Sue them all !! - Is the RIAA moving in the right direction?
Kevon Campbell
August 18, 2005
In 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced it would begin gathering evidence that will be used to sue individuals who use file-sharing software. Soon enough, the first wave of lawsuits was filed.
One is left to wonder though whether more lawsuits are the answer to the problem. Before going there the following question must be answered - is there a problem?
According to the RIAA, “today’s pirates operate not on the high seas but on the internet.”
The RIAA further states, “though it would appear that record companies are still making their money and that artists are still getting rich, these impressions are mere fallacies.”
In a previous article, I noted that increased research is supporting the view that file sharing impacts little, if any at all on record sales. That in itself detracts from one main RIAA argument that file sharing is directly responsible for the current slump in record sales. Further, file sharing may actually increase sales by exposing users to a wider range of music.
Making copies of music is nothing new. People have always been taping songs from the radio, and with dual cassette boom boxes, have always been dubbing from one tape to another. File sharing therefore did not begin with the Internet.
Lets look at things from the RIAA standpoint for a second. Lets say that file sharing is the direct cause of the decline in record sales. Is the suing of all and sundry the answer? Is the viewing of everyone with an Internet connection as a potential criminal the right way to go?
Lets say file sharers, or these pirates, are thrusting their hands down the pockets of hardworking music artistes. Does suing these pirates give the artiste any money? In fact, I would be greatly concerned as an artiste if no one saw it necessary to share my music.
Today, movies are another heavily downloaded item, however, revenue from movie ticket sales are not falling. This is possibly as a result of the fact that the downloaded movie, cannot compare with the experience of going to a theatre. In essence the music industry needs to re-innovate. It needs to offer more to the consumer.
People will always listen music. People have always and will always trade music. The trading of music does not decrease record sales, and may potentially increase record and concert ticket sales. Rather than attempting to alienate the consumer, the RIAA needs to take steps towards adapting, and possibly even profiting from the file sharing phenomenon. The software industry attempted to prevent copying, but eventually adapted. The RIAA needs to take note.
One is left to wonder though whether more lawsuits are the answer to the problem. Before going there the following question must be answered - is there a problem?
According to the RIAA, “today’s pirates operate not on the high seas but on the internet.”
The RIAA further states, “though it would appear that record companies are still making their money and that artists are still getting rich, these impressions are mere fallacies.”
In a previous article, I noted that increased research is supporting the view that file sharing impacts little, if any at all on record sales. That in itself detracts from one main RIAA argument that file sharing is directly responsible for the current slump in record sales. Further, file sharing may actually increase sales by exposing users to a wider range of music.
Making copies of music is nothing new. People have always been taping songs from the radio, and with dual cassette boom boxes, have always been dubbing from one tape to another. File sharing therefore did not begin with the Internet.
Lets look at things from the RIAA standpoint for a second. Lets say that file sharing is the direct cause of the decline in record sales. Is the suing of all and sundry the answer? Is the viewing of everyone with an Internet connection as a potential criminal the right way to go?
Lets say file sharers, or these pirates, are thrusting their hands down the pockets of hardworking music artistes. Does suing these pirates give the artiste any money? In fact, I would be greatly concerned as an artiste if no one saw it necessary to share my music.
Today, movies are another heavily downloaded item, however, revenue from movie ticket sales are not falling. This is possibly as a result of the fact that the downloaded movie, cannot compare with the experience of going to a theatre. In essence the music industry needs to re-innovate. It needs to offer more to the consumer.
People will always listen music. People have always and will always trade music. The trading of music does not decrease record sales, and may potentially increase record and concert ticket sales. Rather than attempting to alienate the consumer, the RIAA needs to take steps towards adapting, and possibly even profiting from the file sharing phenomenon. The software industry attempted to prevent copying, but eventually adapted. The RIAA needs to take note.
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