Piracy exists. Period. Out all the users you like, send all the DMCA notices you can, it isn't going anywhere. That is simply the plugged-in world that we inhabit. I would wager that more than a few of the people screaming for blood in this thread have engaged in at least a little piracy of their own, be it digital or otherwise. Just because James Cameron has millions of dollars, doesn't mean you've broken the law less by downloading Avatar. Or even buying your own copy, and lending it to a close friend who copies it for himself. That's also piracy, as someone else already pointed out. If you're gonna cast the stones, make sure you're without sin, people.
I'm not going to full on advocate pure piracy. That's stupid, and it doesn't work. But like I said, it's here. Not going anywhere. It's like complaining about the weather at this point. In all this threatening, the only thing that's happening is the alienation of customers. Already a few in this thread seem to be rethinking their support of Yaqi's clips. It just creates a climate of fear, doesn't solve a thing.
All too often, when you talk about piracy, the person being pirated just sees red. All they see is their content that they worked hard to produce, available for free. And I get that. I get that anger. Makes sense. But stop and think about the possible positive effects.
Hypothetical: you've got a guy posting Yaqi clips online. Do you suppose that this is person went to Yaqi's clip store, thought "I'm gonna buy this clip, solely to give it away to others for free! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" *twirls mustache evily*. Or do you suppose maybe this person is a member of our fetish community, who's bought a more than just one clip from Yaqi, who's bought clips from other producers? Now he posts the clip, and 30 people download it. A few of these people have never heard of Yaqi, and get into the studio, and buy a clip or two. Maybe they in turn post the clips they buy, which gets more people interested, creating more of a trickle down effect. Think about this effect, against a draconian reaction that simply results in the initial poster being scared into never buying a clip again at best, and the people who've never heard of the studio still never hearing of it.
Look, I'm not gonna sit here and say that the above is what happens every time a clip is posted. But it's a possible path. Just like you can't prove how much business you've lost because of piracy, you also can't prove if you've gained any. But that part gets dismissed in favour of the "you posted my stuff; NOW DIE" course of action. Just saying, it doesn't all have to be doom and gloom.
