Free Essays on Napster

Just do IP Issue 42, August 2, 2000 "People are copying music because they feel somewhat disenfranchised with the options they have at their disposal in the digital space. It's up to the content industry to create value in the digital arena and they've made phenomenal steps in that direction." Talal Shamoon, a key technologist for the SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) Salon, 31 Jul 2000-08-01 JUDGE FINDS AGAINST NAPSTER District judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled in favour of the Recording Industry Association of America (riaa.com/) (RIAA) regarding the Napster copyright case, based on the sheer size of the infringement that was taking place. Judge Patel directed that Napster should stop its song-swap activities and refused a motion that would delay the injunction until after an appeal had been presented. Napster intends to appeal against the decision. Related article: 'Napster legal scrap could backfire on record industry' Source: ZDNet News, 26 July 2000 CONSUMERS BUY MORE MUSIC PRODUCTS AFTER 'TESTING' A PC Data Online (pcdataonline.com) survey reports that only 16% of respondents supported the RIAA's claim that Napster was in breach of intellectual property regulations and should be shut down. 57% agreed that it was unrealistic to control the free exchange of music. Many users said that they would not be dissuaded from downloading music even if it was deemed illegal. Almost 60% claimed that using Napster helped them in their music buying and 83% liked the ability afforded by the technology to test songs before purchasing CDs or cassettes. Source: PC Data Online News Release, 27 July 2000 CONTROL OF MUSIC DOWNLOADING BEYOND INDUSTRY CONTROL Despite all the media attention given to the Napster case, the Gartner Group (http://gartner11.gartnerweb.com/) believes that music downloading via the Net will prevail. Gartner suggests that it would have been more strategic for the RIAA to find a c... Free Essays on Napster Free Essays on Napster Is trading digital music using Napster Online legal or copyright infringement? First, we must find out what Napster is and who created it. Napster is a combination of â€Å"the features of existing programs: the instant-messaging system of Internet Relay Chat, the file-sharing functions of Microsoft Windows and the advanced searching and filtering capabilities of various search engines†(Greenfield). Basically all it is, is a really cool little program that a person can download off of the internet for free. Install it on the nearest computer, go through the setup, log on to the internet, and type in someone’s favorite artist. When the artist or song name is entered into the search engine part of Napster, it searches the Napster server and files of other users online at that time for your artist or song. Point-click-download, it is easy as that to get what some people call illegal Mp3’s. Mp3 stands for mpeg layer 3, a small music file that downloads quickly from the Internet. Many people have found out these files can be hard to find, leading the explorer to dead ends if a searcher doesn’t know where to go or doesn’t want to pay for them. But in 1999, a person by the name of Shawn Fanning decided to do something about the availability of these files. â€Å"Fanning figured out that if he combined a music-search function with a file-sharing system and, to facilitate communication, instant messaging, he could bypass the rat’s nest of legal and technical problems that kept great music from breaking out all over the World Wide Web† (Greenfield). So, over a period of months in 1999, he created the famed Napster. At 18 years of age, Shawn would become a teenager’s hero and best friend from whom to get new free music. Then these few lines of code and combined programs got this 18 year-old in a lot of trouble. If you look at the back of a CD or on the credits page of a magazine or book, you will find a copyright number and date. Acc... Free Essays on Napster The Napster software (napster.com), launched early in 1999, allows internet users to share and download MP3 files directly from any computer connected to the Napster network. The software is used by downloading a client program from the Napster site and then connecting to the network through this software, which allows sharing (uploading and downloading) of MP3 files between all users connected to the network. While Napster does not condone copyright infringement, there is no opportunity in the software to stop this, or for royalties to be paid to artists whose songs are being duplicated for free. Unlike similar file-sharing applications (Gnutella, Freenet), Napster limits users to uploading/downloading of MP3 files only. These files are compressed wave (.wav) files. The advantage of MP3 files is that they are approximately one-tenth the size of the corresponding .wav file and can be close-to-CD-quality. It is for this reason that many artists, record labels and other music industry stakeholders are concerned by the MP3 file format and applications like Napster that simplify the sharing of copyrighted material. Other file formats in common use on the Internet are not as threatening to the recording industry; primarily due to the reduced quality of the recording. Real audio (.ra, .rm) files have reduced sound quality (comparable to radio) and are usually streamed over a different protocol, allowing people to listen to songs without having (or being able) to download the source files. Another 'music' file format common on the internet is the midi format. These files are of no threat to the music industry because the files are not actually a recording of the music; rather a set of instructions to the computer as to what sounds to play (and there is no way to duplicate vocal tracks). This file format is also becoming outdated and being used less and less. The reaction from recording artists, record labels and... Free Essays on Napster There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but due to open peer to peer architecture music is. In 1998 a group of college students launched this innovative Napster technology. Since then the software has generated great controversy within the music industry due to alleged copyright infringement. However, the music industry has failed to see Napster’s potential as a valuable tool in helping them where previously they had been unsuccessful. The purpose of this program was to give everyone a chance to listen to music without paying. Napster is a program that allow a user to download various mp3s from other users on the Napster Network. An Mp3 is a song, in C.D. quality, which has become easily accessible through programs like