Music downloading wrong?

[blkmage]

I do not think that filesharing is wrong. I do agree that artists should get compensated. But, I believe that the recording industry is not making enough effort to make filesharing pay for the artists.

First of all, it's been found that the artists who are hurt most by "illegal downloading" are the most popular. The independent and more obscure artists actually GAIN from filesharing. So clearly, banning filesharing does not help all artists.

Now then, the recording industry is fighting this war calling for the bannination of filesharing. That's not been going so hot. The thing most people don't recognize is that this same fight that they're fighting parallels the beginnings of cable TV, radio, and other media that has become common.

Currently, artists are not getting compensated for the trading that goes on. But, according to the EFF, there are ways that we can make it work. For instance, here in Canada, there's a levy on blank media, such as tape or CD. Because of this levy, the courts here have ruled that filesharing constitutes private copying according to our Copyright Act and that it is covered by the blank media levy anyway.

[Silent Hunter]

If your argument is that you download music to avoid having cds lying around or b/c you only wanted "that one song that did well", then your argument stinks. Aside from the fact that illegal downloads are ... illegal. and that we as
Christians are supposed to obey the law, your logic is nothing if not poor.
If all you want is that one song ... PURCHASE IT FROM iTUNES. If you don't want to have a cd lying around purchase it over the internet.

[CephasWhite]

Silent Hunter, either back off, give us a right to our opinion, and let us state what we THINK or have a future of having this thread locked.

Think about it, if we purchased songs from iTunes, we would be no less then buying a CD for $20-$50 for all the songs we bought for just .99 cents...

20 songs - $20
50 songs - $50
100 songs - $100

And I don't think bringing the point that we're Christians doesn't involve this BUT it is involved when we give away music that was downloaded for MONEY, that is piracy, THAT is against the law.

[Steeltemplar]

Silent Hunter, either back off, give us a right to our opinion, and let us state what we THINK or have a future of having this thread locked.

Think about it, if we purchased songs from iTunes, we would be no less then buying a CD for $20-$50 for all the songs we bought for just .99 cents...

20 songs - $20
50 songs - $50
100 songs - $100

And I don't think bringing the point that we're Christians doesn't involve this BUT it is involved when we give away music that was downloaded for MONEY, that is piracy, THAT is against the law.

Saving money is not a reasonable justification for what is, IMO, stealing. And while no physical product is being stolen here, one is stealing the business from the people who are selling the music.

blkmage made an interesting point about P2P sharing helping out lesser known artists. If an artist wants his music to be shared, he can let that be known and that's fine. I know there are a few artists who are fine with it (The Offspring is one that I have heard is in favor of their music being traded, though I would check to be sure).

[Silent Hunter]

Silent Hunter, either back off, give us a right to our opinion, and let us state what we THINK or have a future of having this thread locked.

Think about it, if we purchased songs from iTunes, we would be no less then buying a CD for $20-$50 for all the songs we bought for just .99 cents...

20 songs - $20
50 songs - $50
100 songs - $100

And I don't think bringing the point that we're Christians doesn't involve this BUT it is involved when we give away music that was downloaded for MONEY, that is piracy, THAT is against the law.

I apologize for being as rough as I was in how I said it, but I still hold to that opinion.