It takes a nation of millions to make us dumb

Apologies to PE for the title, they've been a majority of my listening the past few days. If you don't own any of their stuff, go get some (Sorry, I suck at amazon links).

I was taking a quick break from homework and sick kids and read something on Engadget that, without warning, ticked me off a bit.

The article was a review of peerflix, a service I think is at least an interesting idea. The basic premise is that you "trade" your movies with others, kind of like a cross between netflix and ebay. There is a $1 transaction fee and shipping involved in each trade, so really it is like purchasing used movies for $1.60, since you do not return these movies, you technically own them.
I heard about this service a while back and thought it was interesting, but would have preferred it were simply created as a user community, trading for free. The idea of the company siphoning profits ala eBay didn't seem necessary here. However, I can see where fraud and such would make a user-driven community of any worthwhile size somewhat difficult. I wouldn't be confident that peerflix had completely addresses those issues though either.

Back to the point, the article starts out by questioning why anyone would buy a DVD rather than rent them. I hate this logic, this isn't the first time I have encountered it. I don't personally understand why people would want to go hunting or fishing, having no real interest in it, yet I understand there are people who do and I let them do their thing. I do happen to watch movies that I like several times, making it much cheaper to simply own the movie, especially when I have rarely paid over $15 for the movie.

After slamming movie purchasers, the author goes on to debate the potential copyright issues with the service. This would be a legitimate discussion, but he misses any valid points. Instead, he comes up with this gem:

"Fleeting consumption makes DVDs an excellent content source with which to start. The Peerflix terms of service discourages swapping pirated DVDs, noting plainly that 'users may not illegally copy DVDsÂ' and that 'as a User, you acknowledge and agree that you have valid title and ownership rights to any DVDs that you make available.'

But avast ye maties, Peerflix can'’t prevent DVD copiers from keeping their pirated version and selling the original. Besides, once you've '“traded' a DVD, you gain title to the one you receive, and making a copy technically falls under fair use. Peerflix may be trafficking in legal physical product, but the fluidity of media it could create raises new questions around what is ownership."

I hate this ridiculous argument also. He states Peerflix can't prevent people from violating copyright after executing a trade. That's right, and it also isn't any of Peerflix's business at that point. Moot point.

Next, you have the steaming pile that is the second quoted paragraph above. "Making a copy technically falls under fair use" -- sure, as long as you don't get rid of the original. Otherwise, it's a copyright violation, and again has nothing to do with Peerflix. Stupid, circular, redundant logic.

The article goes on to state how this could really "kick into gear" if they started doing this with CD's. Huh? Why are CD's different? Because the RIAA is a 900 lb. whore? Sorry, I don't see the difference.

I'm finished ranting, so here is my summary take on this. Peerflix is a less-expensive and potentially larger selection version of the used CD/DVD/video game stores that exist on ever corner strip-mall across the country. The rules are no different because this is online, learn what logic is and apply it, rather than writing worthless drivel about something partially technology related on a gadget blog.