Interesting Tim O'Reilly article.

From: Wayne M. Smith <wmsmith_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Sat Dec 14 13:39:01 2002

> On Fri, 13 Dec 2002, Wayne M. Smith wrote:
>
> > > I reward artists that make music I like by buying their albums. I suspect
> > > I am not alone.
> > >
> > You are in the vast majority, but it only takes a small minority engaged in
> > theft to turn the economics of the business upside down. The LA Times ran
an
> > article last week where they interviewed college students about music buying
> > habits. Student after student stated that they hadn't bought a CD in a few
> > years, and offered all the usual justifications -- greedy recording
industry,
> > rich artist, etc. No one mentions all the employees -- who rely on those
greedy
> > artists et al. for jobs -- who have been laid off as sales have turned down.
>
> As others have pointed out, what are the alternatives? Offer a viable,
> reasonably affordable alternative and the customers will come. Cling
> pathetically to an increasingly outmoded business model and you will be
> relegated to the dustbin of history.
>
I agree completely. But if the recording biz wants to destroy themselves that's
up to them. It doesn't justify theft.

> > > Yes, I buy that. There is nothing wrong with DeCSS, just like there is
> > > nothing wrong with a radio scanner, a lockpick set, a gun, etc. They are
> > > all just tools.
> > >
> > I agree, in general. But you could say that a nuclear device is a tool as
well.
> > It's all in that "how you use it" thing.
>
> Exactly. So then I take it you agree there was nothing inherently wrong
> with creating DeCSS, but in how it is used?

Agree completely.
>
> Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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>
Received on Sat Dec 14 2002 - 13:39:01 GMT

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