Thanks for the heads up MM!

Overall, I do worry for the general state of “right vs. wrong” in all societies, but closer to home, amongst fellow Filipinos as well… Is it wrong to steal a coke from a grocery? I think many would agree it is wrong. But others would rationalize it depends. And still others wouldn’t care less. I just think the proportion who would clearly answer “it is wrong” might be declining faster than we thought… Many years ago, I did a study for a drugstore chain and we found that the Philippines had one of the highest pilferage rates at retail stores… hence the counters in drugstores, rather than the mostly open plans in some other countries. It is an irony in a country with a highly “religious” bent on one hand, and a lot of stealing (relatively speaking) on the other… And in that case, I don’t think it would be attributable to ignorance. Of note on that study were several other similar income societies in Asia with notably lower pilferage rates…

Anyone who finishes highschool or college should be aware of intellectual property violations, plagiarism, etc. If not, the schools and their professors are partly to blame. But so would the student’s parents, community, etc. in addition to the student themselves…

I would like to think that it is more out of ignorance that people violate copyright laws especially here in the Philippines. I can hear you say that ignorance does not exempt anyone and I agree. I work for a graphics firm and I see copyright violated everyday whether it be out of ignorance or blatantly outright. Am glad someone like you can clearly point this out.