Anybody who purchases music off the internet is aware of a way to get around the system. When the wallet gets light, it’s hard not to start considering other ways of acquiring music other than purchasing it. This usually includes downloading it off the internet. According to former IT Administrator, Anson Alexander, 30 billion songs were downloaded illegally in 5 years.  He also said 51 billion dollars was lost in 2009 because of online piracy.

The numbers are climbing higher and higher, and it’s becoming obvious that online piracy is a serious problem.

Online piracy is by no means limited to music. Everyday videos, software, movies and even e-books are taken from the internet without a second thought to the original owner, or their copyright. Several different types of media have this mutual problem.

Music artists, movie producers, and game designers all work hard to develop their products. These people are all losing a lot of money to piracy on the web.

Copyright industries are going to tremendous lengths to make sure piracy is stopped. Industries like Business Software Alliance, and Recording Industry Association of America, are spending from forty to sixty million dollars each year into this project. This money could be going to weightier matters.

Studies have shown that the majority of internet users think that pirating is okay. Some don’t even realize that they are doing anything wrong. The truth is, very few things are free – including copyrighted material.

If you or anyone you know is downloading owned material off the internet, it’s crucial that you stop. Your morals and your influence on others is the fastest way to stop this pirating epidemic.