Rethinking Piracy: Who Is The Actual Villian?

Is Piracy the real villain, or is it a symptom of a broader issue? In this article, I explore the legitimate concerns that arise when corporate greed compromises the user experience and raises questions about ownership in the digital age.

Cartel-Like Corporate Greed

Do you want to be part of a world where there exists a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist? Take, for example, Juicero¹, a $700 WiFi-connected device that required an internet connection to squeeze pre-packaged juice into your glass. The irony? It forced you to create an account, sign in, and update the software to “optimize” the squeezing process—something you could easily do with your bare hands.

I recall when BMW² decided to charge $18 per month for a subscription just to use heated seats in their cars. While things have never been ideal for consumers, the rise of IoT devices has made matters far worse. Today, I want to share my experience with streaming services and how paying for them can be more inconvenient and costly than simply pirating content.

“Netflix Is A Joke” - Literally!

You might think, “Is it really that bad?” Actually, no. At least, when there weren’t 20+ different streaming services to access what you wanted to watch. Back in the peak of Netflix and Prime Video, you only needed 2-3 subscriptions at most, and you’d have access to 90% of the content you wanted to watch on any device you wanted.

Then came other providers, and now it’s a complete bloodbath. Want to watch Severance? You’ll find it on Apple TV+. A new season of Stranger Things just dropped? That’s on Netflix. Don’t even get me started on series and movies switching platforms. South Park³ was recently moved from HBO Max to Paramount+. And let’s not forget the Netflix Original shows⁴ that leave the platform for no reason.

Bad Deal - But How Bad Is It?

It is so chaotic to manage multiple services and keep them subscribed. Some of them are:

• Dealing with different streaming apps that come with different design choices, making your experience not only convoluted but also making the process more costly and time-wasting when searching for content.

• Guess what? You still have to watch a lot of sponsored or promoted stuff on the homepage of these platforms. Have I mentioned how counter-intuitive this can be? It’s an administrative nightmare!

• Still not convinced? How about using the 4K plan on Netflix, but you’re traveling and want to watch something on your laptop? No 4K for you unless you download the app. If you’re a Linux user? You’ll have to settle for 720p.

• Okay, at least you can watch, right? Oh! You’re in a country where the series isn’t available? Good luck! You’re geo-restricted for some goddamn reason.

• How about the highly compressed media codecs that you’ll have to watch your content in?

• Password sharing? Are you living in the pre-COVID era?

I hope it’s clear that it’s not just bad—it’s an extremely hostile deal for you and your loved ones. And it’s not getting better anytime soon.

Piracy - Choice or Necessity?

These streaming companies are controlled by corporate giants whose manipulative practices and insatiable greed have turned end-consumers into cash cows. These corporations, disguised behind innovation and convenience, have ushered in an era of exploitation, where a consumer has become nothing more than a source of profit. Piracy has not merely emerged as a reaction but as a necessary and justified response—a vital form of resistance against the systemic exploitation perpetuated by these digital overlords.

It shows their deliberate strategy to fleece consumers, preying on their desire for convenience and their loyalty to beloved content. The fragmentation of the content on different platforms shows their cynical game to force consumers to play a game of Subscription Roulette.

But it is only the tip of the iceberg. The real depth of corporate greed is exposed in their pricing strategies, which are as transparent as mud. Companies engage in blatant price discrimination, charging exorbitant fees for access to content that, in many cases, they do not even own. They act as middlemen, siphoning off the lion’s share of the profits while artists and creators are left with scraps. This is not the free market at work; it is a blatant disregard for fairness and justice. It is a system that is rigged against the consumer.

And then there is the issue of Digital Rights Management (DRM), a framework that dictates how, when, and where you can access the content you have paid for. This framework is not designed to protect intellectual property; it is designed to control and manipulate the consumer. They transform what should be a straightforward transaction into a maze of restrictions and limitations, treating customers not as valued customers but as potential thieves. It is an insult, a slap in the face to the very people who keep these corporations afloat.

Piracy serves as a crucial form of digital preservation in an era where content is ephemeral and transient. When a streaming service decides to pull a movie or show, it is gone. Piracy ensures that this content remains accessible, preserving our cultural heritage for future generations. It acts as a safeguard against the fleeting nature of digital content, ensuring that what is meaningful and valuable is not lost to the void of corporate agendas.

Moreover, Piracy stands as the last vestige of Justice. It is not merely a reaction to these injustices; it is a necessary act of defiance. By pirating content, individuals are not engaging in reckless lawlessness; they are asserting their rights as consumers. They refuse to be held hostage by a system that puts profits over people and exploits rather than serves them. Piracy isn’t the problem—it’s part of the solution, a way to take back what corporate greed has taken away.

Conclusion

In conclusion, piracy is not just an act of stealing but a necessary and justified reaction to the widespread corporate greed in today’s digital world. It serves as a strong response against the exploitation by streaming services and content providers who put profits ahead of fairness and people. Piracy helps make content accessible to those who can’t afford high subscription fees or who are blocked because of geographic restrictions. It also works to preserve cultural heritage that might otherwise be lost on corporate-controlled platforms. Additionally, piracy encourages innovation and competition, pushing industries to improve and offer better options. While it does have ethical challenges, the ongoing presence of piracy highlights the urgent need for change in how content is shared and monetized. Until companies address issues like unfair pricing, strict policies, and limited access, piracy will remain not just a choice, but a necessity in the fight for a fair and equal digital world.

Thoughts? Please comment below.