Copyright and the Internet

Since its inception in 1989, the World Wide Web has done more for the human race than any technology since the printing press.  Its influence on the world is instantly obvious as regards communication, commerce, and abstract matters such as critical thinking.

As with any new technology, however, there are those who have shown disdain for the issues surrounding it.  Piracy has always been something of an issue, but the Internet has made it more relevant than ever.

In 2005, when DVD was "all the rage," the website MegaUpload was founded in South Korea, allowing users to download movies—that is, content ripped from DVDs.  The site was shut down in 2011, but many other websites performed similar stunts prior to the streaming revolution.

There are many other instances involving other forms of art.