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To: Ausdauer who wrote (10335)	4/13/2000 10:25:00 PM
From: SBHX	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

More fuel for mp3 fire. Until these issues are resolved MP3 is just going to grow and grow and grow. There is nothing currently that could possibly curtail it. Today's MP3 use grows in two ways: 1. I make mp3 files from CDs that I paid for and legally own. Regardless of what the record company says, it is my right to listen to these songs on CDs that I own in whatever format I want. 2. Someone makes mp3 files gives them to her friends who give it to their friends and so on. My real problem is that I think #2 is the most common scenario by far. If future audio distribution is via unprotected digital audio data, it will be easy to copy and send around as any other data file. #2 will then far outstrip #1. And I'm not talking a measly 10:1, I'd be surprised if after the 1st week the files are released for the $2 fee or so, the ratio of piracy vs legitimate purchase is less than 100:1. I could be wrong, but I really don't think so. Herein lies the problem with this whole thing --- it makes crooks out of all of us. Fairness is the key here. If my neighbour pays nothing for songs, and I pay $2. I'm not being honest and ethical --- I'd be immensely stupid. Heck, I complain when my property taxes are higher than my neighbours, why will I pay for something that is apparently free and uncontrolled? I respectfully disagree with the view that because only 2 good songs on the CD is worth anything, there is a legitimate right to just pirate the damn thing. The same argument has been applied to s/w : "I can't afford $50 for that game, it's only worth $20, I'll just steal it instead and pay nothing." Or how about: "I want a big stack of that $100 bills, but I can't afford it, I'll just print them on my inkjet and I'll have lots."? In case anyone didn't know, game CDs are now being released with copy protection again. I know because I have to make a copy of their games and let my kids use the copy so they don't scratch the original. I'm not happy about this, but the 'low prices' of games did not stop piracy, so I doubt if cheap legal MP3 files will either.

To: Ausdauer who wrote (10335)	4/13/2000 11:55:00 PM
From: Craig Freeman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Ausdauer, I agree with you and would like to take your thoughts a bit further. The whole Record Industry "thing" has got to go. A new album from a major star is accompanied by advertising, posters, radio airplay lobbying efforts, money-losing concert tours, and more. My uncle was a promo manager at Capital Records in 1964 (remember the Beatles?) and he gave me a lesson or two on how they spent their marketing dollars. IMHO, if record companies spent the same money on royalties and studio work but only 1/10th as much marketing money by using the Internet, they could sell albums for $4 each and still make more profit. Sorry Blockbuster ... your services are no longer required. Craig