“People need to learn how to respect IP.” Discuss.


I refer to an article on 26 April 2007. It is the World IP day and day 1 of Ipos’ new advertising campaign in the Straits Times to drive the message of the importance of respecting IP.

IP is intellectual property, and it is necessary for people to acknowledge it, as it credits the producers of the creative works. Especially, in a country’s growth as a knowledge-based economy, it is important to make sure people are rewarded for their production. If no regard was given to IP, people will not be motivated to create, since their work will be ripped off.

However, the problem with most people is that, they find it more “worthwhile” to get the same products free or at a lower cost, through many methods. These are easily available to people, through the internet, pirated copies, etc. When it is easier to steal it, people are reluctant to pay for the content. Particularly, the prices differ significantly. Few are willing to pay the difference.

It is the people’s wrong attitude. On a survey conducted on 650 people aged between 14 and 35, it has shown that only 22 percent were “bothered” by copyright infringement, 28 percent felt guilty when buying and using the pirated products; and 19 percent cited high prices. Education and the media power could be used to instill fear and a sense of responsibility in the citizens to protect the rights and benefits of the creator. This is a dangerous mindset of the mass public that has to be changed.

Nevertheless, we all know that piracy can never be eliminated completely. And, more and more people are agreeing that piracy is wrong and people who created intellectual property deserve to be rewarded. As the world gets more developed, the quality of life improves, and people will hence have more spare cash to purchase the originals. Also, as time passes, people will learn the importance of respecting IP via the various ways to educate the public.