An individual in the US was fined $US220,000 last week for sharing her music through a P2P network – KAZAA.  I believe it’s the first major case to be judged against someone for such an action.  She wasn’t the only one “caught” but she was the only one that decided to take it to court.

That’s in the U.S.A. but what’s the story down-under?

Currently there are no plans by the Australian Music Industry Piracy Investigations (MIPI)  to sue individuals but they are threatening to be forced to go to those extremes if our ISPs (internet service providers) don’t do something to police us users.

The ISPs have already stated that they should not be responsible for their users actions.  It’s going to be an ongoing argument until some law will be introduced and then it will be clear who will be responsible … Us or the ISPs?

The question has to be asked though … is music file sharing illegal or not?  And does it really hurt the music industry?

There is the argument that if you are listening to music for personal enjoyment then it’s not an issue.  There is the other argument that if those that are “sharing” these music files are selling them to make a profit then they are open to legal scrutiny.

Some say that those that acquire their music through these means would never have purchased it in the first place.

Others then claim that the record companies need to be reimbursed for their risk-taking on bands, the investment to promote them and release their songs.  Without record companies and their support to bands will the music industry spiral to its demise?

Some of us can reminisce back to the days when we used to tape songs off the radio to listen to our favorite songs over and over again.  Interesting to note that the record industry wasn’t as interested back in those days to catch prepubescent kids taping songs.

And what of the argument that if you buy your own copy of the CD you could tape it for your own listening pleasure?  Why isn’t the record industry as interested to police the “borrowing” of these tapes?

I guess it all comes down to the available technology and its rampant use.

It also comes with the territory, as the internet can be monitored with all sorts of trackers by certain “agents”- which by the way are dubious in terms of their legality, especially if you are unaware that they have been infiltrated onto your personal computer or laptop.

I wonder if we can counter claim on the invasion of our privacy??

It’s the start of an ongoing saga that many of us will be following intently.

For more on this story you can read up on it at SMH 

prof@skylproductions.com