Illegal Exchange of Music Files Over the Internet - Essay Example

Post: Are Illegal downloads a form a stealing? Yes, they are. Artists work hard to write and record their music in order to sell that music and make money to support their families. It is not right that people illegally download music. In doing so, they take away income from the artists and persons who work to produce and release these songs. Truthfully, the cost of most songs to be downloaded is only about a dollar or so. This is not an unreasonable fee on the behalf of the supplier. It’s interesting that many people love shopping at dollar stores, but they arent willing to pay a dollar to purchase a song they like. That doesn’t make much sense. I really dont even think it has much to do at all about the cost of downloads. It seems to me that the rampant practice of illegal downloads of music is more directly related to the state of laziness and entitlement the world has come to today. I believe a lot of people probably think--Why not download a song for free than actually go to the store and buy the CD or pull out a credit card and charge the download fee to get it online. Another similar practice that would fall into this same category is the people who illegally record movies at the theater and then sell copies of it. One more example is people who pick up food at the grocery store and eat it while they shop and never actually pay for the food. Anyway you look at it, these people are stealing, and it is wrong and illegal. I think the penalties should be stronger for these crimes because it’s not right that they are stealing from these artists and their families and the people who work hard to make the music. This response draws upon one of the recent ethical issues that are related to the impact modern technologies have on our behavior and conduct; namely the practice of illegal music downloads from the Internet. Although digital technology has revolutionized the way young people listen to music, it has also affected the music industry negatively. Today, one can find any kind of music or song he or she wants via a simple search over the Internet. Sometimes, music files are uploaded over the Internet even before the official release of a singers album when the new songs are leaked from the production company to the market. From the point of view of many music listeners, especially young ones, the wide availability of all kinds of music free on the Internet is a real advantage for music lovers. However, music companies have a completely different view as they believe that listening and downloading music from the Internet has the potential of destroying the whole music industry, as companies lose millions of money from this music piracy (Schumacher). Therefore, a debate has started to arise regarding the ethicality of downloading music from the Internet, and the most efficient approach to combat this illegal conduct. The advocates of free music sharing through the internet argue that internet navigators should be let free to exchange music files online in order to help in spreading the various popular music forms among individuals from various countries. Prior to the digital technology, it was not easy for an individual of a given country to get a chance to listen and enjoy to music that belongs to different cultures. However, with the internet, individuals can listen and download all forms of music instantly (Seggern). This easiness helps promote the music industry, not destroy it. In that sense, the internet could be an important medium for the easy distribution of music around the world (Metzger). Although this logic may be in the benefit of music fans, it, surely, will harm music companies, and probably singers. Thats because, free music sharing deprives the music companies, which spend huge amounts of money for the production of new songs and video clips from profiting and even from getting the money they spent. The result would be an inevitable loss for these companies. In addition, listening to someone elses music without paying him or her for this listening or downloading of music is clear violation of the right of property. As a result, music piracy should be prohibited and those internet service providers which allow it should be taken to courts by music companies. As such, music companies would be protecting their property rights and defending their right for survival in the market. Consequently, music file sharing on the Internet severely hurts music corporations and singers. While music producers would like their musical works to be listened by as many people as possible, yet they want to protect their property rights and business. In fact, music piracy over the Internet causes music companies great losses. A growing number of people find it easier and cheaper to connect to the Internet and download any music they want instead of buying it. Accordingly, the volume of music purchase has dropped dramatically in recent years. According to the figures for 2002, which are released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the year 2001 witnessed a sharp decrease in global music sales, "with a 7 percent drop in global music sales and a 10 percent fall in units sold in the United States" (Borland). Thus, music file sharing could harm the whole music industry by causing a decrease in sales and losses for the industry. The decrease in the profit of music companies would not make them able to continue successfully in the market. As a result, in order to protect the