Foo - TV Show Piracy, dilema

I am a big believer in objective piracy. Essentially I will pirate anything, using it, however, if I find it useful and worth money I will purchase it. Music, movies or otherwise. I have been doing this for a couple of decades and please, I don't feel like discussing the companies rights, informational ownership or anything else. I do this with a clean heart as I don't believe you should buy anything before trying it. Every company should offer trialware (and most do now...)

That said, a lot of shows I watch now are shows I can't even get in canada. Showtime and HBO have made some incredible series over the last few years, which I can't watch "legally"...I also don't believe in buying dvd's of tv shows (sorry but thats just bull****, I don't want extras or fluff or corporate commercials, if I like a show I pvr it or keep it on tape, hence the dilema) Is my only way to "make it right" to buy dvd haha...or is this my way of telling the companies to get their channels up here

btw, I have emailed both companies explaining how great their shows are and that they have an audience in canada, hint hint...

I'm leaning more and more towards that. Many of the DVDs I've bought of shows have forced commercials at the beginning - I'm PAYING for the show so I don't have to be subjected to this crap. Stupid, stupid people...

In my case, I just don't watch much TV.

I don't know if the same is true in Canada, but a lot of box sets here come way down in price if you wait a while. While they were US$80-100 when new, I ended up picking up the box sets of The X-Files for about $17.99 each. Maybe still more than you're willing to spend, but it was fair to me, and well worth having everything available in a convenient and (more importantly) commercial-free format.

That said, I've never bothered with anything HBO or Showtime have to offer, so they may be harder to find at a lower price.

I download stuff that I can't get on TV. Cycling stuff, anime tv series, Corner Gas, etc.

If I can find stuff locally on DVD, I'll always get DVD.

I try to pay when I can. I don't think it's right for me to steal it when I can afford it. That being said, I still download Heroes from Limewire because I can't buy that. I pay for two series on itunes but Heroes isn't offered. I don't feel too bad about "stealing" Heroes because if I was in the US I could watch it on the network website for free anyway and I'm not selling or distributing it.

Weeds is a good show of Showtime.

Corner Gas

Really? People watch that show outside of Saskatchewan? The cast hangs out in the pub i go to all the time, never talk to them though. Brent Butt is a funny dude though.

I pirate media all the time. If I like something I'll buy a T-Shirt or some other merchandise to support production. If It's a musician, I'll pay for a ticket to see their show.

I sure wouldn't be discussing whether or not I Pirate something on a forum that is google searchable. Especially given recent litigation against poor schlubs that have been caught with pirated music on their hard drives.....

I sure wouldn't be discussing whether or not I Pirate something on a forum that is google searchable. Especially given recent litigation against poor schlubs that have been caught with pirated music on their hard drives.....

(c) 2007 Tom Stormcrowe productions. All rights reserved.

I am a big believer in objective piracy. Essentially I will pirate anything, using it, however, if I find it useful and worth money I will purchase it. Music, movies or otherwise. I have been doing this for a couple of decades and please, I don't feel like discussing the companies rights, informational ownership or anything else. I do this with a clean heart as I don't believe you should buy anything before trying it. Every company should offer trialware (and most do now...)

That said, a lot of shows I watch now are shows I can't even get in canada. Showtime and HBO have made some incredible series over the last few years, which I can't watch "legally"...I also don't believe in buying dvd's of tv shows (sorry but thats just bull****, I don't want extras or fluff or corporate commercials, if I like a show I pvr it or keep it on tape, hence the dilema) Is my only way to "make it right" to buy dvd haha...or is this my way of telling the companies to get their channels up here

btw, I have emailed both companies explaining how great their shows are and that they have an audience in canada, hint hint...

No Netflix in Canada?

Is my only way to "make it right" to buy dvd haha...or is this my way of telling the companies to get their channels up here


Sounds like you've rationalized your way to a solution. Apparently, as long as it doesn't interfere with your doing whatever you want to do, you have no problem with intellectual property rights. The distributor holds the rights to the product. If they want to do something as dumb as not giving you a chance to try it before you buy it or not taking advantage of a potential market (and you really don't know what goes into that decision), well, that's their problem, but it still doesn't justify your approach.

If It's a musician, I'll pay for a ticket to see their show.

I have this great hope that the current state of piracy will force musicians to actually tour to earn money. They certainly aren't getting rich off CD sales.

If i can find a DVD for an anime movie/show i'm interested in, i'll buy it. If it's one i can't buy, well, i've got other ways... :D

Fansubs FTW!

Weeds is a good show of Showtime.

Dexter is killer, literally :D I also liked Rome, weeds and many others that I currently forget.

I sure wouldn't be discussing whether or not I Pirate something on a forum that is google searchable. Especially given recent litigation against poor schlubs that have been caught with pirated music on their hard drives.....

I'm in canada, most of those laws don't apply and our legal system takes a decent stance against music piracy, the pervs and murderers get all their attention ;). And luckily, the disclaimer I wrote doesn't apply to what I actually have on my pc's. Like I said, I purchase everything I use. I just want to find a way to watch shows like Dexter, which are currently playing live in the states, but can't due to coverage in canada (actually might just be my area, depends on who provides cable for the area you live in, maybe those people in ontario get good shows haha).

