India is at the cusp of a change. We are living in an era where massive use of internet & cloud based apps for eGOVERNANCE, TAXATION, BANKING TRANSACTIONS, TRAVEL, EDUCATION, MEDICAL RECORDS, e-COMMERCE, SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING is norm of the day.

While all this is making us technologically advanced to stay "informed", it is also increasing our vulnerability and exposure to unintended cyber crimes, financial frauds and unlawful activities.

This blog is part of a conscious effort to share contemporary news focused on above aspect as well as keep on updating the enhancing the awareness of subscribers to secure their interest and personal rights. We intend to transform this blog from one dimensional advisorial blog posts to fully functional, multi dimensional, multi locational legal assistance platform.

So keep visiting & subscribe to feed. Stay informed, Stay alert and be safe. God bless you all.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Bluetooth : A medium for Piracy

One of the interesting answers received from the team Apple for not providing Bluetooth sharing is that they don't want to promote Data Piracy. This answer brought me to the thought whether Bluetooth promotes piracy? Well, it is an open ended question to my audience but at the same in my view, I am affirmative of the same.

Looking at what Bluetooth does and how it works, we can draw a conclusion that piracy has become possible and convenient without fear of being caught.
Bluetooth, conventionally, allows sharing of files by the virtue of sending it to the device so connected within its range. Interestingly, there are no such checks and balances of the authenticity of the files. it allows any type of multi-media to be shared. the best part of the technology is, it come free with your device. Any format of the file from one device can be shared with n number of devices which can be connected with the former within a specified physical range. The only requirement of smooth sharing is the physical closeness of the two devices and their Bluetooth visibility being on to allow connectivity.
This brings me down to a thought, when we allow sharing of a file through Bluetooth,we are creating a copy and distributing it. Is it piracy, isn't it? For receiving any file, we do not sign any agreement nor do we obtain any license from the owner of that file, the creator. In a nutshell, it simply means, having a file without the knowledge of the copyright holder nor with prior licensing.

Is it just and fair?
When an App is downloaded from Play Store, it is authorized and licensed, but when the same is shared further via Bluetooth, the shared App so installed on the latter device becomes a pirated copy of the first. Similarly, for the purpose of the songs, if one buys a song online and shares with another through Bluetooth, isn’t it promoting piracy? Anything which is shared via Bluetooth, does not take authority from the creator of such file. Whether original book, music, Apps, etc., once purchased can be shared via Bluetooth, allowing data piracy. It not only affects the sale of such data but also does injustice to the people who pay and obtain the license. It also violates the Intellectual Property Rights of the people and at the same time, the hard work of the people goes unaccredited and so does their investment.

All these will end up in hampering the rate at which inventions and creations take place since it does not give the creators the motivation of create further.

What should be done?
Whether there should be a license agreement while sharing of the files?
Whether while sharing, the intended receiver should be redirected to the site from where the sender has obtained the authentic file?
Whether, Bluetooth should be banned?

Interesting questions to ponder upon for the audience!


No comments: