Stop illegally downloading music

[justginger]

No, Kenny, not based on this thread at all - I formed an opinion regarding this subject years ago, when I first moved. I had never heard of, or experienced, anyone downloading anything prior to moving down under. It is the polar opposite here, with no one NOT downloading.

 

[MyDiamondSparkles]

I say, sock it to him! The higher the fine the better IMHO. If he is downloading music he is more than likely uploading and sharing it as well--don't know, as I didn't pay attention to any specifics in this case. I can only imagine his fine was deemed reasonable by the judge and did indeed fit his crime and the money lost by the music industry by his illegal activity. Uploading/ downloading illegally is the same thing as walking into any store, putting stuff in your pockets or purse and walking out the door not paying for it. Why is it that some people would never do that in a brick and mortar store but feel free to do it under the cloak of their computer? Don't even tell me that the court system "ruined" this man. He took a chance by participating in illegal activity and got caught. He ruined himself.

I create and sell digital downloads, so this subject is near and dear to me. File sharing is theft, plain and simple, and it takes money out of my pocketbook just the same as if you reached your hand in there and stole it. If I knew exactly how much I was loosing each year I'd probably go insane. Now there's all of these file sharing websites and you can be "friends" with people and create your own file sharing groups. They are literally sharing GB and GB's of files. Then for the files they want but don't have, they go in on buys--like PayPal me $3 each and we'll do a group buy for all of these downloads and share them with each other. And you don't even have to upload them to a website, your "friends" have access to your downloads from each others computers. Real smart, given the amount of viruses out there.

Sorry for the rant...this stuff just literally drives me crazy.

 

[Imdanny]

Live Nation "leaked" (i.e. put on the internet) every single song from Madonna's MDNA album before the album's release! This idea that "downloading" a song is the same thing as walking into a store and stealing is ridiculous! The record companies are more like crack dealers than shopkeepers. Hey you! I got this Madonna song. Want a listen? Here have the whole album. It's free. Pretty soon they want the pretty picture on the album cover, the deluxe edition, and a concert ticket. Then they'll be hooked! They'll be Madge worshipers forever! Ahhahahaha!

Seriously, when someone shows me that record companies can prove a 1:1 loss (if not a profit) from a "downloaded" song vs. one they recorded, I'll change my mind.

 

[kefira]

I don't believe the "losing x amount of money" sob story because I think that buyers will continue to buy, but most pirates were going to be never buyers, anyway.

 

[Imdanny]

I think people hear music on the internet just like they used to hear music on the radio and that's why they buy albums. I'm assuming Live Nation/ Madonna know something about the record business she being the biggest selling female recording artist of all time and all.