Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
I had to write an essay recently about the issue of DVD piracy. There are a ridiculous number of video and DVD stores in Bahrain and piracy of movies has become so mainstream in the kingdom that no one appears to believe that it is ethically and morally wrong to distribute or purchase these cheap offerings.
When I interviewed students at my school as part of a survey on the subject, almost 70 per cent of them said they did not consider it a problem to pay BD2 for a copy rather than splash out BD15 for an original, even if the quality of the movie was not as good as the real thing.
The movie industry is not alone in facing such a dilemma. The music industry has for some time been facing the harsh fact that anyone can download music online without having to pay for it.
No one considers it wrong because most people believe that downloading music from other internet user's files is simply a case of 'peer-to-peer' sharing.
I do feel sad for the record companies and the music stars that have put in a lot of effort to produce a single or an album.
But piracy will never be eliminated whilst the demand is so strong. Based on my research, DVD and music piracy will only end once the teenage market is catered to in a more interesting legal and cost effective manner.
At this point of time the market for free - or a cheap copy - is looking stronger than ever.
l In addition to my weekly words, I'm planning to run a series of my photographs of cool looking locals. To launch the album (purely original!) is Ammar, 15, of Riffa.
I would be happy to share this platform with readers. Please send me your creative work - be it pictures, artwork, or drawings - and I would be delighted to display it on this page.
