PinoyAlert - Project Alert

Internet piracy refers to the copying and online sharing of materials without the permission of the materials’ copyright owner.With the number of peer-to-peer (P2P) and torrent downloading  websites now, acquiring a copy of your favorite movie is just a click away. Depending upon the size of the file you want or the speed of your Internet connection, your download can be done  in just a matter of minutes or a couple of hours.Despite the illegality of internet piracy, many people, including students, are still committing this criminal act. This, however, does not make it right. The fact is, Internet piracy is still piracy – copyright infringement which is an act punishable by law. In order to stop this illegal act, help the affected industries (e.g. entertainment, publication, software programming), and avoid the possibility of facing criminal charges, users should keep themselves from illegally downloading and sharing copyrighted materials – be it for personal or business needs. We should all help in the battle against Internet piracy. As teachers, you are in a great position to influence the youth. Help combat Internet piracy and discourage your students from promoting the said criminal act. To succeed in this endeavor, there are two simple things you can do – warn your students about the risks of Internet piracy and teach them how to download legally. There are many websites that provide materials, which you can use to educate your students about internet safety, and to help win the battle against internet piracy. Here are some of the websites that offer cyber-education materials:

Cybersmart Curriculum – provides lesson plans and activity sheets for students.

FBI for Kids – offers safety tips, stories, and other information about internet safety.

I-Safe – teaches the youth how to enjoy the surfing the Internet while staying safe.

Netsmartz for Educators – provides different materials about Internet safety and responsible browsing.

SafeSurfin – an interactive website that seeks to educate people about Internet crimes

Safe Surfing for Kids – offers materials that would teach kids how to stay safe on the internet

These are just some of the websites that can help teachers educate their students about the risks of internet piracy and the legal ways of acquiring copyrighted files. Enjoy and stay safe while browsing through these websites.

Sources:

Jean Westcott. “Talking to Kids About File Sharing.” Retrieved on August 25, 2011 fromhttp://www.piracynetwork.com/mpaa/talking-to-kids-about-file-sharing-patch-com.html

“4 ways to help your kids avoid pirating online files.” (Posted on Sept. 29, 2006) Retrieved on August 25, 2011 fromhttp://www.microsoft.com/hk/athome/security/children/kidspiracy.mspx

“Kids and Internet Safety.” Retrieved on August 25, 2011 fromhttp://www.meafs.com/KidsAndSaving/KidsAndInternetSafety.cfm