Replies to post #666 on e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Tinroad]

FWIW, murrayhill, I think we have come to a sorry state of affairs when our kids think they are entitled to unlimited, free access to the artistic creations of others. If they want free tunes, there's always the radio, tv, web radio, etc. Where exactly do you draw the line between free access and theft? Had all of your work been available without charge and within days of commercial release to anyone with a computer and modem, where would you be right now? A lot poorer, I suspect.

[Rainlady]

Dear Murrayhill-I agree that Napster and sites like it have brought digital downloads to a very advantageous spotlight for us and many other industries. But I do oppose their aiding in music file sharing as well as their advocacy of it as a "right", paying for someones intellectual property and providing a swift and easy site to do so is what we are all counting on-I assume. People have always copied tapes and I don't expect marginal sharing to ever stop or pose a real threat to any artist, frankly I'd prefer someone were able to hear and enjoy my work by copying a soundtract if they cannot afford to purchase one-but again, that's me. It's the wholesale concept of, "You created it, now I deserve it" which troubles me. If this were permitted to continue and reach all writers of music, novels, prints, and texts, etc., we will become an impoverished society artisically because no one can feed their family on popularity and only the rich will be able to afford the luxury of creating.
I doubt we're far off on this issue...I believe it was the call to action sent out to teens to defend their ability to obtain an artists work for free which sort of tweaked my brain. ;-) Hey, we had Civil Rights, Viet Nam, and the environment to rally around and march for or against in my generation. I think my first thought was,"Napster may be the first thing which will cause this sleeping generation to even enquire who their Congressperson is...how sad.". I guess social consciousness must begin somewhere, may as well be about intellectual property. Some of these viewers may want to be writers, painters, or musicians in the future-perhaps it will spark their intellects. It may be my own particular bias, but I haven't seen a great deal of activism or social discourse in the recent generation. The last car wash my daughter ran as a fundraiser for the victims of Columbine(medical bills, she ran three before she became ill), was up against a Brittany Spears look-a-like talent show in SLO and the weekend had to be changed so she'd have enough workers from the local high schools, but that may just be California for you....sigh.
Always enjoy your posts and forthright views-thanks so much for all you've shared in the past and for all you will in the future.
Thomas(Rain)