music file sharing

yea but most people only do legal things on phone lines and stuff like that. how many people have ever used a file sharing program to legally share their family photos? They were all setup to share music, porn, software, stuff like htat.

not necessarily family photos, but millions of people use file sharing everyday to download music legally from places like iTunes, Rhapsody, etc. those use file-sharing technology to provide music to its consumers...

Regardless of what P2P is used for, the venue cannot be held responsible for what illegal activities going on within it. Even though it's true that the majority of things that DO go on are very illegal, a loss by the P2P networks would be a use hit for the rest of the software industry that provides legitimate sharing/downloading services.

I think our resident lawyer, Joe Redskin, should step in and settle this

The reason Napster got shut down was everything went through a central server. Most of these companys, don't go with the same topology. Thus making them invinciable from those laws. Right now the RIAA is suing Sherman Networks (Kazaa) but doesn't look like they'll do anything. I love how the RIAA loses a class action suit where people said the quality of CDs has been drasticly reduced, yet they want 17 dollars for one. Fuck the RIAA. I've bought, and found, more artists over Napster (and to a lesser extent) Kazaa/Limewire than I would have ever dreamed without it. It's great for people like me who don't necessarily like the main-stream hiphop but realize the strength of some of the lyrics, especially by underground guys.

I'm the same way. I can't remember the last time I downloaded an RIAA sponsored song. I'm all about the unknowns.

I am now set up on QNEXT. Name is TheMalcolmConnection. I'm just sharing some stuff I have at work right now, I'll put up my TRUE server when I have high speed at home.

If you are not paying the artist you are stealing no matter how you justify it.
I'm an artist and my music is needed to sometimes feed me. I have had my music "shared" off of older unprotected sites and thus went hungry from lack of revinew from my own work.

How about if you go to work and when pay day comes around the Boss said "Hey, some people shared your paycheck sorry but it's ok with them".

"it's only a white lie"
"it's only taking what they don't need"
"I'm only a little pregnant"

The internet "can" be a great way for artist to cut out the middleman and make more money but that's not what you guys are talking about is it.

peace and pay for your music
mike [staving artist]

I only download music from the underground artists who ask explicitly to download their music and spread it around. I'm not a big "Top 40" fan. I'm a HUGE supporter of the little guy including buying CDs, going to concernts, T-shirts. I'm just not a proponent of sanctioning P2P networks only because of the ramifications on privacy that would come if the Supreme Court rules against them.

SBF, how is it any different than me letting someone borrow my CD's and they make copies?

All the music on my hard drive is music that I have purchased, this isn't a world wide file sharing program, you only share with people you choose to.