Part of this post is from a previous writing, but is still relevant today. Will you take three minutes to view this video?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJmWKb0_aXw
Years ago, like many homeschoolers, I looked for ways to be frugal in our homeschooling. I learned to use the library a lot. They have some great selections of video’s, DVD’s, and CD’s. Sometimes we wouldn’t get around to watching or listening to them so I came upon the idea of making a copy before returning it to the library. I even felt quite frugal while doing so. After all, if I had to buy that CD I would need to have spent about $40. But now I had saved that. Before long, I ended up with a stack of things that I don’t think I would have needed or used, but as they were free I might as well have them on the shelf, just in case. I had even lent out my resources, feeling fairly sure that the person was going to make their own copy! Thing is, I honestly didn’t even think that this might have been wrong or illegal. I know that sounds terribly naive, but it’s true. I didn’t think anything of it except congratulating myself on being frugal and saving my husband’s hard earned money. I certainly didn’t see how I was hurting anyone else!
Oi voi!
Praise God! He taught me the error of my ways. He did not allow me to stay at that place. He showed me my sin. I was convicted of my wrongdoing. I set apart searching for every little bit of illegal stuff in my house and then we burnt it all. It was a whole family affair. Something started fairly innocently. I did not set out to steal or deceive. I just wanted to save a few pennies…but the fallen nature of man, and the enemy that seeks to devour worked and saw me down a path that I hardly recognised…a path I didn’t set out to take, but ended up there anyway. Thank God that He rescued me from that path and put me on the straight and narrow.
As is often the case with reformed drinkers or smokers, I developed a hot spot (a bug-bear, a passion) for copyright protection and violations. I now stringently try to protect the lawful copyright owner and go to great lengths to ensure that everything I do is above board. I encourage others to always check out the law and consider the use of a Fair Use Policy. Copyright is far more than a list of black and white words- it is legal, ethical, moral and Biblical values.
It is my hotspot also… I have just lent a Paul Wilbur CD to a friend of mine and they mentioned making a copy. I felt cheesed off because I had to fork out $30 for my copy, why shouldn’t they? I had lent it them because it is for a song that they are practising, but I didn’t bargain on them wanting to copy it. And, I chickened out of saying so…
It’s tricky though, isn’t it Amanda? I mean, no one person ever actually said anything to me about it. I have since been in a similar situation a few times now and have responded differently each time as the situation and the people involved were different.
One situation is where I felt the person was pretty open and honest (but caught up in an attitude of thriftiness like I had been) so I prayed quickly…for the right words, the right motivation and for the heart to be softened to my words. And then I gently said that I’d be real happy to let them borrow the material but if I could just ask that they not make any copies as that breaks copyright protections. (I kinda put it in a questioning way rather than an order). The lady was totally fine with it.
However, another situation is where the person was not quite so receptive to my request, and couldn’t see my point of view. I became a little firmer and ended up saying that, if after perusing the material, they still wanted to make copies of it, to please let me know and I would purchase a whole new copy for them, for their own personal use. I was totally sincere in this. They then saw that I was sincere and that I meant it so they only borrowed the material for a few days and quickly gave it back. Mind you, our friendship has never quite been the same since. Oh well, that’s life.
I can only imagine writing a book or curriculum (anything that is a labour of love) and having someone use it- steal it- copy it- without paying fairly for it. It is quite simply, theft. When put simply like that it is quite easy to see but in this day and age of modern technology where it is just so easy and quick and convenient to burn/copy things we hardly even need to think about the legality or ethics of it all.
Even just praying for the person, praying for God to give you strength next time, etc is a good place to go from here. 🙂
WDYT?