Looks like the folks at the IFPI have decided we need a new wave of suing grandmas, parents, and other customers. Now, I am not condoning sharing your music files but there HAS to be another way.
All of this is based off the premise if something is free (but illegal) people would rather break the law than pay for the material. Sure, there will always be people that fit into this category but for the most part, paying customers WANT to pay. They want to support the artists, devs, etc. Notice that I said "paying". There is a HUGE population of people that may have illegally downloaded material on their computers but whether these people can be considered "paying" customers or "lost revenue" is in serious question. I have written a lot on the subject here (http://www.ihatedrm.com/cs2/blogs/i_hate_drm_blog/archive/2006/03/19/5.aspx) and here (http://www.ihatedrm.com/cs2/blogs/i_hate_drm_blog/archive/2006/03/19/6.aspx). If they cannot be considered "lost revenue" then why do they care so much? Because DRM is not about piracy (http://www.ihatedrm.com/cs2/blogs/i_hate_drm_blog/archive/2006/03/19/4.aspx). It’s about making people pay for the same thing over and over again as well as locking you into a specific technology/product/company, i.e. locking you out from other competition.
These lawsuits are designed to scare people into thinking piracy is a much larger problem than it is so we can perpetuate the notion that DRM is needed or DRM is good, etc. Although it isn’t right that these people are sharing files, I think there are still too many holes in the legal end to continually sue people that may or may not be engaged in these illegal activites.
When you look at this link, check out this too (http://www.ifpi.com/site-content/press/20060404e.html). I love when they site facts like this nifty little tidbit: "Just one-in-five online music buyers (22%) are also illegal file-sharers, proving that most file-sharers are not simply "trying before buying" as is sometimes claimed." The thing that you don't see or don't know is the question that they asked to come to this conclusion.
Q: Do you buy music online?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you illegally share your music?
A: Yes.
I just don't see it. I'm sure they ask some very roundabout questions and then link the two together based on a simple assumption that is flawed to begin with; that everyone who uses P2P networks illegally share files. A question I would ask is this:
Q: If you bought the music legally and since all music you buy online is so wrapped with DRM that it makes it virtually impossible to even use, then how are you sharing it? And why would you share it?
A: Something is stinky in tuna town and it doesn't add up. My guess; they massage the data to make it say exactly what they want it to say. Don't buy into this crap.
http://www.ifpi.com/site-content/press/20060404.html