I am on a listserv for Kentucky educators that
deals with the use of technology in education. A listserv is an
e-mailing list to which you can subscribe so that you can share
common ideas on a common interest. A discussion on this list recently
centered on the use of copyrighted materials by students. Most
educators teach students the need to respect copyright laws. Yet,
one of the responders on this list wrote, "I don't care about
copy right (sic) for a student project. Period."
Many individuals seem to have this attitude toward
copyright materials. Software, music CDs, video tapes, etc. can
easily be duplicated and distributed to others. Yet, most of these
materials are copyrighted, and such copying is forbidden.
The Geek.com Web site (http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/q22000/gee2000929002481.htm)
has posted the results of a survey on the topic of obtaining copyrighted
material without paying for it. This particular survey dealt with
the downloading of music from the Internet. It found that "43%
of Americans on the Internet feel that downloading music is not
stealing, while 31 % feel it is." Possibly even more disturbing
is the fact that "The study also showed that 22% of Americans
who have used the Internet have downloaded music. 78% of those
people think they weren't stealing, but 61% said they didn't care
if it was."
It is sad to notice that some Christians engage
in copying and distributing copyrighted material without any qualms
about its illegality. I have seen teenagers at church giving copied
music CDs to other Christians. Somewhat surprising, even some
preachers are guilty of copying Bible software programs and other
copyrighted software and giving it to their preacher friends.
It is a federal crime (Title 17 of the U.S. Code)
to violate copyright laws. Those who break this law can either
be fined, imprisoned, or both. It is basically stealing. Suppose
you went into a craft store where the owner sold items which she
had made. You spotted a baby blanket that the owner has knitted,
and she has it for sale. Instead of paying for it, you just picked
it up and walked out of the store with it. Would that not be stealing?
The person who has created that software program
or written and performed those songs you like has also produced
a product he has for sale. For you to copy it in order to obtain
the product without purchasing it is the same as stealing the
baby blanket.
Some argue, "Well, Bill Gates charges too
much for his software, and he doesn't really need the money."
What if I think the craft store owner's prices are too high? Does
that justify my stealing the baby blanket?
Remember what 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says about
thieves. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners
will inherit the kingdom of God." -2004 Little Stream Run,
Owensboro, Kentucky 42303-1891. rmilliner@owensboro.kl2.ky.us.