Group offers alternative to P2P bill

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The problem exists, alright

You're wrong when you said the content companies and their minions in Congress want to "fix [a] problem that does not exist". It's not just about "the public might hear music that [content companies] don't control".

There are people obtaining copyrighted works without paying for them, against the wishes of the copyright holder. That's illegal.

The issue is what happens next. The first, best possibility is that companies adapt to the new circumstances by making use of the internet as a distribution mechanism. They don't charge excessively and they make large catalogues available quickly and easily.

Apple et al have shown how well that can work.

There'd be more competition, more sales, weaker p2p networks if the content companies were interested in selling over the internet. Instead, they created sales sites intended to fail and licensed their catalogues to real sellers at rates that prevent profits. Because sellers have been so successful, I think it possible the content executives will try to end their licensing agreements.

But, if it works, some very popular singles and out of print stuff will be traded on p2p, but the industry can keep and in fact grow their business whenever they choose.


Instead, the content companies, having failed to stop p2p by their own efforts, have run to the government for help. We have the unseemly picture of Congresspersons testing out ideas about how best to torment a substantial portion of the population.
Watching a national government get deputized by commercial interests so baldly is a national embarassment.


Anyway, the content industry has always objected to the new technologies that made their fortunes. Eventually, enough executives will get thrown out on their... ears that the group coming to the top will use the internet and produce record profits.
We, as citizens, just have to suffer in the interim.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 08/24/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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