Quote:
Originally Posted by Resonant Alien  OTOH, what is so different about a teenager downloading an illegal song from the web versus me making a cassette tape of my brother's LPs when I was a teenager??? I would hate to think that I could have been locked up for making a freakin' mix tape!!!!!  |
There is a
huge difference! It is really ignorant for people to keep making comparisons like this. Are you guys really blind enough to believe that making a mix tape or taping your buddies records like you did 'back in the day' is at all comparable to the impact file 'sharing' on a
global scale is having on the industry?!
Give me a break! It's like comparing the difference between the damage that can be inflicted by being hit with a wiffleball bat to that of being shot in the head.
I have repeatedly stated that every single advantage the internet and P2P networks have to offer can be taken advantage of
without allowing the distribution of copywritten material that is intended for sale. I love how the defenders of P2P's and file 'sharing' keep glossing over this fact.
I have not heard one sane argument against why someone shouldn't be prosecuted for illegally downloading music. The arguments so far seem to be;
1. The record companies deserve it dude.
2. If music was better, people wouldn't illegally download it to listen to and enjoy, they would run out and buy it instead
3. My buddy only downloaded a few hundred songs. How can the RIAA say that he and the
thousands and thousands of other people (he's in college-tell him to add that one up!) just like him are part of the problem?!
4. Look man, people have figured out a way to get copywritten material intended for sale for free so they should just be allowed to continue to do so. Instead of outlawing this practice, artists should just suck it up and start figuring out how to sell Pepsi or develop a clothing line.
I do not believe that at this point in time, P2P networks are vital to anybody who is doing
legitimate business. However, to those who enjoy stealing music, software and sharing porn, I can definitely see why they would argue vigourously in favor of these networks.
Give me one good reason why P2P's as they currently exist should not be shut down until they can figure out how to regulate them in a manner where
no copywritten material can be distributed without the consent of the owner. Please illustrate in your example how P2P's are currently helping you in your job in the entertainment business. Also, I would like to hear how your job would be negatively impacted if these networks were regulated or shut down.