Two “Harmless Crimes” that Aren’t Really Harmless

There are two forms of criminal behavior in U.S. society that have become socially accepted: online piracy and sneaking food into movie theaters. These two behaviors, considered by many to be relatively harmless, actually severely harm businesses and individuals. As such, these two illicit behaviors should be treated just like other criminal actions, and those who practice them should be met with consequences and punishments. 

The primary reasons we have patents, copyrights and intellectual property in this country is to create incentives for entrepreneurs and businesses to innovate. A patent grants a temporary monopoly to an innovator in order to promote progress. Without these devices, no one would bother to take risks or invent anything new because another business could steal their idea as soon as it’s been created, reducing their profits to zero. Innovation is risky, and entrepreneurs need to be compensated for that risk. Likewise, to write a book or create a movie is a time consuming undertaking which has no guarantee of success, and content creators must, too, be compensated for that risk. To pirate anything, whether it is a book, a television show or a textbook, completely undermines this incentive structure and reduces the future incentive for content producers to create anything of value.

While the high prices of movie theater concessions can leave a consumer feeling gouged, nearly all theaters actually rely on these sales to sustain their business. When a movie is released, movie theaters have to share a large portion of their ticket revenues with movie production companies. According to a Stanford study, while selling food only accounts for 20 percent of a movie theater’s gross revenue, it accounts for 40 percent of overall profits. While the markup on popcorn is steep, estimated to be around a 1275 percent markup, this markup is necessary for movie theaters continued existence. Movie theaters are already on decline in the U.S., and if we want to keep this aspect of American culture, the last thing anyone should do is bring their own food into a theater.

At the end of the day, both of these offenses undermine the very processes that bring these goods to the public. We should not take them for granted. Next time you head down to a movie theater in Logan, choose to support local businesses over your wallet. Do not pirate and do not bring your own food into movie theaters.