weird and cheesy, but I just don't want people to buy pirated versions of my records if I ever make it," Marie said.
"You know, it's like what they say -- 'what comes around goes around'."
Like Daniel, Marie too refuses to indulge in an argument about buying pirated products.
"It'll just be crazy and endless. They'll (people who buy pirated products) say it's logical because the prices are high, and they're actually helping people who rely on selling these bogus products to make ends meet. And it goes on and on," she said.
Marie added that her peers tease her, saying she's being an idealist at the wrong time and in the wrong place, but she simply chooses to walk on by with intact dignity.
"It all just boils down to the preferences and choices you make in life. But I do have one thing to say. These people, or at least among many of my friends, who buy pirated CDs or DVDs never argue when I tell them that they're basically stealing.
"I know that me not buying a pirated product may not make an obvious difference. But at least I'm staying true to myself and what I believe in," she said.
As much as they despise it, if they do become involved in a debate on the issue, they fall silent when asked about ways to stamp out piracy.
"It's like prostitution. You can go out there and conduct raids every two hours, but this kind of practice will always find its way to consumers. The worst is if the vendors, and this is true in many cases, are actually friends with the (police) officers," said Daniel.
Moreover, the channels and methods open to piracy are no longer as conventional as they used to be, such as making copies directly from the originals.
"You can download thousands of songs (illegally) from the Internet for free. For free! There seems to be no stopping to it, and I guess this is something you just have to live with," said Marie.