Pirating copyrighted content seems to be a clear-cut issue: It is illegal and should be banned. But in reality it is not that simple. For example, Hollywood is a victim of piracy. But some in China, especially industry insiders, hold the conspiracy theory that Hollywood is a perpetrator rather than a victim. They believe Hollywood has been deliberately supplying Chinese pirates with hard-to-obtain source materials.
Hard to believe? Their reasoning goes, Hollywood can only export a dozen movies to China, which has an import quota. So, the majority of its products do not have a China market in the first place. But it expects someday the quota system will be lifted. To warm up this future market, it needs to provide "samples" so that paying audiences of the future will become addicted. Pirates essentially save them the marketing costs.
I once asked a senior US official to comment on this and his eyes almost popped out. He had never heard of the argument. "But how can you explain the ready availability of all the new Hollywood blockbusters - some even before their debuts on the US screen? It has got to be an inside job," I continued to argue.
Actually, I can argue from either side, or several sides: I could take the populist approach and go with the majority. It would make me look like a columnist in touch with the people and new trends. I could support the government and sympathize with the entertainment industry by emphasizing the rule of law.
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