Two logical errors here:
1. The OWNER of the rights to the music on that file did NOT grant permission for it to be copied, ripped, etc. The person doing the ripping has no say in how that data can be used by others. Because it is not his or her property.
2. So if one panhandler steals my wallet and hands it to another panhandler, I have no recourse against the guy holding my wallet because the first one gave it to him? Ridiculous.
You can argue this until you are blue in the face.
And you can argue that theft is not actually theft until YOU are blue in the face. It changes nothing; theft is still theft and should be punished.
99% of what I download is something I already paid for on cassette... so the artist has my money.
If you truly believe that 99% of file sharers have the same arrangement, then I have a bridge I'd like to sell you in New York City.
I no longer have cassette stereos in my car, as they were not options. So, I download the MP3 version and can listen to music I already paid for.
Don't download too many, my FRiend. You might not like the result when RIAA ramps up their enforcement operations.