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To: Ausdauer who wrote (6183)	6/28/1999 6:30:00 PM
From: cmchang	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

I suspect is that the music industry will eventually figure out that the days of overcharging customers are over and their margins will have to become reasonable. MP3/Flash/Rio/whatever, RW CD-ROMS will also change the landscape as both are priced well for the average consumer.

To: Ausdauer who wrote (6183)	6/29/1999 12:48:00 AM
From: Craig Freeman	Respond to of 60323

Ausdauer, the last time I looked, the penalty for illegal duplication of copyrighted material was $1 per copy ... plus three times the retail value of each copy .. plus an additional penalty of $50,000. Forget the jail sentence ... the kid's parents will have to pay the fine! A pirated CD downloaded millions of times would break most any family whose last name isn't Gates. Craig PS I really have to speak to SNDK about using my initials on their products (CF).

To: Ausdauer who wrote (6183)	6/29/1999 8:29:00 AM
From: Art Bechhoefer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Aus, while unauthorized copying looks unenforceable, in fact, there are many instances similar to MP3 where the unauthorized copier was apprehended and paid dearly. For example, take a look at the software and CD piracy that in the past was quite prevalent in China and Hong Kong. It is pretty much gone now. Furthermore, it is not necessary to go after a teenager for distributing unauthorized copies if you know that certain kinds of equipment and software are being used for that purpose, and the manufacturers of that equipment and software are taking no precautions to prevent such use. What I see happening in the near future is that if unauthorized free distribution persists, the injured music publishers will be eager to sign agreements with companies like SanDisk, which design their products to prevent this. Eventually, the music publishers will probably offer lower prices to the firms that offer copy protection than to other buyers. The rogues will have to deal not only with higher initial purchase price but with a continuing threat of lawsuits charging them with unauthorized publication and even REpublication (the copying done thereafter with the unauthorized copies). Just a few good lawsuits will be enough of a deterrent to steer people to the products that ensure copy protection.