file sharing. Options

[*kryogenix*]

file sharing. should people be allowed to "share" software, movies and music with others over the internet, or is this cheating the author/studio/artist etc. ?

I believe file sharing is wrong. People are hard at work producing these things. Why don't people just buy the licensce to the software/movie/music?

Why am I against file sharing? Because I'm going to be a computer programmer. I don't want to starve because some 12 year old downloaded my program off KaZaA. Think about how the artists must feel. I know they aren't starving, but still, they aren't receiving money that's rightfully theirs.

Software is to be treated like a book. You purchase the "book" and can read and access the material within the "book" any time you want. You can even share the "book" with a friend. However, because two people in two different places cannot be reading a book at the same time. When you lend the "book" to someone, you effectively lend them the licensce to view the book as they please. The same goes with software. Treat it as a book. You can share, but when you do so you are transferring the licensce to the person you are sharing with.

Sharing is fine, but only when one of the parties has a licensce to use the media that they are sharing.

[eboarder2020]

File sharing could go either way... There are some local bands who put their music on downaloadable programs just so they can get exposure... I know this because my neighbors band did that, and they milked the benefits of having people across country hear there song... Even if its one download here and there, their music got out and they loved the music sharing deal. Soon they were asked to play at shows in different states... I can understand why big artists like eminem, or Dr. Dre would want their music off. I know that they work hard for it, and they deserve to get awarded and paid. I just however believe its rediculous for the price of their CD... $15 would be a "deal" but many CD are more then that... Its only like what no more than $7.00 for a blank CD and just by putting some persons music on it makes that CD double in price. Even if only a few thousand people purchased the CD I would think the Artist gets a bag load of cash from it. When a person releases a CD they get tons of money even if the CD doesnt sale... For one they get huge advertisement, and that alone gets them paid like a mother. And when they go on MTV and the Leno show and what not they also get paid for that... If you think the artist are rich now, think of how much richer they would be if we all HAD to buy their CD's... The houses could probobly be twice and big, and their car collection would double or even tripple in size.

I love the music i listen to, and I download em because I feel that i could asve that $15 on a CD for something better. $15 could get me a volunteer tutor who could help me with my school work. It can get me a better lunch, it can help me pay for gas, taxes, and all that other good stuff

The artist may not starve right now, and they may never... But if i bought every CD because of a song I liked, I'd be the one starving.