Nick Ahad: Illegal downloading is putting at risk music and movie industries

Quite apart from the fact that they are fundamentalist Christians (which I already knew) I discovered at the weekend that they're also Creationists. That is, they read and believe the Bible literally. Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, they believe it all. Fascinating.

One thing they don't believe in is paying for things you can get for free (illegal downloading ain't mentioned in the Bible).

I hadn't realised that I had a position on illegal downloading, until it was there, staring me in the face.

The couple who stayed at the weekend have watched all sorts of movies that you shouldn't be able to watch at home yet, but, thanks to the magic of the internet, they have, they told me.

I got involved in a discussion about the issue – it was safer territory than my thoughts on Creationism – and realised that actually, I have a pretty strong view on illegal downloading.

Coincidentally this week, it was reported that music bloggers posting parts of Radiohead's In Rainbows album have received letters from recording industry groups, ordering them to take down the files.

Although Radiohead once offered fans the chance to pay nothing for their 2007 album, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) are now targeting sites that provide the songs for free.

This has prompted a deluge of sarcasm on blogging websites.

Anyone with an interest in the arts will know we are living in "interesting times".

The argument for public spending on the arts will be made in these pages time and again, but what about private spending, the money from our own pockets?

If we can get it, download it for nowt, why would we pay owt?

The answer is simple: if it's a commodity that we want, why shouldn't we pay for it?

Artists need to eat, sure, and selling us their own creations is a way to get fed.

Downloading movies, songs, puts at risk the whole industry that creates these two artforms. More than that, however, it risks devaluing these artistic creations. No-one who creates a piece of art does so with a pound sign as an end goal, but surely those among us who have the ability to create the works of art we enjoy, ought to be rewarded for our enjoyment?

I've started growing vegetables in my garden. Hardly magnificent specimens, but I've lovingly tended my courgettes and carrots and I'd be pretty peeved if someone came along and helped themselves.

I'm guessing that bands put even more love and care into their albums and film-makers into their movies than I do my lettuce – taking advantage and simply nicking what they've created isn't really on, surely?