[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
OFF TOPIC: Napster
I own a record company, so please keep in mind that I might well be a biased
commentator (though so are people who want to get music for free, without
having to pay for it.) See some comments below.
Bill Nowlin
RIAA is contending that Napster is guilty of music piracy. Napster contends
that they are merely allowing users to do with songs like we have done with
VCRs since 1980.
The judge, however, did point out that the sole reason for Napster's
creation and existence was to enable copying of music owned by others and
not owned by Napster. There never was any such company specifically set up
to enable people to copy on VCRs.
At the heart of this issue is the term "sharing" versus "duplicating".
RIAA, as well as the band Metallica, feels that this illegal sharing has
cost the recording industry millions of dollars. Many folks are outraged,
saying that the Internet is a "free trading" medium anyway.
The Internet sells LOTS of things, so that argument doesn't really hold
water.
Think for a second. Every day I read the Boston Globe and the Boston
Herald. They have no problem with me doing that, since I pay them no money
to buy a paper. They get advertising revenue, something that Napster hasn't
done (yet). But each day, I read the Globe and Herald (and others) free of
charge. The Globe and Herald aren't complaining!
They are not complaining, of course - they are the ones who created their
own sites. They own the material they publish and if they want to make it
available for free access over the internet, that is their right. You're
comparing apples to oranges. Any record company which wanted to offer all
of its songs for free can do so - and then they, too, would not complain if
people listened. The RIAA, though, is defending record companies and
artists and music publishers and songwriters who do NOT want to have
material which they own to be passed around for free. If gas station A
wants to give away a free Pepsi with every fillup, that doesn't give people
the right to walk into gas station B and just help themselves.
Here is something that no one is considering:
I get NOTHING free on the Internet! Why? Because I pay Pacific Bell $50 a
month for my DSL! Without the DSL, I have no Internet access! So, how can
these RIAA folks sit there and tell me I'm acquiring music FOR FREE???
You're missing the point again, somehow. Pacific Bell is not the owner of
the material in question, nor do they share their telephone bill revenues
with musicians, record companies or others. What you pay them is
irrelevant, as is your gas bill or electric bill or the rent on your
apartment, etc. If you are not paying for the music, then you are getting
the music for free.
Okay, some of you are probably saying "Bob, why don't you just subscribe to
FreeInternet.com or the like?" No thanks. I enjoy life at 1.6MBps versus
44Kbps. Besides, these free Internet services are chock full of annoying
ads and windows you can't make go away without disconnecting.
Anyway, this is part of my solution:
If RIAA is so concerned with losing money, why not push for legislation to
force Napster and other related companies to have to pay to allow users to
trade songs online? Given the popularity of Napster, they would command top
advertising money easily and could give RIAA any kickback it sought in court
(and believe me, it would have to be done in court).
It is not a "kickback" - it would be a royalty. And that may actually prove
to be the end result here.
This way, Napster
could make more money themselves through ads, the artists who rightfully
deserve to be paid thanks to their talents would get something in the deal,
and we can continue to acquire the songs of theirs we love so dearly.
Again, sorry for the off topic, but I'm sure lots of you out there are
angered by these developments.
Off the soap box,
Bob George
http://www.bossports.com
http://patriots.rivals.com
______________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe, write to soxlist-unsubscribe@listbot.com
Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb