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I know it is wrong, and yet I have done it.

Worse, I have downloaded movies I love, made by people who deserve my money. Now, in that case, the download did not replace my money. I bought the DVD anyway when it came out, because the download was not as good. But a teensy bit of technology would fix that, allowing me to download films that would be showable on my big TV, rather than my computer. Then the movie people will be in trouble too.

We shouldn't be able to get it for free. Music and movie makers deserve to be paid for the work we want. I just think we are closing the barn door after the horses have escaped. How could we stop it now? The sites don't even have to be in this country or operate by our laws.

But a teensy bit of technology would fix that, allowing me to download films that would be showable on my big TV, rather than my computer. Then the movie people will be in trouble too.

If I had a choice of watching first-run movies in my comfortable Barcalounger and using my very good home theater, or in a dark cold barn with screaming babies, 500 other people all coughing and shedding virus, sticky floors, and popcorn that you need a second mortgage to afford, guess which one I'd select?

How could we stop it now? The sites don't even have to be in this country or operate by our laws.

I don't think we can - hence the dilemma. RIAA (aka "Buggy Whips 'R Us") can't sue everybody who ever used the Internet to download a song or a movie. They can't identify the "criminals" to begin with and spit on the concept of personal freedom by even trying. And your point about offshore sites is very apt - does RIAA intend to sue every single person in the entire world with a modem and a dialup connection? Pass me the (hopefully) cheap popcorn - I want to watch them try.