"Illegal" Music Downloading

[Nebulous]

What do you feel should be done to put an end to the illegal sharing of music? Should it be stopped? Is it perfectly fine to do?



OVERVIEW:



File sharing usually follows the peer-to-peer (P2P) model, where the files are stored on and served by personal computers of the users. Most people who engage in file sharing on the Internet both provide (upload) files and receive files (download).



Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing

 

[Kasynlie]

There are so many ways to get around it. For example, one can download videos from YouTube then convert then extract the audio from it and save it as an .mp3 file and there you go... free music. No torrents, no P2P.

 

[Peaceful]

It shouldn't be stopped, nor can they try it, even if they did stop it, one person can still buy or rent a CD and burn and distribute it.

 

[Wolvendeer]

There is a bit of a break from reality here. The music companies believe the amount of music downloaded to be equal to loss of sales. This isn't true. People who aren't going to apend money on music aren't going to spend money on music. Furthermore, a lot of people who download the most music are also going out and buying the CDs, going to the concerts, and etc.



I've heard of a lot of bands through Illegal music that I wouldn't have heard of otherwise, so who are they to tell me that I'm costing them money by downloading something I wouldn't have heard of otherwise? They should be happy for the word of mouth advertising they receive.

 

[Temerit]

Honestly, it shouldn't be stopped.



The industry needs to adapt. They need to understand that everything that can be copied must be promotional only and they need to make money off of live performances, t-shirts, and memorabilia.



Personally, if I can afford it, I'll buy it, so the existence of P2P affects my purchasing of music not in the slightest.

 

[Howard]

I'm not trying to take the high moral ground here, but the theft of copyrighted material is still theft which ever way you care to dress it up. Perhaps it's the fact that it's just so easy and people believe it's a faceless crime is the reason why so many are openly against it cessation. Whatever the reasons, it is still theft and as such should be stamped out wherever possible.



The huge drop in music and movies sales over the years is testament to the fact that the illegal downloading of these files is indeed costing the respective industries millions and millions, maybe even billions of £/$ and anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dream world.



Should it be stopped? Yes it should if it's possible and I believe it wall fall to the ISP's to police it. Can it be stopped? Well, that's a different matter and one that only time will tell.

 

[Evil Eye]

Downloading is usually legal actually.

Because most sites will only let you upload if you claim ownership, therefore most uploaded content is (illegally) in the public domain and the uploader is at fault for not being honest

Anyhow, it's not fair, but what're you gonna do?

 

[Cranos]

There is a bit of a break from reality here. The music companies believe the amount of music downloaded to be equal to loss of sales. This isn't true. People who aren't going to apend money on music aren't going to spend money on music. Furthermore, a lot of people who download the most music are also going out and buying the CDs, going to the concerts, and etc.



I've heard of a lot of bands through Illegal music that I wouldn't have heard of otherwise, so who are they to tell me that I'm costing them money by downloading something I wouldn't have heard of otherwise? They should be happy for the word of mouth advertising they receive.

+1

There are countless bands I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for illegal downloading.



I think it's disgusting how little artists earn from their CDs anyway, it all goes to the music companies. If you download the music and go to a concert then you've supported the band a lot more than when you buy the CD;

 

[ThaBawse]

You can't really stop the trend. While Limewire, the biggest and most popular downloading software, is being kicked in the ass by the government, there's still tons of file sharing websites out there that provide free music downloads. So it's not really 'illegal' if there's perfectly 'legal' websites standing.

 

[Howard]

Of course it's illegal. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are, theft is still theft.

 

[Temerit]

Fuck the industry and the power elite, I could care less about people stealing from them. They already are filthy rich and they just want to rape the middle class and working class just a bit more.



A recent Government Accountability Office study released to U.S. Congress earlier this year, which concluded that there is virtually no evidence for the claimed million dollar losses by the entertainment industry. That study suggested that piracy could even benefit the economy.



http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-423



Another noteworthy study from three years back notes that virtually every citizen violates intellectual property laws in some way on a daily basis.



http://www.dailytech.com/One+Nation+Under+Infringement/article9716.htm



Even the case against the Pirate Bay is being appealed as a case of perversion of the justice system with the judge who gave the verdict having multiple ties to copyright protection organizations.



Just like Cranos said, so little of the money from records actually goes to the artists anyway, I couldn't care less about what the fat cats of the industry have to say about my morals

 

[dragoh]

no it shouldn't be stop people will only buy music they like from bands they know because they don't want to wast money on a crappy band but if they download it for free they try different bands .. they need to chill It's free Promotion

 

[N!ck]

It's not exactly stealing, it's more like sharing with a CD with a stranger.

People have been stealing music for probably centuries, so this isn't anything new.

 

[beowulf]

it might be 'stealing' but when i see the wealth of stars on shows like cribs or other shows i certainly do not feel guilty!

 

[The Dragon Master]

Illegal downloading of music had been going on far ages. It'll take a miricle to stop it, and if it wasn't for these sites then I wouldn't have heard of half the bands that I know. I try to buy the songs/CD's when I can, but it's the fact that the CD's tend to be quite expensive.

it might be 'stealing' but when i see the wealth of stars on shows like cribs or other shows i certainly do not feel guilty!

Same.

 

[Payton]

I don't advocate the stopping of the flow of data; so no, I say we should keep it just as it is, with none of the suits trying to take it down. P2P forever. <3

 

[Sinon]

I mostly download music by artists whose CDs are either not in existence, or are extremely rare. I don't feel bad about it either, as there are artists who don't play shows in my country, and who don't release their albums in my country. If it's not available for purchase, why should I feel bad about stealing it?



If you want to support an artist, go to a show. Buy some merch. A CD will earn the band maybe 20 cents to split between everyone. It's bull.

 

[DrLeftover]

So there is no right to intellectual property if it is being managed by a rich company?



Once it is posted online, it then belongs to whoever wants it?



Which means if a new artist signs with a company, they will never be paid a just amount for their work because of downloads and their percentage of the gross just vanished into the ether.



But you all know best of course.

 

[Temerit]

Music should be promotional only.



Dr. Leftover, I wouldn't be paying for any of the music that I download illegally, if it cost money I wouldn't try new things out. My favorite bands I will purchase their music and support them, buy merchandise and go to shows. That's where bands really make the money. Besides, most good music you can't even find in a CD store.

 

[Kasynlie]

Of course it's illegal. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are, theft is still theft.

It's not theft. Theft/Stealing is when you take the item. When you download, you make a copy of it.