Posted in Uncategorized on July 26th, 2010 by admin
Recent lawsuits against file-sharing consumers have attracted high profile headlines around the world, but many industry insiders believe that the Recording Industry Association of America is deliberately using scare mongering to frighten consumers away from file sharing networks—and back into the CD stores.
Whilst the RIAA claims that their lawsuits are simply to protect the industry from those wanting to download music for free, many think that the real reason behind the multi million-dollar campaign of intimidation is more about propping up the dying CD industry than protecting artists’ interests. CD sales have fallen considerably in recent years as consumers choose to buy individual tracks from online stores rather than pay for traditional CD albums.
Critics believe that the RIAA needs to wake up and accept that the industry is changing, with online music now the way forward. Instead of penalizing a hapless few, the RIAA needs to consider new business models such as a Voluntary Collective License as suggested by the Electronic Freedom Foundation. But until then, filesharing networks will continue to be unfairly penalized and consumers will keep paying the price for downloading music instead of buying an old fashioned CD.