My opinions toward file sharing and downloading copyrighted music have evolved into ambivalence. When I first learned about Napster in college I went into a frenzy grabbing everything from U2 to Wall of Voodoo. Then the controversy brewed over the ethics of file sharing. I disagreed with the Illegal part and got rid of all the music.
What I noticed is that none of the arguments I could come up with for file sharing held water. Sure the music industry is reaming us on CD prices, but so is the guy selling jujubes at the movie theater- I’m not about to bash the display case and start throwing boxes around thinking I’m Robin Hood. I just bring my own.
Now, I no longer hang out at the street corner screaming at the downloading masses. I figure its natural economics- companies will eventually lower prices and find some other way to gauge us.
Plus, if a buddy of mine wants to give me some songs, or wants a couple of mine I’m not going to turn him in to the FBI. Copyright laws include provisions for “fair use” intending normal casual interaction (albeit my interpretation may be a bit off). It gets the music circulating. If I’m offered a song I’ll take it, but I’m not going to spend my days fishing for virus-soaked Backstreet Boys tracks using Kazaa. I guess I’ve just evolved a live-and-let live-attitude. To me it’s lame to have a gazillion songs you sucked off the net. I also think its lame that the industry has yet to embrace the idea of compromise.
Which brings me to this: Today is Grey Tuesday.
I think its a healthy and logical development. DJ Danger Mouse just put out a phat mix of the albums and perhaps future revsions of copyright law will allow samplers to claim the new works as their own. EMI wants some cash if you’re gonna benifit from Beatles songs. Jay-Z had a great idea with his Black Album synching with the White Album, and if this marks a trend it could possibly have a signifigant effect on the futures of both file sharing and sampling.
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COMMENTS / 6 COMMENTS
Jason added these pithy words on Feb 24 04 at 12:02 pmJust so you know, it’s illegal to bring your own Ju Ju B’s into the theatre. Since the theatre gouges you on price, you are breaking the law and getting ju ju b’s into the theatre in an illegal manner.
You hypocrite you.
js
Ed added these pithy words on Feb 24 04 at 12:05 pmActually, the theater I go to allows food. MMwahaHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAAA.
thankyoucomeagain.
EB added these pithy words on Feb 24 04 at 1:23 pmAll copyright infringement must be severly punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I mean c’mon, if the Beatles had never made the white and black albums, and if no one had produced, marketed and distributed them then DJ Danger would have never had the chance to make the grey album.
The copyright owners have a right to collect on DJ Danger.
Ed added these pithy words on Feb 24 04 at 1:34 pmYou are correct Senor. The owners have every right to collect from him under current copyright law.
In the interest in sampling and its contribution to the evolution of modern music, I believe that a change in the general attitude towards sampling is needed. The owner of copyright owns that expression of the copyrighted material. If it were determined that a sampled material is a new expression, perhaps this new more lenient view would encourage more sampling to go on.
Also Jay-Z did the black album.
And to Captain Shugars, I believe you are confusing rules and laws. Breaking a theater rule would not constitute an illegal action.
EB added these pithy words on Feb 24 04 at 1:57 pmThank you for the correction on Jay-Z. I am not as musically clued-up as you are.
Jason added these pithy words on Feb 24 04 at 2:05 pmYou guys are funny. Good thing I don’t really care what you think.
js
