| Everybody's doing it: downloading music and | | | | give a definitive decision on the |
| sharing files. People who share music files | | | | interpretation copyright law itself.9. The |
| on the Internet argue that downloading is | | | | legal tactics of the U.S. recording industry, |
| legal; today they can be sued by the record | | | | which have been suing individuals for sharing |
| industry. Can one be sued without a great | | | | music on-line. The entire music industry has |
| intrusion into personal lives of an | | | | changed dramatically. Since file sharing |
| individual?1. Enjoy music downloads from safe | | | | began, there has been an increase in the |
| and legal sources. Get the facts and not the | | | | popularity of DVDs and video games that have |
| scare tactics, about online music services.2. | | | | put recording sales revenue in a slump.10. |
| The prosecution has to able to prove, with | | | | The Recording Industry Association of America |
| adequate evidence, that the IP address used | | | | (RIAA) desires the industry be compensated |
| for music downloads can be | | | | for losses due to copying, |
| | | | |
| linked to the person accused of illegal | | | | but what decision would make it a flat-out |
| content sharing. There is a growing concern | | | | victory. Can the recording industry prove |
| for "privacy". Legal experts worry about the | | | | that its bottom line was really |
| "intrusiveness" of Internet monitoring in | | | | |
| order to prove a court case.3. These IP | | | | affected by file-sharing. In the U.S. the |
| address--numbers--given to user by the ISPs | | | | RIAA can sue for statutory damages of $750 |
| are dynamic and change rapidly. The starting | | | | per song on a file-sharer's hard |
| point is to establish | | | | |
| | | | drive. But look dramatic price cuts by "big |
| that there is enough bona fide evidence to | | | | box" retailers. Once selling music files for |
| prosecute.4. It is difficult to a pin an IP | | | | charging 99 cents a song was the |
| address on any one person. The IP numbers | | | | |
| that some ISPs assign to their users can | | | | norm, now look at Yahoo who now offers $60 a |
| change | | | | year for all you can eat program. How can |
| | | | the RIAA or CRIA claim such high |
| from one "session" to the next. The music | | | | |
| industry must be able to link file-sharers to | | | | damages?Downloading music has been around |
| specific IP addresses at the times those | | | | only a few years and is still evolving. A |
| addresses were used for file sharing.5. Since | | | | good road map is needed for what we have to |
| their are personal freedoms involved, the | | | | do in the future in the area of copyright on |
| courts want to make sure that the individual | | | | the Internet. It doesn't mean copyright law |
| is revealed to the public.6. These copyright | | | | does not protect "content". For sure, |
| allegation lawsuits are a minefield, because | | | | whatever rulings are arrived at, will have |
| they involve the personal information of the | | | | long-term effects for us all.Vincente |
| defendant.7. In Canada, under its privacy | | | | Applegate |
| laws, people are protected through court | | | | |
| confidentiality orders. In the United | | | | Dedicated to offering news, articles, and |
| States, the | | | | instruction on online music downloads. You |
| | | | have a definite choice of music |
| Recording Industry Association of America | | | | |
| (RIAA) must get a order to reveal the | | | | sources online. Visit for more information. |
| downloader's identity.8. It is difficult to | | | | |