Sounds like you've rationalized your way to a solution. Apparently, as long as it doesn't interfere with your doing whatever you want to do, you have no problem with intellectual property rights. The distributor holds the rights to the product. If they want to do something as dumb as not giving you a chance to try it before you buy it or not taking advantage of a potential market (and you really don't know what goes into that decision), well, that's their problem, but it still doesn't justify your approach.

Didn't feel like reading the whole thing, thats ok, I know it can be difficult sometimes.

Really? People watch that show outside of Saskatchewan? The cast hangs out in the pub i go to all the time, never talk to them though. Brent Butt is a funny dude though.

can't stand the show myself, but it is hugely popular for everyone. So yes, people watch outside the flatlands ;)



In my case, I just don't watch much TV.


Me neither. I like the shows that my friends and family recommend. Most of them just happen to enjoy the shows we can't get either. I can't even sit through regular tv now.



No Netflix in Canada?

Not available in my area, I don't think it is netflix either, some other name, but it doesn't have near the coverage or, apparently, the scope here. I have read about it online periodically but canadians just aren't as interested in the scope of online sales as the states, I forget that stats but in general even online sales are weak up here. Hence why there are no great online stores except futureshop and big chains.

Besides I am looking to watch shows currently being shown, not old shows, I have purchased the old shows I liked already (Oz etc)

No Netflix in Canada?

Of course they do! They call it "hockey."

Didn't feel like reading the whole thing, thats ok, I know it can be difficult sometimes.

Uh, no. What you said essentially is that unless you are intending to watch or listen to something repeatedly, you feel you have no need to pay for it and can pirate it shamelessly. That's not the way it works.

Until the writer's strike is over in the US, I have no issue with pirating shows. Pirating music depends on the band and the company representing them to me. Pirating movies, well, I'm a sucker for quality, so I don't.

Uh, no. What you said essentially is that unless you are intending to watch or listen to something repeatedly, you feel you have no need to pay for it and can pirate it shamelessly. That's not the way it works.

<<cough cough>>libraries<<cough>>fair use doctrine<<sniff>>

<<cough cough>>libraries<<cough>>fair use doctrine<<sniff>>

<<cough, cough>> libraries pay for their selections <<cough>> fair use inapplicable :)

<<belch>>outmoded 20th c. law<<burp>>technological advancement<<yuk yuk>>betamax<<woot>>libraries do not pay per use or royalties

I am a big believer in objective piracy. Essentially I will pirate anything, using it, however, if I find it useful and worth money I will purchase it. Music, movies or otherwise. I have been doing this for a couple of decades and please, I don't feel like discussing the companies rights, informational ownership or anything else. I do this with a clean heart as I don't believe you should buy anything before trying it. Every company should offer trialware (and most do now...)

That said, a lot of shows I watch now are shows I can't even get in canada. Showtime and HBO have made some incredible series over the last few years, which I can't watch "legally"...I also don't believe in buying dvd's of tv shows (sorry but thats just bull****, I don't want extras or fluff or corporate commercials, if I like a show I pvr it or keep it on tape, hence the dilema) Is my only way to "make it right" to buy dvd haha...or is this my way of telling the companies to get their channels up here

btw, I have emailed both companies explaining how great their shows are and that they have an audience in canada, hint hint...

The simple answer is that no there is no easy way to make them listen. As a whole People refuse to do that which is necessary to make the industry change to the future and so the media industry (especially hollywood/riaa) will continuously abuse our rights and try to squeeze as much money as possible out.

<<belch>>outmoded 20th c. law<<burp>>technological advancement<<yuk yuk>>betamax<<woot>>libraries do not pay per use or royalties

<<fart>> perhaps so, but there it is <<vurp>> copying is copying, however it's done...not any different than home taping, but for the quality <<scratch ass>> may not pay per use but pay for the initial purchase

Uh, no. What you said essentially is that unless you are intending to watch or listen to something repeatedly, you feel you have no need to pay for it and can pirate it shamelessly. That's not the way it works.

Nope. try again. Maybe thats implied but its not what I defined. If I like the product and use it past its trial or find the need to continue using it, I buy it.

Essentially or not, I also said that later on as well. This would be my 3rd time saying it. Infer anything you want, but you are misinterpreting my statements.

<<cough cough>>...I think my thread has a cold <<cough cough>>

Speaking of netflix, there is a another company trying to start an "online" renting system where you can rent a digital copy of the movie/show. Has anyone else heard of this. (I can't remember the name and more than likely they would have been shut down, but its going to be the next step)

I know you can do this in hotel rooms with higher end media centres like lodgenet. You can rent the movie and download it to your laptop to watch it for a limited time. This would be a great setup as it wouldn't be restricted by location (whistler is fairly remote so sometimes we get poor services and limited competetive spirit)

Dexter is killer, literally :D I also liked Rome, weeds and many others that I currently forget.

I just finished this season of Dexter last week. Great show!

Speaking of netflix, there is a another company trying to start an "online" renting system where you can rent a digital copy of the movie/show. Has anyone else heard of this. (I can't remember the name and more than likely they would have been shut down, but its going to be the next step)

Unless I'm much mistaken (and I might be), I think you can do this with an Xbox, can't you? Maybe with some other DVR, too?

Unless I'm much mistaken (and I might be), I think you can do this with an Xbox, can't you? Maybe with some other DVR, too?

Not sure, I have an xbox and ahome built pvr. I can record till the cows come home but I can't rent an e-movie...that would be cool though

I just finished this season of Dexter last week. Great show!

I am buying the books too. I want to see how they felt, I have a feeling the movies captured the books well.