Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Arr! We're All Pirates Now
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pissed about the "hundreds of billions" of dollars swallowed by piracy and counterfeiting and it has taken the outrage to our fair City of Angels ("...and Demons," as the press release says).
The Chamber has released results of a Gallup survey, coinciding with this week's Counterfeiting and Piracy Awareness shenanigans claiming that one-quarter of all Angelenos are admitted pirates.
But we're certain that percentage is far greater. In fact, we'll go out on a limb and say that at least 25% of all music and movie industry execs, software developers, and government employees are equal participants in today's knock-off frenzied, file-sharing-addicted and wink-and-nod license-abusing society.
Now a conglomerate of software manufacturers have started an anti-piracy campaign and 1-888 hotline in which we can snitch on our friends and colleagues for a shot at $1 million. This Business Software Alliance, with charter members including Apple, Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, IBM, and HP, is loaded with reward money thanks not to these huge corporations, but as a result of some massive settlements.
We don't advocate stealing and abusing products and services. But we also don't advocate snitching. And we certainly don't like it when the feds come to town to try and overshadow our mad, media-driven productivity by claiming we're as corrupt as the hand that feeds.
Find out if you're a pirate AND watch Computer Stew prank-call 1-888-NO-PIRACY after the jump.
Sponsored message
Self-portrait of Will Pate used with CC license via flickr.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