music industry, certain measures should be taken in order to minimize the instances of music file sharing and download from the Internet. As such, it is inherently unethical to download music illegally from the Interne because if copyrighted music material is left unprotected, the whole music industry could be collapsed in the near future. With the continuous decrease in the profit of music companies, they will not be able to continue in the market, and more and more music companies will go out of the competition. This will lead to a sharp decrease in available copyrighted original music in the near future. Actually, this will not only hurt music companies, but it will hurt all music lovers in the world. The shrinking of the profits of music companies will discourage music composers and singers from making new releases and music productions. As such, free and illegal music file over the Internet is a calamity for both music companies and music lovers. Accordingly, the best way to protect the music industry in the world is to stop, or at least limit, the act of downloading music over the Internet. Music companies and ISPs should explore new ways to prevent the illegal use of music files over the Internet. Therefore, it is the responsibility of music companies, Internet Providers, and music listeners to find an efficient approach to prevent the illegal download of music files and video clips from the Internet. ISPs are the ones that should be fined and taken to court if they insist on making music file sharing available on their Internet addresses. Most research about illegal music download on the Internet has found that the greatest volume of infringement upon the right of music owners is made through the large file sharing software, such as Morpheus, which are hosted at some ISP locations. So, those locations should be traced adequately and music files sharing among individuals should be prohibited. If ISPs do not abide by these regulations, they should be taken to court by original music owners. Actually, some companies and authorities have started to file cases against ISPs, which allow music exchange among members. For example, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which is one of the highest authorities in the music industry, has started to "take action against internet companies that carry vast amounts of illegally shared files over their networks" (Fildes). Although IFPI tried hardly "not to pursue such a strategy and is keen to work in partnership with internet providers," yet, the insistence of some ISPs not to remove large file sharing software from their sites has obliged music corporations and the IFPI to pursue their cases against ISPs to courts. Suing ISPs is one of the most efficient approaches to stop the illegal use of copyrighted music files over the Internet. ISPs are the only agency that can identify and trace companies and individual who illegally download or upload music files over their sites. If those ISPs disconnect users who insist on downloading and uploading music files on the Internet, cases of infringement of copyrighted music will be minimized. In this context, it should be noted that tracing the uses who exchange music files is not a difficult or impossible missions for ISPs; rather, they can easily identify those users through registering their IP addresses. Then, ISPs could send a number of warnings to those users who refuse to stop downloading and uploading music files over the Internet. If those users continue their illegal activities, they could be disconnected by their ISPs. This is an efficient approach because it is unpractical and unfeasible for music companies to trace every individual user who illegally download music. Rather, it should be the mission of ISPs, as music companies could deal directly with tem instead of dealing with individual Internet users. Thats why the IFPI "wants ISPs to disconnect users who refuse to stop exchanging music files illegally" (Fildes). Thus, it would be more efficient if ISPs are required to disconnect users who illegally exchange music file sharing on the Internet. In conclusion, illegal exchange of music files over the Internet is one of the new technological acts that strongly hurt the music industry. Those who illegally download and listen to music over the Internet without the consent of original music owners will be the first ones to be negatively affected on the long run. The expansion in illegal downloading of music over the Internet will lead to a sharp deterioration of music companies, which would not be able to produce new original songs in the future. Thus, music lovers will be the ones who will suffer due to the inexistence of new original musical works on the long run. Consequently, charging ISPs and music file sharing program owners is the best approach to fight the infringement of the copy rights of music producers over the Internet. Works Cited Borland, John. "Music Industry: Piracy is Choking Sales." CNET News. 09 Apr. 2003. 03 Dec. 2011. Fildes, Nic. "Music Industry threatens ISPs over Piracy." The Independent. 18 Jan. 2007. 03 Dec. 2011. Metzge, Diete. "Songwriters and Music Publishers File Copyright Infringement Suit Against Universal Records Website." 03 Dec. 2011. Schumacher, Michael. “How has the Availability of Music on the Internet Changed the Way Consumers Buy Music?” 01 Nov. 2006. 03 Dec. 2011. Seggern, John Von. "Music File-Sharing: Impacts on the Music Industry." University of California. 03 Jul. 2002. 03 Dec. 2011. Read More