September 3, 2004

• Someone posted this question on the discussion board tonight ... my response was rather long and essay-like, so I thought I would copy it here to my Xanga!

  
  

  Q:  Is piracy affecting the industry? ...  I've recently returned from holidays in a South-East asian country and found myself carrying back a stack of exact copies of Asian Porn DVD & VCD titles for as cheap as 4 USD ... for a DVD or 1 USD for a VCD.  Don't judge me guys! I simply enjoying asian porn as much as you do but if the opportunity is there to get it cheaper, why not? But after reading most posts in this forum (Thanks Snowman! for bringing us together) I started thinking that maybe my individual action of buying pirated products may affect the current a & future releases of new films which will end up affecting you all!

  
  

  A:  You raise an interesting question. However, I don't think the answer is clear. It's certainly possible to argue pirate sales harm the bottom line of the studios, talent and everyone else who earns income from the adult industry. However, this is only true if the pirate discs actually substituted for a legitimate purchase. In other words, if you never would have bought those discs at regular price, it is an illusionary lost sale. Some people will simply never pay the full freight for porn (or music or software). In some cases, however, I'm sure a real sale is lost to piracy.
  
  Also, there is the possibility that by purchasing the pirate discs, you will be exposed to porn you like and demand for the product could actually increase in the future. After all, you may not always be in the Far East where these bogus discs are readily available. If you suddenly get the hots for some Asian porn chick and you really want to see her again, are you going to wait until your next holiday or just spend $15 and buy the damm thing when new releases come out? You may also discover new studios/directors/girls/fetishes that you otherwise would not take a chance on at a higher price point. There is some evidence music sharing systems such as Napster did indeed stir demand for less popular and/or more obscure artists.
  
  Morally, this is a different story and more clear cut. It's just wrong. It puts money into the pocket of thieves, not the hardworking people in the adult industry who produced the disc you are enjoying. I truly believe it is important to support the people who are giving us entertainment we enjoy. It is for this reason I often buy dvds that I enjoy even though I could get it for free or close to free. I even do this with Japanese import discs, which are quite expensive. I also purchase Hollywood movies, music CDs and software as a way to support the ones I like.
  
  If no one supports the studios by actually buying legitimate product, the adult industry will no longer be profitable and people will support themselves in some other fashion. That is the last thing you want to happen as a fan. A lot of people working in the industry might consider porn a labor of love, but it's still a business. At the end of the day, people need a roof over their head and food on the table.
  
  Also, as a final thought, piracy would probably affect a smaller studio more than a large one. The larger companies can absorb the losses easier because they move more product and have more varied income streams -- including extensive web revenue and sales to cable TV.
  
  -- Snowman

  
  

  P.S. - The original thread on my Asian Porno Hotties discussion board is here.

  • 6:23 am
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