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So have you heard the latest out of the RIAA ? In case you don't know this is the group bringing all those lawsuits against people who share music online. Its an acronym for Recording Industry Association of America. But now they are going after persons who legally purchase music and download that music to their personal computers! Thats right, you heard me! I am sorry, but this is ludicris! Once I LEGALLY purchase something, it is mine to do with what I want! Don't get me wrong. I support efforts to protect the companies and the artists. Online sharing is WRONG! It should be enforced and with an iron hand! But it should stop there! Think about it. . . . . . Once you buy something, it is yours, and you should be able to do with it what you want. As long as your not duplicating it and giving it away, what is the problem? To this day, I still buy CD's and many of those end up on my personal MP-3 player. According to the RIAA, I am breaking the law! In my very humble opinion, this is why the recording industry is struggling. They have a business model that is failing! When the media we had in record stores were Albums, that by the way, took extreme care to keep sounding good, along came the cassette tape. Most audiophiles made copies of their albums and a few of us actually listened to the tapes to protect and preserve the original. No one sent me letters threatening me then. The best I remember, cassette companies actually charged a little extra and paid "hush" money to the record industry. When the personal computer hit, and the net opened up the easy sharing of files, then the business model had to change again. And I agree that it should change! In a Los Angeles Times poll, 69 percent of teenagers surveyed said they thought it was legal to copy a CD they own and give it to a friend. The RIAA cites a study that found that more than half of current college students download music and movies illegally. If we are going to continue to enjoy great entertainment, people have to get paid and producers have to make money! But they shouldn't necessarily be greedy!!!!!!!! And that is exactly what they are being when someone leagally purchases music or a movie and digitally puts it on their computer for their personal use! And every consumer out there recognizes them for being just that. GREEDY. RIAA, you are making more enemies than you are helping your cause when you go after people like you are now going after. You had my support when you went after persons downloading and sharing on the peer networks. Those need to be stopped. Me taking a movie or CD that I have purchased, dropping it on my computer or iPod for my pleasure shouldn't be a crime, and just because you convinced the government to make it one, doesn't mean you should pursue persons who do. We are not your enemy. Persons using peer networks are!
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