Music Pirate Mom deserves new trial

[sgs4u]

There will be other battles Chris. The file sharing battle, is lost. Once upon a time I agreed that file sharing was bad, but a nagging voice inside of me always said, why is it free on the radio? Now I understand why I felt that way. Music is meant to be shared. When greedy companies make records that cost $15, and have 7 songs that no one wants, that's a bullshit system that needs to change. But the RIAA can't prosecute one person and expect it to change the mindset of millions of people. That's why that lawsuit is stupid. I know this is my opinion, I'm not telling anyone what to do. The same thing is happening with newspapers. The bottom is dropping out. However, I don't think anything is hopeless. I honestly believe there will be a new system of making money with music very soon. And people who are talented, and motivated, will still be able to make lots of money, or make a living.

[chriscarter]

My point isn't about whether the industry can stop filesharing. I don't think it can effectively be stopped. My point is that people shouldn't bitch when they get caught breaking the law just because it's so easy to break the law and get away with it.BTW - Radio isn't free. Radio stations have to pay for the songs they play via huge licensing fees. They pay those fees with advertising revenue. BTW BTW - the same thing is not happening to newspapers. Newspapers are losing out NOT because people are stealing the news, but because of competition from non-paper news outlets. If music were just losing out the videogames, then that's fine and legal. But stealing the music is not legal and people shouldn't whine like babies when they get caught breaking the law just because it's easy.

[davekershaw]

Jul 11, 2009, 1:06am, aimusic wrote:(no1 reason for war guys, so let's keep the peace)No. that would be marriage Brad!Be warned!!

[crs7string]

I believe a larger issue,, that goes beyond file sharing is the protection of intellectual property in all forms. (software, books, movies, music etc. etc.)I would suspect that the US is the largest producer of intellectual property in the world. As the manufacture of hard goods continues to go abroad, I believe that it is essential the we protect the "soft" goods.If we allow "stealing" of music (and software and movies etc. etc.) how do we fare economically?Also, why and how could the producer of intellectual property continue to stay in business in any form if the fruits of their efforts are pilfered without compensation.Every time I fire up my studio I see all of my "dongles" come to life. Every time I install a new software instrument I have to go thru a short but inconvenient authorization process. All of this is because some one else has stolen from these companies. And I'm the one who pays the price.Stealing is stealing, no matter the spin. Chuck

[matto]

I agree with Chris (and Chuck). I don't think this lady deserves another trial, she's already had two of them and numerous offers of settlement. She's clearly a thief, and a liar, and if she can't pay up she should go to jail.Steve, should we legalize stealing just because it's difficult to catch thieves? I don't think so... Yeah the ship has sailed on filesharing which is why the RIAA is no longer pursuing this course of action, but stealing is still stealing and thieves belong in jail.

[sgs4u]

Matt & Chuck, This is not an ethics question. You guys also know me well enough that I am not recommending musicians not be paid for their work. Nothing could be further from the truth. The old system is irreparably broken. People are simply never going back to buying CD's from CD stores. It's time for a BIG change. The artists/musicians we all know and love, are not making any money anymore. I don't want them to be broke. I want them to be paid handsomely. AND you know I want that for them.Whether we choose to call it stealing or not, is moot. Even if it's deemed stealing in the eyes of the law, that definition is subject to change. BECAUSE, if it's not enforceable, you have a big problem. When laws can't be enforced, they're rewritten or thrown out. That's just the way it is. And what are you guys be arguing about? You don't write music for stealing... You write focused pieces of music for specific needs. And you're extremely good at it.

[hummingbird]

Jul 11, 2009, 1:06pm, sgs4u wrote:We need a world celebrating the sharing of music, NOT trying to hoard it or suck all the money they possibly can. I'm all for that. As long as my rent, food, transportation, instruments, education & training is also free. Then I can just give free voice lessons inbetween free coffee in my free house, have free medical & dental care, and never pay taxes again.

[mazz]

Yes the record companies were greedy bastards and didn't stay ahead of the technology curve when Napster, etc., came out. I think most of us can agree on that.But folks, the music business is us, we are the content creators. What we can do is educate our kids and people in our community about intellectual property rights and what that means. People need to be shown that music really isn't free, it's made by people just like us who are trying to make a living at it. Even if you're a hobbyist and giving away your music, there is still some value to it and if we don't place a value on it, neither will the consumers.I don't think any of us here would walk in to a grocery store and steal food, even though you can grow it for "free" in your garden. Think of the farmers and the people who do the shipping and stock the shelves, etc. If you steal the food you are stealing from them, not big bad corporate Safeway.If you spent years developing a game or operating system or music software and your business plan and livelihood depended on people buying it, what would you do if you saw it for free on the internet?We can't stop filesharing by using a big hammer, we need to do it on a grass roots level. We are the music business and illegal filesharing is taking money out of our pockets. If you have an honest and straightforward way of communicating it to people, they may think twice before doing it next time.Just my 2CMazzPS Steve: Yes I create focused music and my business model is more of a business to business model than marketing to the public. But we are all in this together and I choose to support my fellow creators' intellectual property rights. When the water rises, all the boats rise with it.

[sgs4u]

Jul 11, 2009, 4:02pm, mazz wrote:MazzPS Steve: Yes I create focused music and my business model is more of a business to business model than marketing to the public. But we are all in this together and I choose to support my fellow creators' intellectual property rights. When the water rises, all the boats rise with it.You're boat is floating just fine. It will continue to. Artists are not doing as well. Songwriters either. I'm not suggesting anyone should steal, so please don't try to lump me in with people who don't care about illegal behaviors. I'm saying we need a new system that compensates artists for their work. Is anyone disagreeing with that?

[mazz]

Absolutely not lumping you in there Steve. I know we're on the same page. There needs to be a better system, for sure!