Thursday, March 27, 2008
Downloads
After getting through more of Lessig's book, some startling news has been revealed. The fact that so many American citizens could be classified as felons is unfathomable. This information should tell the lawmakers something, and that something is that there is clearly something wrong with the approach taken towards copyright and especially its relation to the music industry. Im not trying to advocate that all laws regulating music downloading and sharing should go away, but there are better ways of regulating out there. Stealing in no way should be warranted but in many instances downloading music is a way to hear an artist you may not be sure about, or sharing music with friends through the internet to try and spread your taste in music. Granted by putting your music on the web it does make it available to more than just your friend, but we live in a world filled with increasing technology. It takes far less time to upload all of your music to your computer to share with friends. Also, it allows a spreading of tastes to friends that may not be within range to just hand them a cd. Some people do download music so that they never have to purchase a cd again, but the entire country should not be denied their rights to progress our society because of the actions pursued by others. And honetly, in the end, I don't feel that the artists are really losing out on much. They may sell fewer cds, but they may gain extra fans at concerts that they would not have otherwise had. The regulations on music arent to benefit the public, or even the artists, they are solely there to protect the huge corporations and that is something that needs to change.
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6 comments:
I think you're right, it is ridiculous that almost half our country are felons...and who are these downloaders hurting? Instead of preying on the american public, I think the law should go after the providers of illegal downloading. In the long run it would be much more efficient.
I think it's freaky as well that many of us could be considered felons. I also agree with Molly in saying, who is it hurting? If anything, it may help people. Obviously if something is free you're way more likely to download it even if you have no idea if you'll like it or not. This helps the artist become well-known!
I'm really interested in where the money goes that is used to purchase the music. I have heard that the artists themselves make the big bucks off of product lines, brand name things, as opposed to what is actually getting them their fame. I figure then that the money used in purchasing a cd goes to the large distribution companies. I dont know this for sure, but if it is true, then I suppose that the downloads are hurting these people, and not the artists themselves so much.
i wonder if eventually established artists are going to bypass the recording company "middleman" and just post their music online and sell it for a cheaper price (but they get all of the profits). i think the general public would support that and it would prevent so many of us from being classified as "felons"
I agree with the point you made about musicians really not losing out on much. The millions of dollars they seem to not be completely worthy of does not leave many of their pockets empty. I also agree with Molly and say that lawmakers should probably take the majority of their time and dedicate it to stopping the providers first, besides trying to bankrupt a select number of downloaders to prove a point.
I agree that it is ridiculous that so many of us can be classified as felons. So why hasn't the law been changed yet? Maybe it's because although half of americans can be classified as felons, most are not actually charged. Perhaps this keeps the fear element high without outraging too many people.
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