Definition of Terms

International Organizations and Agreements

Anime as a Microcosm of the Issue

Final Thoughts

             In today’s world, the Internet is the fastest, most available source of information. With the Internet an individual is able to communicate globally and learn about the ideas of people in different cultures while exchanging their own. The concept of free knowledge is so appealing that many people easily overlook the source of that information. When the information takes the form of music, film, or other forms of artistic work then the people who own them want payment for providing them. In the United States, it is illegal to download music using peer-to-peer file sharing, but perfectly acceptable to pay companies like iTunes in order to download music to your computer. (http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/music_downloading.asp  12/18/07 12:34PM EST) 

This is true throughout the United States, but what about outside? It may not be illegal to download music and films that are not copyright protected as long as it is not done commercially, but is it moral to do so? Here the issues are explored as surrounding the growth of the anime industry.