Semantic sh*t happens

Copyright holders have long preferred the term "Piracy" to describe the people who use their content without paying, but now they are getting nervous as its too exciting...:

......with its suggestions of theft, destruction, and violence. The "pirates" have now co-opted the term, adopting it with gusto and hoisting the Jolly Roger across the Internet (The Pirate Bay being the most famous example).

Some of those concerned about online copyright infringement now realize that they may have created a monster by using the term "piracy." This week, at the unveiling of a new study for the International Chamber of Commerce which argued that 1.2 million jobs could be lost in Europe as a result of copyright infringement by 2015, the head of the International Actors' Federation lamented the term.

"We should change the word piracy," she said at a press conference. "To me, piracy is something adventurous, it makes you think about Johnny Depp. We all want to be a bit like Johnny Depp. But we're talking about a criminal act. We're talking about making it impossible to make a living from what you do."

Translation: we should have chosen a less-sexy term.

Thats from Arrrrs Technica by the way

James Murdoch is leading the charge in rebranding it as (Online) Shoplifting:

Rupert Murdoch's son James did his part to redefine the sexy "pirates" as common thieves and nothing more. "There is no difference with going into a store and stealing Pringles or a handbag and taking this stuff,"

The irony of the Rightsholding media industry having spent billions creating a great brand image for its nemesis is too amusing. Yo Ho Ho.......