--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The criminalization of file sharing is…" description: "\"The criminalization of file sharing is pathetic. It's so pathetic, it's almost funny. Imagine if the radio people would have lobbied for a federal law ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd6/lexi-alexander-4779_funny_the-criminalization-of-file-sharing-is-p_2150719.jpg" --- # The criminalization of file sharing is pathetic. It's so… ![“The criminalization of file sharing is pathetic. It's so pathetic, it's almost funny. Imagine if the radio people would have lobbied for a federal law enforcement agency to raid all homes for illegal transmissions of moving picture experiments in order to stop the invention of television. It's…” quote by Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd6/lexi-alexander-4779_funny_the-criminalization-of-file-sharing-is-p_2150719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd6/lexi-alexander-4779_funny_the-criminalization-of-file-sharing-is-p_2150719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd6/lexi-alexander-4779_funny_the-criminalization-of-file-sharing-is-p_2150719.jpg) > “The criminalization of file sharing is pathetic. It's so pathetic, it's almost funny. Imagine if the radio people would have lobbied for a federal law enforcement agency to raid all homes for illegal transmissions of moving picture experiments in order to stop the invention of television. It's ludicrous.” [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes harsh anti‑piracy laws as absurd, comparing them to extreme enforcement against early TV. **In simple terms:** Anti‑piracy laws are overly harsh and ridiculous. Key Takeaway Question the logic of extreme enforcement. Themes law technology piracy freedom absurdity Mood critical ironic Type political satirical When to use this quote - policy debates - media streaming - public protests - legal reform Key Concepts civil liberties digital culture government overreach Questions to Reflect On - What balance should exist between creator rights and public access? - How do extreme laws affect innovation? A Different Perspective May ignore creators’ need for compensation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [File sharing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/file-sharing/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Sharing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharing/) ## Related quotes > [Today, we see some "file sharing" sites that rely on fans uploading cracked copies of ebooks, and which then make money off those books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/today-we-see-some-file-sharing-sites-that-rely-on-fans-uploading/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [The fact that file sharing goes on, and is as popular as it is, is an incredibly positive thing for the music industry. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rowntree/the-fact-that-file-sharing-goes-on-and-is-as-popular-as-it-is-is-an/) [Dave Rowntree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rowntree/) > [I think we need to stop looking at the file-sharing community with disgust and instead ask ourselves what we can learn from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-think-we-need-to-stop-looking-at-the-file-sharing-community-with/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Young people should investigate where the filmmaker stands on the issue of file sharing, before they spend money on them at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/young-people-should-investigate-where-the-filmmaker-stands-on-the/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I like to think that the Internet and file sharing, if utilized properly and embraced, and I emphasize properly, is a high-powered marketing design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-like-to-think-that-the-internet-and-file-sharing-if-utilized/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [They also can combine voice with instant messaging and online file sharing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/they-also-can-combine-voice-with-instant-messaging-and-online-file/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [We need to download scientific journals and upload them to file-sharing networks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/we-need-to-download-scientific-journals-and-upload-them-to-file/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion-as-necessary-and-dangerous-as/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Non-commercial file sharing should of course become legal and protected, and must re-think copyright all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/non-commercial-file-sharing-should-of-course-become-legal-and/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [New generations have unprecedented power to make great changes. Take the music business for example. The new generations have toppled the music industry by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-generations-have-unprecedented-power-to-make-great-changes-take/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The only people who are afraid of file sharing are the people whose albums are so dull presentation-wise that nobody cares about owning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/the-only-people-who-are-afraid-of-file-sharing-are-the-people-whose/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [It's hard for us to talk about how we disdain file-sharing when in fact it probably has been a great resource for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-meloy/it-s-hard-for-us-to-talk-about-how-we-disdain-file-sharing-when-in/) [Colin Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-meloy/) > [We need to take information, wherever it is stored, make our copies and share them with the world. We need to take stuff that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/we-need-to-take-information-wherever-it-is-stored-make-our-copies-and/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [The 'solution' to file sharing was never centralizing content control back to a few entities - that was the struggle we were fighting for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/the-solution-to-file-sharing-was-never-centralizing-content-control/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [My sense is that file sharing started in predominantly white, middle- and upper-middle-cl ass young people who were native-born, who felt they were entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/my-sense-is-that-file-sharing-started-in-predominantly-white-middle/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) ## More by Lexi Alexander > [It's almost comical how un-liberal liberal Hollywood is when it comes to fighting gender and racial bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/it-s-almost-comical-how-un-liberal-liberal-hollywood-is-when-it-comes/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Everybody likes to drink a Coke once in a while; it's when we run out of everything else to drink and we're only left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/everybody-likes-to-drink-a-coke-once-in-a-while-it-s-when-we-run-out/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [When I first made 'Green Street' and I was considered a hot director, I pitched everybody, but there was always this feeling that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/when-i-first-made-green-street-and-i-was-considered-a-hot-director-i/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [If someone is poor in India, they should be able to watch the same films as rich people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/if-someone-is-poor-in-india-they-should-be-able-to-watch-the-same/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I believe that we have a responsibility to make culture available for all people, not only those who can afford to go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-believe-that-we-have-a-responsibility-to-make-culture-available-for/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I truly believe that if I would make a bad film, I might be walking into director's jail and never out. And that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-truly-believe-that-if-i-would-make-a-bad-film-i-might-be-walking/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [In terms of writing and developing, TV is very open because TV needs stories. They need new pitches, and they need new ideas. