The beginning of the end of illegal file sharing?

[leggo rocker]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7110024.stm

[staas]

i'm against stopping piracy to be honest, and i don't even usually download things unless i have the LP already

[leggo rocker]

Why would you be against stopping it?

[Dub out of Poland]

Leggo,

I'm really against downloading files from the net for several reasons: one is that artist are being robbed, that's for sure. And the second is that there’s nothing better than original album, with high sound quality,cover art, inlay etc.

BUT, how about the situation, when specific albums are unavailable for different reasons, so that you simply can't buy them? What's then???

But I can agree with the initiative mentioned above as current penalties are really "totally disproportionate"...

[leggo rocker]

It's a tough one that. If a record is unavailable and we really want it, I guess finding a download is the only way.

But then, if the copyright owner of that work then decides to re-issue it on CD or vinyl - he might decide not to as it is already 'in the wild' as a free download.

I have actually had my own written work stolen, translated into Russian and posted on a website along with my own original photography. I got nothing for that, they didn't even put my name next to the work. I felt violated - and robbed! So I am touchy about this subject. Especially if I feel that someone who REALLY needs the money is being robbed.

I don't know how this will all be resolved. Anyone who can think of a working business model for the future distribution of music should contact the record companies now, because tit's obvious they have no idea how to face this uncertain future.

[Jah Glu]

People. Do you think that if you go out and buy an old Gregory Isaacs lp, gregory would get some of the money? You can't seriously think this!

[ton1]

Until nothing is done for bringing music and more generally culture to every people, until music industry and distributors lower their incomes, i'll be strongly in favor or "illegal" downloading.

I'll take two examples :
The FNAC (headed by Denis Olivennes, cited in the aforementioned article) is selling [Mo'Kalamity's CD](http://mokalamity.free.fr/disco.htm) at 18€ whereas it's available for 15€, shipping cost included on her website (by the way, it's a good first album ). Means that they must take maybe 8€ or even 10€ out of those 18€, and that's certainly not to give a better pay to the employees, trust me on that.
They sell Makasound CDs for 20€ to 25€ whereas they're available at 10€ (shipping cost not included) on their website. If the didn't sell to such high prices, small labels like B&F, Pressure Sounds, Makasound etc... would sell much more (and wouldn't go until bankrupt).

I'm 24 and I stopped buying at FNAC and Virgin 7 years ago for those reasons (with an exception for some concerts, they have nearly a monopoly on that but that's the only thing I buy from them).

I'll just say, if you have the money, stop buying to big businesses, support your local shops and buy directly to producers or musicians.

[Jah Titus]

It´s a way fi share an spread KULTURE. Also downloading yu cyan know someting dat maybe buy later.

Nuh let babylon cloud your mind


BLESS

[Rootsman]

I am against illegal downloading of material that is readily available to purchase in shops or online. Surely it is the people who undertake these piracy activities that should be penalised and thrown off-line, fined etc. I would much rather own the genuine shop purchased item of something that is available to buy.

But what I do agree with and will not condone is file sharing of music that not available to purchase due to rarity or just never being reissued.

In this circumstance, the music has become available because someone has been prepared to upload music from there own personal collection and make it available to those not fortunate enough to either be able to find or afford an original.

I cannot see how this is an illegal practice as if it is not available to purchase in the first place because it has never been ressued since its original release then there is no one, ie producer / artist etc, losing royalties.

I also cannot see how this is any different from people who are prepaired to pay extortianate sums of money to people who are selling original vinyl. None of the profit from that sale goes to anyone other than the seller. And, yes I know the old argument about the seller probably bought it in the first place, but for what is is selling it (I doubt that).

At the end of the day, we all have a financial limit that we can afford to go and we have to live within that limit. I would love to own all this original material, but financially it is and always will be beyond my wildest dreams.

I purchase legitimately what has been released and is available upto what can afford in my budget. And with what has never been reissed, well I am fortunate enough to have friends who furnish all those requirements.

But it is a minefield and another thought provoking thread. Well done Leggo, you are gettinhg good at this

Dave

[leggo rocker]

Of course Jak Gnu!

I realise that by buying an original but second hand record the artists also get nothing. Just as if someone who originally bought a painting I did and sold back in 1983 can now sell it without passing a cent of royalties onto me.

So what am I supposed to do? Stop buying records?

I do buy represses, and *shock horror* even CD re-issues, but even then I doubt the right people are seeing the money.

Yes, this file-sharing / copyright thing is a minefield.

And I for one don't know what the future is - but I still feel that to take a record from a file sharing place without making any payment to anyone is simply not right. Although I do accept the argument that if it positively isn't available elsewhere and never is likely to be, then why not download it, it's hard to see that hurting anyone.

Although wouldn't it be cool if the big record company alliances set up some scheme where out of print stuff could be downloaded from a file sharing P2P network for some very small payment which went to the artist - if available, or, where not available, to a relevant charity.