IELTS Writing task 2: Please give me some feedback.

Topic:

Modern technology has made it easier for individuals to download copyrighted music and books from the Internet for no charge. To what extent is this a positive or negative development.

Essay:

It is true that Internet users have been able to download online music and books free of charge, especially in countries where copyright law is not imposed strictly. From my perspective, this trend has both negative and positive impacts on the users and creators.

When music and books are downloaded freely, a lot of people will benefit from this. First, at some schools, students are told to consult for information on specific matters from a list of reference books whose prices are not cheap. If those materials could be found and downloaded for no charge, students can obtain the soft copies without worrying about the money. Second, if songs and videos on websites such as Youtube or Spotify are free of charge, everyone can stream and share them effortlessly. Even senior citizens or who do not have an online account to handle online payments can download music at a click.

However, the act of copyright infringement can cause serious problems to the whole society. Music and books are called intellectual property and when people use them without express permission from the creators, they are violating the copyright law. Thus they can be fined or even imprisoned for that action. This is also an ethical issue that service providers are trying to impart morals to Internet citizens. Without paying the creators’, people are taking their efforts and talent for granted. Additionally, when authors and songwriters are not awarded what they deserve, it can demotivate them to create and invent. As a result, Internet users will no longer have access to good quality products online.

In conclusion, copyright violation is a pressing issue in today’s society. Even though downloading books and music freely has some benefits, creators’ rights should be respected and protected.