Living in a small, oft-forgotten country (Uruguay) I realize that there isn't a big enough incentive to do the legal work, and it's totally understandable from that perspective (distribution and collection are not the main problems IMO, the big one is legal).
However, I will argue that current IP practices are hurting us. It does bring the quality of life down for the citizens of the country, and sometimes it's not just a song which is not available, it's a needed piece of software you just can't purchase legally - as an example, the Business Software Alliance branded as "illegal" a copy of a certain software package in a company I worked for because it was purchased in the U.S. and used in Uruguay, even though it was paid for. So now said company has to use a clearly inferior software package.
It also adds a drop to the bucket to our ability to recruit abroad (people aren't as happy when they learn that their money buys much less and far more expensive, and with lots of availability issues - want the latest and greatest? Either pay through the nose if possible, or smuggle it.
I wish there were good IP treaties that allowed us to buy abroad. Barring that, I'll have to keep hoping for a non-pipe dream Mercosur (EU equivalent) or being absorbed by Brazil or (god forbid) Argentina.
However, I will argue that current IP practices are hurting us. It does bring the quality of life down for the citizens of the country, and sometimes it's not just a song which is not available, it's a needed piece of software you just can't purchase legally - as an example, the Business Software Alliance branded as "illegal" a copy of a certain software package in a company I worked for because it was purchased in the U.S. and used in Uruguay, even though it was paid for. So now said company has to use a clearly inferior software package.
It also adds a drop to the bucket to our ability to recruit abroad (people aren't as happy when they learn that their money buys much less and far more expensive, and with lots of availability issues - want the latest and greatest? Either pay through the nose if possible, or smuggle it.
I wish there were good IP treaties that allowed us to buy abroad. Barring that, I'll have to keep hoping for a non-pipe dream Mercosur (EU equivalent) or being absorbed by Brazil or (god forbid) Argentina.