What file sharing really does for the music industry

[ebenbrooks]

A blurb on Slashdot caught my sweetie's attention, and she passed it along to me. It is very interesting:

What Various Studies Really Reveal About File-SharingIn this case, they're talking about file-sharing as it pertains to the distribution of music through peer-to-peer sites. While the RIAA claims that it costs millions of dollars every year in

Comments

A question

[niall_shapero]

Not being a music person, I don't know these things, but what precisely irritates you about the RIAA? (I'm serious - I don't know, and the only way I can find out is ask "stupid" questions...)

Re: A question

[ebenbrooks]

The RIAA is behind the anti-piracy movement and is mainly responsible for all the anti-piracy legislation which led to the demise of some of the more popular file-sharing sites, like Napster (which eventually came back in another form).

The problem I have with them is that, while they claim to be "protecting the interests of recording artists", what they are really doing is preventing those same recording artists from pursuing independent or creative ways of distributing their material. Basically, they want to hang on to "the system" that has worked so well for them so far, and they're trying to use legislation to prevent inevitable change.

[cerrberus]

Isn't it, like, the Republican party of the music industry?

[ebenbrooks]

It certainly acts like it.

[whswhs]

I've been wondering lately why no one has challenged the huge fines on constitutional grounds. It's right there in the 8th amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Fines up to $150,000 per song sound excessive to me. Who knows, the Supreme Court might even go for it.

[cerrberus]

I dunno- 'corporations are people.'

[whswhs]

I actually consider that one of their best decisions in a long time, for reasons that would take too much bandwidth to explain here. The common meme about it strikes me as oversimplified at best.

[esprix]

Indeed, file sharing has caused me to buy *more* music over the years, not less. RIAA is stupid.