Worried about a music lawsuit? Check here

The Houston Chronicle ^ | July 26, 2003 | Dwight Silverman

[itzmygun]

You mean you can't look at a painting to see if you like it before you buy? You can't try on a shirt, slacks, or shoes? You can't try on a necklace or watch? You can't sit on a couch you might buy? You don't know the operating system or speed of a computer before you purchase one? You are totally blind when buying a music CD. You may have heard one song, but the rest could be crap.
Also, remember that this same argument took place when casette tapes and video recorders hit the markets - and it doesn't look like either of those had any great effect on the industry.

Want to stop kids from downloading and not buying the album? Offer them something more in the CD jacket that they can't get from a download: stickers, tattoos, patches, free offers for example. If a kid goes to school and every other kid has a No Doubt patch on his or her backpack, I guarantee that kid wouldn't give a hoot whether he could download that album for free or not.

I see this as being more about capitalism bringing about innovation - something the record industry can't seem to grasp.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

How exactly were they supposed to put securtiy in the shop? Think of a good way an you'll be rich.

[elfman2]

" Anyone buy "Art" without looking at it?
Don't most people try on clothes and shoes before buying?
Women try on jewelry regularly. Often without any intention of buying.
Would you buy a chair without sitting in it?
Who would buy a computer without trying it first?
Visit a brewery and you can sample all the beer you want."

Each of those required that you go to the store and sample them. Music stores allow that now. None of you example allow you to take a sample home.

(Sorry about the cross postings. I'm managing my 8 mo old son -very distracting.)

[elfman2]

"You mean you can't look at a painting to see if you like it before you buy?…"

See my post #23 above.

[FreePaul]

My e-mail and regular mail are full of offers to try out most of those things at home, unfortunately not the beer, and return them if not satisfied. I don't understand why Microsoft was in trouble for "bundling" when the record industry gets away with it. Just depends on how you spread your bribes political contributions around.

[eno_]

I was wondering how the heck I got here, but as long as I am here I would point out that no money changes hands inside the store at Firestone and Parson. Too tacky. And if the wife doesn't like what you brought home, take it back, no problem. Art and rugs are similarly commonly taken on approval. Shop for a high end car - no "test drive" - just bring it back tommorow. When I was a consultant, if a customer complained about anything, my response would be simply "OK, pay only for what you think I did right." Nobody ever paid less than 100%. It works wonders not to treat your customers like crooks.

[Scenic Sounds]

Don't worry, Amelia. I didn't rat you out on this.

I ain't said nuttin to nobody! ;-)

[George W. Bush]

I expect that they have chosen to target filesharers with huge collections, that have a permanent assigned IP address and high-speed connection (DSL/cable) and who have maintained a consistent user name on Kazaa. These are the easiest targets in a lawsuit. Further, they have probably downloaded the files from these users repeatedly in a legally documented way to demonstrate that they did indeed provide the files to others.

At any rate, Kazaa dropped by about 2 million users when this list was published. So the legal tactic is working. I would expect that far more than 2 million have disabled downloading files from their own machine to anyone else.

I think this will spur the growth of FreeNet. It recently had a much-needed upgrade. FreeNet is probably the next P2P battleground.

[Amelia]

Don't worry, Amelia. I didn't rat you out on this.

Good thing. I burned all those CDs from your computer. ;-)

[elfman2]

" When I was a consultant, if a customer complained about anything, my response would be simply "OK, pay only for what you think I did right." Nobody ever paid less than 100%. It works wonders not to treat your customers like crooks."

As a consultant, you know that methods that work in one circumstance don't always work in others. Your clients were probably high profile and dependent on reputation. You wouldn't recommend the same "pick your price" reimbursement mechanism to them if they sold something over the net to anonymous people that can be endlessly and easily copied like software, porno or high resolution images. As a good consultant, you know better than to universally misapply mechanisms that only work in specific circumstances.

[Scenic Sounds]

Good thing. I burned all those CDs from your computer. ;-)

LOL. I shoulda never let you talk me into this kinda thing. I know I'm in way over my head. There's no turning back now. ;-)

[Kevin Curry]

It works wonders not to treat your customers like crooks.

Unless they are crooks. Then you had better be prepared to protect yourself and maybe even sue for damages and restitution.

Tell you what. Leave your garage door open. Word on the street is that Vinnie the Customer like your wheels. He'll be by to hotwire and borrow it for a couple months or years. Oh, he could afford to buy his own, but he doesn't want to spend his money when there are great folks such as yourself who have already spent the money who are willing to share.

It's a good thing there are people like you in the world who aren't uptight about personal property rights.

[elfman2]

"My e-mail and regular mail are full of offers to try out most of those things at home"

Really? Most of the spam I get is offers for porn, offers for home business or offers for penis enlargements. None say pay for it if you feel like it.

[brianl703]

I've noticed that in the last 10 years or so, the number of #1 songs on the top-40 chart in a given year seems to have dropped. Songs are staying at #1 for longer periods of time.

Prior to about 10 years ago, it was rare for a song to stay #1 for 3 weeks, let alone 3 months.

I wonder if this is correlated to the general decline of music into CDs filled with 12 songs of crap.

[jocon307]

How does one know this is not a trap? You put in your IP address and they add you to the list? My trust level is way too low to try this one. Also, I don't know my IP address : )

[Amelia]

Also, I don't know my IP address : )

Don't worry, they know it. ;-)

[Amelia]

I know I'm in way over my head. There's no turning back now.

Isn't there a song that goes something like that? ;-)

Maybe I should download that one too, before they confiscate your computer. :-D

[Scenic Sounds]

Also, I don't know my IP address : )

Your IP Address

[Pern]

I used my KazAa screen name. It said I was clear... (key omnious music)...this time. I have a cable modem, so my IP address changes every time I boot up my pc.

As to it being a possible trap, I have all my music filesharing disabled, so if they look inside my pc, I'll sue them for hacking into my computer. I'm sure I'll be able to find an anti-RIAA lawyer just looking for an excuse to counter sue.

[Scenic Sounds]

Isn't there a song that goes something like that? ;-)

Is this is the song you have in mind?

;-)