Piracy and You

Recently I lost a facebook friend due to us differing on opinions of Torrent sites. He was completely against them, for the sake of the artists losing money due to piracy. Which I understand and respect his opinion, stealing is stealing.

However, how many of us have made mix tapes/cd's? Who didn't rent movies from video stores in the 80's and 90's and make a copy on VHS? Who didn't record episodes of TV shows, movies off television, or sporting events? Aren't all of those stealing as well?

I've always used torrent sites for rare horror films that have been lost to VHS. So many of them will never see a DVD release. With VHS collecting becoming so hip, and tapes going for crazy amounts (some well in the 1000's of dollars), how can a fan get a hold of these films any other way? Besides bootlegs at horror conventions, which is another form or piracy.

If it weren't for bootleg VHS' so many of today's cult films would have been lost as well. Think about any of the video nasties. My collection of films, hard copies, is insane. If these films were to see DVD releases, I'd gladly fork over the cash to purchase them.

Thanks to companies like Camp Motion Pictures, SRS,  and Massacre Video we've seen several SOV (Shot-on-Video) classics be resurrected. With the VHS subculture growing, it's hopeful that we will continue to see more of titles resurface.

While I understand that artists/musicians/film makers should be compensated for their work, and piracy through torrent websites can hurt them.... isn't it a theft to us the fans to have to pay insane prices for VHS copies via Ebay?

Here is an example of a film currently going for $1,699.99: EXTREMELY RARE!!!  This auction is for an ORIGINAL VHS video of WCW Wild in Sturgis 1996. This rare tape was available ONLY through the official WCW fan club of Germany and is hosted by Alex Wright.  This video was produced during Hog Wild 1996.....featuring footage and interviews with Harlem Heat, Jimmy Hart, Arn Anderson, Sting, Rey Mysterio Jr. and MANY others!  First time ever offered on eBay, and never sold in stores!  This was exclusively available only to members of WCW's fan club in Germany in 1996.  This original tape comes with it’s original box too !!

And people will pay these prices. To me this is a form of theft as well, but it happens every day.

It was disheartening to have lost this person from Facebook, and again I respect his opinion, but he had made up his mind about me before I even took the chance to explain myself. Even then, he defriended me. There are no hard feelings on my part, it's just a subject I wanted to touch on.

- Brandon