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/in-terms-of-writing-and-developing-tv-is-very-open-because-tv-needs/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I like doing violent movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-like-doing-violent-movies/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Please dox me. You don't even need to dox me - I'll give you my address and wait for you by my doorstep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/please-dox-me-you-don-t-even-need-to-dox-me-i-ll-give-you-my-address/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Frank Castle knows only two sides: Good and Evil. There is no grey zone for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/frank-castle-knows-only-two-sides-good-and-evil-there-is-no-grey-zone/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [As someone who grew up in Europe, I don't look at TV and automatically think of a primetime network series, created by a staff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/as-someone-who-grew-up-in-europe-i-don-t-look-at-tv-and-automatically/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [When I first arrived here, after spending years as a competitive fighter and training U.S. Marines in hand-to-hand combat, Hollywood is the last place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/when-i-first-arrived-here-after-spending-years-as-a-competitive/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [If women choose guerilla style filmmaking or new media productions, etc., all power to them. But if they're there because 'Big Hollywood' won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/if-women-choose-guerilla-style-filmmaking-or-new-media-productions/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [For every IP block, DRM, and who-knows-what security feature Hollywood spends thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on, some piracy kid will undo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/for-every-ip-block-drm-and-who-knows-what-security-feature-hollywood/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [The people at Cabot Guns are a rare breed of geniuses and artists in a vast gun world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/the-people-at-cabot-guns-are-a-rare-breed-of-geniuses-and-artists-in/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) [Explore all 106 Lexi Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) ## More File sharing quotes > [Today, we see some "file sharing" sites that rely on fans uploading cracked copies of ebooks, and which then make money off those books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/today-we-see-some-file-sharing-sites-that-rely-on-fans-uploading/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Young people should investigate where the filmmaker stands on the issue of file sharing, before they spend money on them at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/young-people-should-investigate-where-the-filmmaker-stands-on-the/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [The fact that file sharing goes on, and is as popular as it is, is an incredibly positive thing for the music industry. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rowntree/the-fact-that-file-sharing-goes-on-and-is-as-popular-as-it-is-is-an/) [Dave Rowntree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rowntree/) > [I like to think that the Internet and file sharing, if utilized properly and embraced, and I emphasize properly, is a high-powered marketing design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-like-to-think-that-the-internet-and-file-sharing-if-utilized/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [The 'solution' to file sharing was never centralizing content control back to a few entities - that was the struggle we were fighting for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/the-solution-to-file-sharing-was-never-centralizing-content-control/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [We need to take information, wherever it is stored, make our copies and share them with the world. We need to take stuff that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/we-need-to-take-information-wherever-it-is-stored-make-our-copies-and/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [It's hard for us to talk about how we disdain file-sharing when in fact it probably has been a great resource for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-meloy/it-s-hard-for-us-to-talk-about-how-we-disdain-file-sharing-when-in/) [Colin Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-meloy/) > [My sense is that file sharing started in predominantly white, middle- and upper-middle-cl ass young people who were native-born, who felt they were entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/my-sense-is-that-file-sharing-started-in-predominantly-white-middle/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [The only people who are afraid of file sharing are the people whose albums are so dull presentation-wise that nobody cares about owning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/the-only-people-who-are-afraid-of-file-sharing-are-the-people-whose/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [New generations have unprecedented power to make great changes. Take the music business for example. The new generations have toppled the music industry by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-generations-have-unprecedented-power-to-make-great-changes-take/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Non-commercial file sharing should of course become legal and protected, and must re-think copyright all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/non-commercial-file-sharing-should-of-course-become-legal-and/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [A rousing tale of techno-geek rebellion, as necessary and dangerous as file sharing, free speech, and bottled water on a plane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/a-rousing-tale-of-techno-geek-rebellion-as-necessary-and-dangerous-as/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [We need to download scientific journals and upload them to file-sharing networks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/we-need-to-download-scientific-journals-and-upload-them-to-file/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [They also can combine voice with instant messaging and online file sharing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/they-also-can-combine-voice-with-instant-messaging-and-online-file/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [A proper record shop reminds us why we got into this in the first place - a place to be reminded of old friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-richter/a-proper-record-shop-reminds-us-why-we-got-into-this-in-the-first/) [Max Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-richter/) [Browse all 25 File sharing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/file-sharing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The criminalization of file sharing is pathetic. 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