Peer-to-Peer Software: Finding Creative Solutions to an Epidemic - Term Paper Example

P2P software: Finding Creative Solutions to an Epidemic The illegal online streaming of copyrighted content through the Internet has become extremelypopular over the last few years. Peer-to-peer, or P2P, is the popular term for this online streaming of media content. Songs, movies, and television shows are easily attainable using P2P software and this is the reason why this software is so popular. Because of P2P software, the dynamics of the music industry specifically in the United States has changed dramatically and not for the better. Because there is no charge to use P2P software, many people download songs and music videos free of charge. Ultimately this hurts the musical artist because the artist does not receive the profit they deserve from this exchange. This downloading is illegal and should be banned. However, no solid action has been taken thus far. Moral dilemmas in addition to monetary issues develop over these infractions of copyright laws. If law enforcement as well as the general public does not do something, the artists will continue to not profit by the P2P software. Something concrete must be done to protect these artists and stop people from downloading music illegally. It is apparent that album sales have been reduced drastically because of P2P software. This action only hurts the artists and destroys their ability to earn their livelihood. It is time to stop this menace. Strict actions must be taken to ensure that no illegal copies of any music album are made. It seems like nothing has been done to eliminate P2P websites and software in the past, but necessary steps must be taken now in order to protect the artists. Examples of peer-to-peer software include, but are not limited to: music-oasis, bearshare, frostwire, and ez-tracks. The idea behind the software is that users contribute their own songs to other users while downloading new music in the process. It is based on the concept of sharing: you give me your Elton John song and I will give you my Cher song. In these circumstances, there is no exchange of money involved. The artist does not benefit from this software in any way. Consumers have always shared music- when cd’s were popular, it was common to borrow a cd from a friend and put the songs on the computer. The concept of mass communal sharing via the Internet is clever, and it must be nice to not have to pay for music. However, in the end the consumer is only hurting himself. For instance, an artist distributes a single. The song becomes popular. The radio plays it all the time, people hum it absentmindedly while they are at work. The song is a hit. Consumers pay for a thousand copies of the song, but a million copies of it are exchanged over the Internet via P2P software. How does this exchange benefit the artist? The artist has produced a hit, yet has not received very much money at all for it. If the artist has not been compensated for the music he/she has produced, the record label has no choice but to decline working with them in the future. Ultimately, that one song is all the consumer will receive from that artist because they were greedy and did not want to pay for it. If his fans do not support an artist financially, the artist will not be able to continue producing music. It is that simple. The relationship is mutually beneficial if the fans pay for the music they enjoy, but harmful if the fans decide to use illegal P2P software to avoid paying. In the movie “The Social Network,” there was a cameo of the Napster founder. Napster was a P2P software site that was the first of its kind. Users could download songs of any type completely free. Napster was sued by the recording companies and forced to shut down. This seemed to be a symbolic win for the music industry, but more and more P2P software companies continued to emerge. P2P software is like a virus, out of control. It is difficult to imagine how to stop it. Millions and millions of people use this software to obtain music illegally. It is a common practice and has lost the stigma that was once associated with it. Shutting down P2P software is an impossible task. There are, however, clever solutions that give consumers incentive to stop using their P2P software. There are more legitimate websites that mutually benefit both artist and consumer. One such website is Rhapsody. For a small monthly fee, users can download songs directly onto Rhapsody software on their computer or onto a registered mp3 player. The site is completely legitimate, and beneficial because the artists are compensated for participating in the program. Rhapsody does not benefit the artist as much as if the artist were to sell more cds. However, this is a clever alternative to consumers getting their music completely free. The website is easy to use and has an almost limitless variety of music for the consumer to choose from. Yet another alternative to downloading music illegally on P2P websites is the website Pandora. Pandora is a free radio service that compiles music for the consumer to listen to and rate according to their preferences. To create a station, the consumer plugs in the name of one of their favorite artists or even a specific song. Pandora then creates a variety of music for the consumer to listen to based on that preference. The downsides are that the consumer cannot play a specific song that they want; they are forced to listen to what Pandora gives them to listen to. Also, there are advertisements thrown in between songs. Pandora benefits the artists because consumers are not directly downloading illegal music. Instead, they are listening to the music on a legitimate website. This exchange does not hurt the artist. A consumer might be introduced to a new artist on Pandora that they might not have listened to and then go out and buy their cd. Pandora is a mutually beneficial way for consumers to enjoy music without the artist being hurt in the process. P2P software harms the music industry. Because P2P has spread so quickly and reached a huge number of people, it is impossible to stop. Illegal downloading of copyrighted songs is punishable with fines and imprisonment, but rarely enforced. There are simply too many people downloading illegal music for law enforcement to search for them and fine them. Clever solutions from the industry include Rhapsody and Pandora. In today’s modern age, when an issue like P2P software illegal downloading arises, the music industry must come up with creative alternatives to lure consumers back into paying for their music. The music industry must learn to continue to evolve as consumers’ interests evolve. Read More