It was inevitable, I suppose. Over the weekend I learned that an Internet pirate posted the premium version of The Paracast and our subscription-only podcast, After The Paracast, online. I sent out an email blast to both forum members and newsletter subscribers to alert them about this offensive behavior. I've already sent takedown requests to the services that are allowing this to happen (they normally don't check in advance).
People who post and/or download the shows without paying for them are no better than people who take merchandise from a store without paying. It's theft, and we'll do what's necessary to protect ourselves. We do deserve to be paid for the work we do.
I'm grateful, however, for the expressions of support to our email. After a discouraging weekend, I felt more optimistic. We've gotten new signups and I know some of you will watch out for the illegal versions of the show and alert us.
On a positiver note: There is a YouTube channel from Mystic Dave that does post the regular version of the show, with ads intact, free with our blessing. I'm grateful for his support and the fact that he's doing his level best to get the word out.
In case you're wondering, our terms for Paracast+ (posted at the Terms and Rules link) are pretty straightforward, similar to other premium podcast services:
Use of Intellectual Property in The Paracast+
The Paracast+ and all of its contents, including but not limited to articles, other text, photographs, images, illustrations, graphics, video material, audio material, including musical compositions and sound recordings, software, Paracast+ logos, titles, characters, names, graphics and button icons (collectively “Intellectual Property”), are protected by copyright, trademark and other laws of the United States, as well as international conventions and the laws of other countries. The Intellectual Property is owned or controlled by The Publisher.
You may not, and you agree that you will not, reproduce, license, publish, enter into a database, display, modify, create derivative works from, transmit, post, distribute or perform publicly by any means, method, or process now known or later developed, decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, use on another computer-related environment, transfer or sell any Intellectual Property, software or products obtained from or through The Paracast+, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of The Publisher.