more copyright nonsense

Why is that whenever the people who own the rights to the music try to protect it the people who are trying to steal it go ballistic? Pretty obvious don't you think. It is summed up pretty well in the article.

Back in the day, my friend's Elton John collection encouraged me to buy my own. If she'd made me identical MP3s, I would've spent the money. However, I'd still shell out for Elton John concerts.

The "would've" is obviously a mistake; she meant she would not have spent the money and therefore would have deprived Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and the record company of their fair share. I find it comical that she feels paying to see him in concert gives her the right to steal his music.

Equating borrowing a record with giving away a digital copy is ridiculous. It has never been illegal to loan out a copyrighted article whether book, record, or whatever. However, it has always been illegal to copy it and give it away. I have no idea whether or not this particular law is good legislation but the idea of copyright enforcement is an excellent idea. The author seems to think that file sharing is just fine and a good thing for the artists. What she fails to realize is that the artists generally disagree and since they own the rights, they have every right to protect what is theirs.

Mr. Tennis, you miss the point entirely.

If you lend your copy to a friend then you no longer have the use of it until he returns it, at which time he can no longer use it.

If you make a copy and give it to him then you both have the use of it simultaneously.

Lending results in a single copy in use at any one time; copying results in 2 copies in use at the same time.

To follow your logic “as long as no money changes hands” then I can post a copy on the internet and millions can get it free while the artist gets paid for one. Do you think the artist thinks this is stealing? Millions listen to his art and he gets paid a few bucks. Wake up.

The bottom line is it doesn’t matter what you or Greg consider to be fair or logical. The artists and record companies are selling what they own and they can therefore set the rules. If they shoot themselves in the foot in the process then so be it.