I can see that you didn’t put much thought into this issue yourself. One doesn’t need to know an alternative business model to know that the current one is absurd.

Also, how are pirates hurting anyone? They merely copy data and deprive no one of anything.

You could (not really) argue that pirates ‘steal’ potential profit, but that’s simply illogical. For one thing, basic logic would tell you that for you to be able to steal something, it must first exist. Potential profit does not exist.

Second of all, if ‘stealing’ potential profit was possible, everyone would be ‘guilty’ of doing so. Think about it. You ‘steal’ profit that others could have had merely by not giving them your money, even if you’re not a pirate! If you had given them your money, they would have been better off, and therefore (like a pirate) they have ‘stolen’ profit that someone else could, potentially, have had.

Pirates don’t use up any of the artists time as they use their own time and resources to copy the data.

If you want to fix something, fix our illogical capitalistic society that demands that goods that are in an infinite supply be paid for (even though there’s no reason to pay for a good that will never run out), and those that do not will be labeled as ‘thieves’ (even though pirates take nothing). Until that is fixed, these supposed artists will continue to ‘suffer’, not because of pirates, but because of our capitalistic society which breeds corruption, greed, and an illogical set of rules.

I have over 10k vinyl albums, 2500 cassette tapes, and yes I hate to admit, 426 8 track tapes. I also re-purchased, when available, over 90% of my library on CD.

In 1985 when CD’s started coming out there were NO turntables that allowed for any conversion of the yet to be released for public consumption MP3. The industry also picked and chose what was to be converted digitally. If you were an avid scavenger of the “bins,” you may have gotten lucky to find a digital release of your favorite artist only to find it discontinued months or, even weeks later leading to a friend to ask for a copy.

In short, I have spent more money repurchasing music than most. In this day and time I am simply cashing in my “frequent flier miles.” A service provider provides a service, nothing more, nothing less. What their customers do with that service that they pay for is out of the control of the ISP. Much like FED-Ex. Again, FED-EX is a service company, I hear tale that drug dealers have, and still use FED-EX to transport illicit items. By your logic since FED-EX provides a service that others use for purposes not intended by the “service provider,” everyone in the community of origin should be blocked from using the service. HMMMMMM…Try again #60.

As far as your solution. It is not the job of the consumer to give the vendor a solution. I was on many panels from the early 90′s to 2004 (I quit a lost cause) warning the music industry to adopt, and regulate the mp3 (BTW, Sony released the MP3 technology to the public). One leading record executive actually said that the Internet was a “FAD” that would soon be replaced by another “FAD.” Can you say, “OOOPS.”

Oh my, is it me, or who allowed companies to put out blank media? Oh wait, that’s right, the industry did! Need I go further with this argument.

#60, You remind me of that executive. This war was over when the industry killed the original Napster. Once the old music Nazi’s are gone, the Anons will take care of the artist with a more efficient way to distribute and promote the artists work. Music will be better off for living through these totalitarian days.

Oh yeah #60 F#$K YOU!

Dr. Undies (#59) suggests that he or she should not have to re-buy music. You don’t. You can even convert vinyl to mp3 on your own if you are willing to take the time. Will someone please offer a viable option. Artists recognize the realities they are faced with but “I will never pay for your work you greedy pig” is simply not a dignified position to take.

All your base are belong to us.