[pp.int.general] Origin of the term "piracy"

[Amelia Andersdotter]

On 14 September 2010 18:22, Heesob Nam <hurips at gmail.com> wrote:
> In some culture, the term "piracy" when it is translate into local
> language conveys very negative meaning. This is one of the challeges
> that I face when I try to build a "Pirate" party in my country.
>

What is the etymology of the word the copyright lobby is using for
infringers in Korea?

Copyright infringers weren't called pirates originally because they
were liked or seen as desirable. It was meant to be derogative. Now,
it probably is not, because the way copyright infringers have
reclaimed the word it's turned positive again.

We hear this from many, many countries around the world, but if it
helps "pirates" became the force of good in Sweden after a group of
20-somethings formed Piratbyran and the Pirate Bay and consistently
stood up for themselves in a cocky way.

/a

> Adrian Johns, in his book "Piracy: The Intellectual Property Wars from
> Gutenberg to Gates (2010)" argues that "[T]he word piracy  derives
> from a distant Indo-European root meaning a trial or attempt, or
> (presumably by extension) an experience or experiment. It is an irony
> of history that in the distant past it meant something so close to the
> creativity to which it is now reckoned antithetical (at page 35)."
>
> Best,
> Heesob
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