file sharing---your opinions

[tomster2300]

Hey,

I want to know your opinions on file-sharing. I think we should have a discusson on this---I know the entire argument, but many people feel strongly on both sides of the issue and I'd like to know what you guys think. Personally I believe that it should be free. It's a great way for unknown musicians and artists to cheaply express their content to a global audience. The quality of mp3s are not nearly as nice as cd recordings--for those who really listen to their music. Many of the musicians known today have so much money already through cd sells, advertisments and sponsors, that they would never feel any loss of profit from downloading. Also the recording industry ought to consider downloading as the new medium of obtaining music. Hopefullly they will reconsider their lawsuits and focus more on making quality music than money.

These are all my personal opinions and nothing more. I am probably bordering on infringing the good rules set here for posting conduct, and I mean no disrespect, but I feel we could have a mature conversation on file sharing and your feelings upon the subject. Thanks.

[oddjob]

Don't know where I heard the statistic, but so it goes; people who own CD burners are more likely to purchase music, than download it via a fileshare program like Kazaa. I suppose the same thing might apply to many people who own mp3 players. They have the technology to pirate music, but just don't.

For me, the novelty has worn off. In fact, I've probably deleted most of the songs I've downloaded over the years, just to clear the clutter off my hard drive. I download a song now and then, but very rarely. I own ~400 store bought CD's, and ~250 records (I do have a turntable, and it still works great!).

IMO live and let live. The RIAA can't stop technology from advancing, and sales still thrive.

[tim1477]

I think it should be free. Like what tomster said, its a good way for young musicians to get their music out there. Plus, i heard somewhere that musicians only make somethign like $.25 off a $10 cd. what a rip-off for the people that are doing all the work.

[tomster2300]

More people need to comment on this. Should only certain items be available for download, or should you be able to download anything you like? Thanks.

[lil Jimmie]

If you're a thief then go steal it, if not go buy the rights to use a product.

[aym]

The concept of P2P is OK, you can use it as long as you don't violate copyrights.

Epic used BitTorrent (a form of P2P) to distribute the UT2004 demo, and to move the load away from their servers, using P2P here is a good thing.

Downloading copyrighted MP3s on the other hand, is certainly illegal.

[ComputerNut]

At this point, i rarely download music. i just use P2P apps for downloading tv show eps, which is essentially no different than recording them on a VCR.

[yellohut]

yes, it's great for new musicians, but eventualy, as the musicians get better known you can bet they'll want to stop free sharing and start selling their music..

and the argument that the artists already have money and don't need more is BS IMO. that's the way a capitalistic society works.. they make money because they're good... there's no cap to it where society decides when a person has made enough money, and that they should keep producing their art for free.

basically I'm for free filesharing.. if i've created a file I want to share I can make it available...
but I'm against illegal file sharing.. because If i've created a file (whether it be an idea, song, software, etc..) I want to sell, I don't need someone giving it away for free,

[ghost2003]

heres the thing...Some people will go D/L stuff eligaly on the net but would never, ever go in a store and steal it. There is NO difference between the 2! Yes, if you steal it your phisicly taking something but thats not what they are selling you. They will give you the case, CD, etc. What they sell you is the licens. Using the data witout the licens IS stealing. I understand, they are still rich but whats theirs is theirs. You wouldnt go steal a farari and say"well their still rich" would you?

[patrickt]

I object to the term "file sharing" being applied to stealing. When someone posts a copywrited item for someone else to copy without paying they are both doing something illegal and wrong. Finding an innocuous name for piracy doesn't alter the act. And, I've never met a crook who couldn't justify his crime. "Sure I shoplifted but the store had a lot of diamond rings and I didn't have any."

[mikesd]

Dont use file sharing and agree that its stealing, but lets not forget theres another theif in this mix. The recording industry recently lost a class action suit in Illinois for price gouging and is currently in the process of sending checks to their customers they care so much about. Theres plenty of blame on both sides to go around.

[ti3468]

I occasionally download music but theres something (for me atleast) to actually having the cd and the whole experience of it that you just dont get from quickly downloading a song. Plus I know that if I was a musician I wouldn't want people downloading my hard work for free.

[juicelooser]

The only reason I download songs online is to see if I want to buy the CD. Most of times, if I like an artist, I will go out and buy their CD because I like having the artwork and lyrics and so on. CDs are expensive. $15 for 10 songs is not that great of a deal, so I like to make sure I will like the music on the CD before buying it.

[GhostRecon]

Purchasing CDs for only one track, I think I'll stick to downloading it. They're the ones who are ripping us off.

[Brown Hornet]

i agree with juicelooser and ghost recon.plus the musician's make their money off the concert sales t-shirt's,poster's hat's etc...not from 10cents a cd

[Nuclear Krusader]

I prefer to buy my own CD, or in case I just like one song, have it downloaded legally (ie iTunes).

My problem is with old and hard to find songs. I think there should be abandonmusic sites to get those songs legally, kinda like the abandonware sites.

Same with videos. I'd gladly pay to download those old videos I used to watch on MTV.

[GhostRecon]

I think you wouldn't steal from a store, but you would download because you have more anonymousity online, and you couldn't run out of a store without being caught by surveillance cams, etc.

[tomster2300]

I agree with mikesd's comment. Why isn't anyone focusing on RIAA's money management? Does anyone agree that the entire music industry needs considerable consideration on how they manage today's music?

[peter8d9]

I just got a check from the record industry because of a class action lawsuit in Maryland. Also, I did a large research paper on this exact issue. The biggest problem is with the RIAA and their insistance on CD's instead of embracing the new technology. File sharing can be hampered a little but the more news on tv about it the more people are actually doing it. Now over 60 million people are sharing files (more people than voted for Bush). They have sent forth several thousand lawsuits .004% of the total file sharers and have recieved about .0004% of their claimed losses. They say they have lost billions of dollars to file sharing and are only getting an average 2000 from each lawsuit. What does this amount to? Scare tactics. File sharing will remain and only grow. I buy and support artists that I really like but if I hear a song on the radio I like I'll download it and burn it to a cd so I can listen to it for a few times then move on. Nothing different then people using tapes to record songs off the radio and yet that didnt crush the music industry did it?

[Alienware_Dude]

I'm firmly against illegal file-sharing; how would YOU like it if someone stole what you rely on for your livelihood?

[peter8d9]

Originally posted by Alienware_Dude I'm firmly against illegal file-sharing; how would YOU like it if someone stole what you rely on for your livelihood?

Do you realize how much they make off of cds? They dont make their money off of cd's as someone stated earlier. They make it off of concerts, merchandise, etc. File sharing is another medium for their music to be heard and spread. Larger audience=more fans.

[lil Jimmie]

Originally posted by peter8d9 Do you realize how much they make off of cds? They dont make their money off of cd's as someone stated earlier. They make it off of concerts, merchandise, etc. File sharing is another medium for their music to be heard and spread. Larger audience=more fans.

That is only a means to justify theift and two wrongs don't make it right either.

[glc]

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