Technology

I downloaded new content for the first time in a while, recently. It's on a streaming service that I don't want (I pay for several).

I'd only been downloading things that I couldn't stream (* Cannibal Holocaust*, for example) for a long time. I stopped downloading for a number of years. Guess what? My bittorrent client still works. After a number of years buying everything on blu-ray discs (and ripping to Plex) and renting from streaming services, I'm on my way to where I was. I'll still pay for convenience. I'm done fucking around with complications.

Only thing I've been paying for since 2012 has been a VPN. Problem solved.

After reading this and some comments, what I've gleaned is that the article is bullshit and piracy truly acts as a competitor in 2 areas - service and content. Many shows are exclusive to a particular platform and therefore the platforms do not need to compete in that area. For the service side of things, I think there has been genuine innovation but it has become stagnant in the last few years and they are referring to old bad practices.

It feels like there is active collusion but perhaps it's just a result of a poorly regulated industry which allows for pseudo-monopolies. My hope would be for regulation mandating that all content must have a second provider, i.e. no more exclusive shows. Give me stranger things on Amazon prime as well. This would force each streaming company to complete for users and still allow the creators to get paid appropriately. I don't know if this would end up making streaming services unviable but it's certainly a lot faster and more consumer friendly.

Would love to hear about the potential downside to this proposal.

Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free! Yarr harr fiddle dee dee!

MULLVAD! WIREGUARD! QUANTUM SECURE ENCRYPTION!

Sorry I have Tourette's syndrome.

QBITTORRENT!

ADNAUSEAM! AVAILABLE FOR CHROMIUM BASED BROWSERS TOO!

I’m shocked! Shocked, I tell ya!

Oh no :c online piracy! ARR BITCH

really imagine that, services splitting combined prices rising leads to increased piracy. Shocker

we will never be defeated

I feel partially responsible for this, and I’m not complaining

Never left