Warez

Warez are websites that are managed by highly organized, domestic and international groups that specifically devote most of their time to illegally amass huge stores of digital media that is made available to the general public. These particular websites result in losses of billions of dollars of revenue to the entertainment industry each year (Adapted from Schmalleger & Pittaro, 2009, p 385).

The copying and sharing of illegal music took off in the 1970’s with the advent of home cassette recorders and has only intensified. During this era, most artists tolerated bootlegging and even encouraged it, viewing the process as a method of finding a new audience and cementing fans’ loyalty. However, entrepreneurs have attempted to criminalize illegal music download and label the (predominantly young) people who engage in this endeavor as ‘parasites’ and ‘thieves.’ However, their attempts have "backfired as their measures have been countered by a huge resistance that refuse and contest this process of labeling, turning claims about theft and immortality back upon the entrepreneurs themselves” (Yar, 2007, p.96). Since then, Warez websites have emerged that contain an almost unaccountable amount of digitized data that is basically free, but essentially illegal for the taking; or downloading.

Unfortunately, many warez websites are hugely assisted by Digital Natives who continuously upload and download files from the warez sites. There is growing concern that warez websites are becoming stronger and will progressively steal more intellectual property. Many warez websites gain access to products days and even weeks before their official launch. A screener DVD or advanced copy that is intended exclusively for critics and award judges can be "sold for $5,000 or even more"(Schmalleger & Pittaro, 2009, p 360. In addition, pirated copies recorded from movie theaters also sell for thousands of dollars. The technology that pirates are using is becoming increasingly sophisticated and continuously produces a clearer picture and a cleaner audio signal, especially with the launch of wireless infrared technology. Since in-theater recorded movies are becoming of better quality, an increasing number of people feel there is no need to watch the movie at a theater, thus creating a loss for the entertainment industry.

Most managers and members of warez and other pirating websites are motivated by personal, financial and intrinsic means. By uploading digital files to warez and other websites, members gain points and eventual access to an almost unlimited amount of digitized media. In addition, some members are actually paid cash for quality copies of non-released digital data and can receive thousands of dollars for a single video or program. Finally, many members join such groups for the satisfaction they receive from outsmarting huge entertainment companies and eluding government officials dedicated to prosecuting them.

Non-members of warez websites generally pirate digitized media and software for several reasons. First and foremost, it is cheap and easy. Also, many people pirate digitized media because they do not realize the negative repercussions that pirating has and many people (especially children) are not aware that most files on the internet are actually copyrighted.

Since most files that are downloaded from Warez sites are copyrighted and thus illegal to download without permission from the authentic owner/ distributor or a license has been purchased to legally download the digitized data why are Warez and similar websites not instantaneously shut down? The latter question will be discussed in the //Preventing Internet Piracy// page of this wiki space.

Common Warez Websites...

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