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1. Comment - RIAA Sues LimeWire Over Piracy

   (Aug 9, 2006 - 6:30 AM)

   I think part of this about perception - it is wrong to steal but it's not black and white there are so many grey areas in between. The legal definition of the word steal is - "to take with the intention of permanently depriving" so to prove stealing in a court of law you have to prove not only the theft but the intent. Now with copied music you could argue there is not even permanent depriving of the artist but only the music business of revenue. Also, you need show that they lost revenue as a result ie if I couldn't copy it would I have bought it? In most cases the answer is no but in some cases the answer is yes in which case there is intent. I think most people confronted by an actual artist who said "hey mate, you stole my song and you owe me some money" would put their hands up and say " fair cop - how much do I owe you" but when the RIAA says it people say "sod off - you must have me confused with someone that gives a toss" We just don't like being milked like worker ants by anonymous business leeches.

2. Comment - RIAA Sues LimeWire Over Piracy

   (Aug 7, 2006 - 7:18 AM)

   I think the main problem is that business and laws can't keep up with changing technology. Widespread global Internet access means that people are not necessarily bound by the laws of a particular country (ie USA) and therefore while it may be illegal in one place, it may not be illegal in another. The fact that Limewire can be used legally (for any purpose) in any country means there is a justified reason for it's existence. To handcuff a software distributor so that they must vet potential clientele on their geographical location and their proposed use of their software is as rediculous as US internet companies that won't offer a service outside the US. What the RIAA is trying to do is kill the messenger and not addressing the real issue which is how you protect intellectual property in a world with high speed Internet. You can argue that RIAA is legally right. However, sueing Limewire is not the answer because P2P it's not really the problem. The issue is how to regulate and control the flow of information in an environment that was specifically designed to facilitate the free flow of information? Music is just another form of digital information. It's a unfortunate fact that business caters to the lowest common denominator in human nature. The driving economic force for globalisation of the Internet was the distribution and easy access to pornography. We haven't even come close to stopping that so what makes RIAA think they will stop the free distribution of music? They need to find a business model that accepts the Internet and uses it for profit just as Limewire does.

3. Comment - RIAA Sues LimeWire Over Piracy

   (Aug 6, 2006 - 9:19 AM)

   I don't usually post on these things but I feel pretty strong about this whole issue because I'm an avid music collector - in mp3 format.
   
   There's a couple of points that I see in this
   
   Downloading mp3's using Limewire is illegal and an infringement of copywrite - full stop. Those of us that do it can justify it any way we want but that won't change.
   
   Personally, I use Limewire because I can't access the music I want any other way. I live in Asia and I've tried to join legal sites and pay for the music I download and guess what - I get a "sorry this service is not available outside the US" so my question is why the hell shouldn't I use Limewire or equivalent to access the songs I want? The RIAA isn't serving me so I found someone who would. Build a business model on that RIAA - oh someone got there before you - Adam Smith - Supply and Demand. Oh no - surely that's the basis of Capitalism? Surely not the business model USA is trying to ram down the throats of everybody in the world? I think it is.
   
   As for Limewire, as far as I can make out, their business model is built on providing a better piece of software so that people can use it it safely for whatever purpose they choose - legal or otherwise. The fact that people use it for illegal purposes is irrelevant. Perhaps we should sue Microsoft for selling software which is used by the Mafia to do their accounts?
   
   It's time for the RIAA to get in line and revise their business model to serve the public - not rape them and the artists they purport to serve.