Replies

What most Kazaa & Morpheus users and fans tend to ignore is that the RIAA is, under current law, correct. By swapping files they might otherwise have purchased, they are getting something for nothing. This deprives the RIAA's constituents -- labels, songwriters and musicians all -- of the financial benefit they have come to expect.

But the RIAA, by attacking the most blatant symptom of its problem, is not solving the problem itself. Historically, distributors of creative property rebel against new technology that shifts their paradigms. Record labels once wanted reimbursement for allowing radio stations to broadcast their music. The film industry expected videocasette recorder sales to destroy movie-ticket sales.

If you can have a copy of 100% fidelity for "free," there's no way that any distributor can compete with that price.

Methinks that when the RIAA "gets it," as the "information-wants-to-be-free" community keeps demanding, they'll stop lobbying Congress.

If the RIAA suddenly backs off, I would advise P2P users to deinstall the software soon as possible--because the RIAA will simply use extralegal means to get their way, and if you're stealing and fencing copyrighted material, you really can't go to the cops.

19 posted on 04/29/2003 1:40:54 PM PDT by Poohbah (Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!)

The film industry expected videocasette recorder sales to destroy movie-ticket sales.

Way back when here on the LeftCoast there was a successful ballot initiative to outlaw Pay Television (as it was called in those days.) The film industry was afraid that paying for TV would cut into theater ticket sales. Amazing when you think about since it is Hollywood that is supplying the HBOs of the world their product. These guys are always behind the times and trying to use the law to protect their business.

"By swapping files they might otherwise have purchased,"

What about the swaping of files you would NOT have otherwise purchased? How do you demonstrate in a court of law what they otherwise would have done? What if they own an old record or cassete tape from the 80's of that music?

If the RIAA had a brain, they would put every song more than 2 years old online in a quality format and charge a small monthly fee for download access. They would be rolling in cash, and the artists too.