At first glance, the issue seems to be clear. Whoever creates something, owns it. Whether it's a car, a sandwich or a movie - only creators have the right to market their products. However, every now and then, new technological developments challenge established ways of thinking.

One current technological innovation is the mutual sharing of media files. Through this so-called file-sharing, it is possible to reproduce and distribute digitalized information quickly and cheaply. Anybody who has broadband internet access is able to connect with a P2P network and download music, movies, software, and whatever else for free. Just imagine, you can finally own all albums of your favorite rock band and listen to them from your hard drive. Anyway, there is a catch to it: It's illegal! And by doing it, you enter the world of digital piracy.

Obviously, the entertainment business feels threatened by file-sharing technology and the millions of P2P network users. Fear of revenue losses has forced them to act towards mass-scale copying. The big companies sued file-sharing networks and successfully pushed law-makers to contain the technology by extending copyright laws. Therefore, it's not even legal to copy movies for only private use anymore.

However, the conflict is far from being solved. All over the world, political parties are forming to support the pirates' cause (http://www2.piratpartiet.se/international/english). The pirate parties tackle the issue from a broader perspective. Reproducing and distributing information and knowledge for free is seen as the big chance for our age. Their core demands are open access, the reform of copyright and patent laws, and the breakup of infrastructure monopolies held by telecommunication conglomerates.

Pirate parties are not against the creators of cultural products. They simply accept digital technology, its opportunities as well as its effects. For example, since it is possible to copy and distribute for free, artists and other cultural producers can not be rewarded by the amount of copy they sell anymore. There must be other ways. Surely, an uncomforting thought, but nonetheless a pretty interesting one.