[BlkConserv]

Valenti is addressing a problem that, for the most part, hardly exists.

You buy any motion-picture now on DVD for under $20. Besides, there is video on-demand, the premium channels on cable and satellite, the video rental stores....who is going to waste time trying to download a movie and wait about 10 hours? Even so, the quality wouldn't be as near as good if you just went to Walmart and bought it.

If anyone should be shaking in their boots, it should be the myopic RIAA and the stupid record companies.

[JoshGray]

The problem is when you doanload it for free, realize how badly it sucks (MIBII, Star Wars II, Goldfinger, ST:Nemesis, etc), and save yourself the money.

[Hodar]

You beat me to it. A DVD movie for $~18 isn't worth the time, energy and material it takes to 'steal' it. The movie snips I have seen are of poor quality, no bonus features, and without the ability to index to specific scenes. Why bother.

On the other hand, the RIAA is complaining that CD sales are down, and are blaming file-swapping. I think they missed the boat on 2 counts.

First, I listen to a song or two before I buy a CD. I always get a preview. No exceptions. File sharing is what caused me to replace my tons of cassettes to the 200+ CD's I currently own.

Secondly, if the average person has a fixed amount of disposable income to buy 'stuff' with, he has a choice. Buy a DVD movie, or a CD. Considering that DVD sales are up 300%, it only makes sense that CD sales would be down.