Crime It Is To Have A Free Song On Your iPhone?| Michelle Boykins

Music Can Bring Us Joy And Happiness (Image Credit: freedigitalphotos)

Do you consider illegally downloading a song or purchasing a counterfeit handbag the same thing as robbing someone on the street?

Statistics shows that 68% of adult population are still willingly make such “purchases” to save money.

Though I see more and more education coming to the places where it’s needed to splash the light all over the issues of illegal downloads and counterfeit production, it will take years and a magnanimous effort of educating and sharing factual life experiences with much wider audiences.

A sure thing is when we start any problem solving by us being active contributors to the social life of this society, then such an attitude and pro-active participation by you and me would definitely bring bright solutions and successful resolve to those problematic questions.

At this very time, there are people and agencies who are putting together programs and measures to stop illegal actions of many who wish to enrich themselves by producing and selling the counterfeit products to us, consumers. As a consumer myself, I do take extra effort to research where, for example, designer items selling for Hugely Lesser prices like purses, shoes, handbags and more come from.

With Internet giving us so many opportunities to self-educate and to satisfy our curiosities in almost any area of life, it is not that hard to spot those online outlets that “specialize” on selling “genuine” items for almost a song. Please take that “double glance” when those online deals are too good to be true. When you see those, just don’t buy them. First, they’re fake. Second, you cast your vote against those who do it illegally.

Some people dedicate their professional lives to preventing and fighting crimes happening in our society in different areas. I got the honor to be introduced and ask questions to Michelle Boykins who is the Director of Communications at the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). Please allow me to unveil her personal views and opinions on the state of current affairs in the crime arenas of our modern society.

My Question
Michelle, what brought you to work in the area of business that deals with crime prevention of different kinds?

Michelle Boykins
I came to work at the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) because I wanted my work to have meaning and make a difference in people’s lives. I get the pleasure of hearing how NCPC’s public education campaigns, trainings, and free resource material help people learn how to prevent crime or help community residents to work together with law enforcement to solve crime problems. Plus, I love being able to say that I work for McGruff the Crime Dog!

Question
What would you recommend to the women of this country how they could raise their kids with a much deeper understanding what is “right” and what is “wrong” when it comes to intellectual property crimes?

Michelle Boykins
It is important to set guidelines and use what NCPC calls, “teachable moments.” Ask them how they would feel if someone took, without their permission, their latest art project or something else they hold. Point out vendors on the street with illegal copies of CDs or DVDs. Explain that those people are causing people to lose their jobs and costing companies millions of dollars. It is also helpful to visit websites with them and show them the difference between illegal downloading and paying for the products you want.

Free Music Is Never Free. It's Called Pirate Copy (Image Credit freedigitalphotos)

Question
How are families hurt or any of us individually when a crime of the intellectual property is committed?

Michelle Boykins
Intellectual Property (IP) crimes can destroy jobs, suppress innovation, and jeopardize the health and safety of consumers. Counterfeit products can be harmful, and sometimes deadly, to consumers. For example, antifreeze has been found in counterfeit toothpaste or medicines bought online. These products are produced and sold without regard for the consequences suffered by the consumer.

Question
Do you think it’s in our culture that people treat this “kind” of crime as a more innocent kind of offense? Or do you think it runs deeper than that?

Michelle Boykins
Intellectual property crime is anything but victimless. In fact, intellectual property crime hurts real people on many levels. I’ve heard people say, “my one purchase won’t hurt” but they fail to realize the millions of others who might be saying the same thing. We tend to forget that even one rock thrown into a pond has a ripple effect.

Question
What is your personal positioning on how these types of crimes can be prevented? Do we have a “PreventaCare” for it?

Michelle Boykins
The National Crime Prevention Council believes in awareness and education. If we can help the public understand the consequences of their actions than we can reduce demand for these products. We have been pleased to work with The White House, U.S. Department of Justice, and law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels as well as many private companies who all understand that we must work together from both the prevention and the enforcement side if we are going to stop intellectual property theft.

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