[jgrubbs]

If someone can't afford to pay 88 cents to download a song legally from Wal-Mart's Web site, then they don't need to have Internet access. The music is there because some of us actually pay for the music. Those who download without paying are stealing and what I call "digital welfare" whores.

[Scarchin]

This is a good thing - an example of evolutionary capitalism. Music is extremely overpriced and performers are grossly overpaid. Think of your local paper. Are you willing to pay for delivery instead of borrowing your neighbors copy? We don't mind paying for our own newspapers and magazines. That would change if the price of the daily newspaper was $5 a copy. Newspaper writers and columnists are not multi-millionaires - why should some kid who writes rock songs be? This whole thing will bring the price of CDs etc. down to a reasonable price.

[Old Professer]

Every song available was purchased at retail at one time; the issue is file-sharing, not file-stealing.

The court is only interested in whether it is within the framework of the law to force third party service providers to become instruments of the court.

[honeygrl]

"Those who download without paying are stealing and what I call "digital welfare" whores."

So you are calling the 12yr old little girl they sued a whore?

[TheFrog]

Re:"The music is there because some of us actually pay for the music. " No, there is music because some of us are musicians!

[Arkinsaw]

Those who download without paying are stealing and what I call "digital welfare" whores.

Yawn. I generally download non-hit songs from albums to preview them so I can see if I want to buy the album. I don't buy albums based on hits and want to hear everything on them before purchasing. If the rest of the stuff on the album sucks, which it generally does, I will just delete it and buy nothing. If the album is good I will go buy it.

I usually do this for used CD's. I only buy used CD's because regular prices on CD's are so outrageous.

From time to time I download something to listen to and get rid of it after I have had my fill which is essentially no damn different than listening to it on the radio. Generally the songs I do this with are 30 year old songs. For instance, I get a hankering for "Battle of New Orleans" and "Sink the Bismarck", download them. Listen to them. Get rid of them. I would NEVER purchase a CD with this stuff on it. Never. Nobody loses a dime off of it. I do the same thing with some old 70's music. We download it, laugh at it, and then delete it. We would never actually purchase even a used CD of it.

You can call that digital welfare whore if you want. But the fact is that nobody loses a thin dime. Some folks probably turn off their cable tv when they have guests so the guests don't inadvertantly steal the signal meant for their brains only.