[fatnotlazy]

To some degree he is right. When one creates intellectual property (copyrighted, trademarked or patented works), it should be protected from piracy. After all, he and his band are the ones who created these works; why should every bum under the sun get to profit from it?

However, I think most of the piracy is done because buying the music is not feasible. CDs and the like are way too expensive for most fans (usually college students and other young people with limited financial means). Stop the profiteers yes, but going after young people for sharing and downloading will alienate your fan base. Turn off your fans and before long, you won't have any.

[Yardstick]

CDs and the like are way too expensive for most fans...

Wrong.

[antiRepublicrat]

I’d take trademarks out of your list. A trademark itself requires no real creativity, and can be as simple as a word or phrase someone pulled out of his nether regions. What’s valuable with a trademark is the reputation of the company or product behind it. The trademark is just an identifier, and trademark law exists to make sure nobody uses someone else’s identifier, causing consumer confusion as to who is making what.

Take “Apple” for example in relation to consumer electronics. There’s no creativity in that. But that name in that context is worth billions because of the company and its products behind it.