Gizmodo’s got an interesting perspective on the case against Jammie Thomas, who’s been fined $1.92 mil for downloading songs. For a bit of perspective, they point out that the penalty for having actually stolen the CDs would a fine of roughly $52,000 and up to five years in prison.
Then they take it a little further and posit that, if you were to count a year in prison as equal to a fine of a year’s wages (with the 2007 median household income being roughly $50k), you’re looking at a $275,000 penalty.
Now, cash vs prison time is a wee bit tricksy, and it’s not as if people are allowed to choose, but honestly, if the option were presented to you, which would you choose? Which would you be able to AFFORD to choose?
Now multiply that by ten.
…and THAT, children, is why I think current copyright laws are outrageous.
