South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker gave a great interview to the libertarian magazine Reason. They talk a lot (and well) about free speech issues, but they really shine when tlaking about copyright:
Reason: When it looked like Comedy Central wasn't going to rerun the Mary episode, people were still able to download it illegally online. Did you see that as a victory for free speech, or did you think, "My God, these people are stealing our intellectual property"?
Stone: We're always in favor of people downloading. Always.
Reason: Why?
Stone: It's how a lot of people see the show. And it's never hurt us. We've done nothing but been successful with the show. How could you ever get mad about somebody who wants to see your stuff?
Parker: We worked really hard making that show, and the reason you do it is because you want people to see it.
(via Svardaman's MySpace)
See also:
Comedy Central downs "Bloody Mary": South Park episode yanked
"Bloody Mary" resurrected: censored South Park hits P2P
Bloody Mary: War on Xmas over, War on Blasphemy starts
South Park "Bloody Mary" an immaculate deletion, says Comedy Central
