Position Paper
Napster was the online computer program that allowed users to download music, for free! It was also the music sharing service that created a huge controversy regarding the legality of downloading music without paying for it. There are strong feelings behind both sides of this debate. Some of in the music industry says they own the copyright to the music and deserve to make a profit from the songs. Therefore they point out that it is illegal to use it for free. Some fans say that if you download music, without paying, then you’re not actually a fan and you are threatening the viability of the music business. But, on the other side of this dispute are the fans that, wonder why would you go out and buy the CD? They feel that downloading it barely dents the music industries’ profits. It’s not just the fans that want free music; there are also people in the music industry that support it. Downloading music from Napster or other free music services is a way to save money, and it benefits the music industry in the end.
The main opponent of Napster was Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, who strongly supported the fight against Napster. He was so devoted to banning Napster and punishing Napster users, that he turned a list of his own fans over to the FCC and requested that they all be charged. Lars tried everything he could do to ban Napster, and it worked, well, kind of. In order to use Napster you now have to pay a by monthly or by song downloaded, so yes, Lars and his following have stopped Napster. However, now there are other programs such as Kazaa, soulseek, and limewire that use the internet to download music from others for free. So maybe Lars did put a stop to one program, but there are still many other substitutes that support free music and continue to have millions users.
Not only is the music industry against free music downloading, but some fans are as well. There are many forums on the internet that oppose free music sharing. People are saying that you not truly a fan of the band if you download their music instead of buying the CD. They also present the argument that the music industry wills loss will loose too much money if people stop buying CDs. However, the music industry isn’t losing money at all, people are now able to preview the CD, and if they really like it, then they can buy it. Or if they realize that they don’t like the CD, then they won’t waste money on buying it. But no matter what happens, the music industry is still getting their share of money, and the consumers can now buy products that they truly will like.
Napster is a win/win situation; the consumers using Napster are able to preview other CDs and bands that they may never have discovered in a traditional music store setting. The music industry will replace the revenue allegedly “lost” on free downloads with additional sales that would not have happened without Napster or its successors. People might not buy some CDs because they hear some tracks and decide they don’t like it, but then they can also find out about other albums that they will end up buying. Napster might not be free now, but as long as people are craving for free music, there will be a program that fits their needs. Maybe if the record industries support this music sharing service or realize that it isn’t going away, then they both can work together and maybe even profit from each other.
A-