Something wrote:Its not the CD, but the content. I'm not saying the music industry is perfect, but trying to rationalize the stealing of the intellectual properties of others is asinine.
Material stealing and copying of information is NOT the same. No one is stealing intellectual properties either, that would be actually stealing the copyright which is completely ridiculous. What you mean is unauthorised viewing or rather usage of that information (the songs), or rather listening without a license to do so. Copyrights, and our copyright system today is outdated and limiting in too many ways. The filesharing is an outlet and a symptom of that. People need to stop regarding the information that, in this day and age, has to be regarded as having been made public, constitutes songs etc the same as material objects.
Stealing a CD isnt even stealing songs, its stealing a CD. Sure, *that* is stealing, you remove an object. Stealing a song is if you demand all the credit for yourself even though someone else has written it.
The copyright system has to be reformed, the situation of monopoly, patronisation of customers and limiting of available products and quality range is what has provoked and made filesharing as attractive and widespread as it is today. Cases such as the pirate bay's are good for society because it requires a rethinking of this system, no matter where filesharing may end up in the end.
IMO the labels today are mostly unnecessary, and even harmful. I see absolutely nothing wrong with sharing music that has been released. No other line of work exists (that I can think of now at least) where people can do one service, and get payed for that service again and again. Oh, and dont think I dont pay for music, I spend quite a lot on it and people who play it actually. Im also aware that I will prolly not convince anyone of my point of view who hasnt come there himself, cest la vie.