Napster. Napster has become so famous for all of the copyright laws it breaks and an alternative to buying the artist’s CD. There is no longer a need to buy CD’s. Many who own CD Burners simply download their favorite MP3’s and make their own music CD’s. Despite this fact, Napster actually benefits artists and record labels in many other ways. It distributes all different types of music, professional and local to millions of people at no price. It also gives unknown artists a chance to have their music listened to. In this way it acts as a free marketing tool. There are many famous artists that favor the use of Napster. They believe that it lets their music get out their and heard thus capturing more fans which can generate income in other ways such as concerts. One of the greatest benefits is that it saves people from having to go out and buy a 15-dollar CD. Instead people can download their favorite songs from the comfort of their own home. Regardless of this, Napster also has its bad attributes. Many artists are against Napster. They believe that hard working artists get cheated out of money because people simply download the song rather than going out and buying the CD. Nap... Free Essays on Napster Ethical Analysis of Napster Technical Issue The Napster software (napster.com/), launched early in 1999, allows Internet users to share and download MP3 files directly from any computer connected to the Napster network. The software is used by downloading a client program from the Napster site and then connecting to the network through this software, which allows sharing (uploading and downloading) of MP3 files between all users connected to the network. While Napster does not condone copyright infringement, there is no opportunity in the software to stop this, or for royalties to be paid to artists whose songs are being duplicated for free. Unlike similar file-sharing applications (Gnutella, Freenet), Napster limits users to uploading/downloading of MP3 files only. These files are compressed wave (*.wav) files. The advantage of MP3 files is that they are approximately one-tenth the size of the corresponding .wav file and can be close-to-CD-quality. It is for this reason that many artists, record labels and other music industry stakeholders are concerned by the MP3 file format and applications like Napster that simplify the sharing of copyrighted material. Other file formats in common used on the Internet are not as threatening to the recording industry, primarily due to the reduced quality of the recording. Real audio (*.ra, *.rm) files have reduced sound quality (comparable to radio) and are usually streamed over a different protocol, allowing people to listen to songs without having (or being able) to download the source files. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade group representing the US recording industry, alleges that Napster is enabling and encouraging the illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted music. Also, a number of universities have blocked student access to Napster. Universities say they are taking this step primarily because so many students are downloading music ... Free Essays on NAPSTER The record companies can make as much or more money by abandoning their old business model and going with Napster's. They should look at the numbers, do the math, and then join with Shawn Fanning?s Napster. Then again, why do that when they can have both business models and make twice as much money? When Napster first started out, it had around 50,000 users, and as a music distribution service, there was nothing so exciting about it. The concept made no sense to the record industry, which saw it as a glorified bootlegging operation. But along with the MP3 movement, Napster introduced the notion of practical electronic music distribution, which appealed to early adopters and computer nuts. Once the lawsuits began, people saw a repeated free publicity for a littleknown product, thanks to media attention. Napster became a household name within months. But instead of the record companies dealing with 50,000 dedicated users making copies of their music, they now have to face over 5! 0 million. The The number of users and how this changes the money flow for the record industry was overlooked. The CD business is a $13 billion market. Of this $13 billion, a big chunk of money goes to distribution and manufacturing. Meanwhile, many Napster users have said that they will pay up to $20 a month to keep this service alive. The company has suggested $5 a month for access. Exactly how many people would pay is unknown, but I suspect the numbers will be high. If the service were legal and ethical, I'm certain many people who aren?t sure about it would join. Adding special international servers and more specialized subsystems would also make a subscription model more appealing. With good marketing, more services, and legal, free trading of all content 24 hours a day, I think holding 50 million users is possible. I think $10 a month is the right fee. I'd pay it in a minute. If 50 million users each paid $10 a month, or $120 a year, for unlimited access... Free Essays on Napster Just do IP Issue 42, August 2, 2000 "People are copying music because they feel somewhat disenfranchised with the options they have at their disposal in the digital space. It's up to the content industry to create value in the digital arena and they've made phenomenal steps in that direction." Talal Shamoon, a key technologist for the SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) Salon, 31 Jul 2000-08-01 JUDGE FINDS AGAINST NAPSTER District judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled in favour of the Recording Industry Association of America (riaa.com/) (RIAA) regarding the Napster copyright case, based on the sheer size of the infringement that was taking place. Judge Patel directed that Napster should stop its song-swap activities and refused a motion that would delay the injunction until after an appeal had been presented. Napster intends to appeal against the decision. Related article: 'Napster legal scrap could backfire on record industry' Source: ZDNet News, 26 July 2000 CONSUMERS BUY MORE MUSIC PRODUCTS AFTER 'TESTING' A PC Data Online (pcdataonline.com) survey reports that only 16% of respondents supported the RIAA's claim that Napster was in breach of intellectual property regulations and should be shut down. 57% agreed that it was unrealistic to control the free exchange of music. Many users said that they would not be dissuaded from downloading music even if it was deemed illegal. Almost 60% claimed that using Napster helped them in their music buying and 83% liked the ability afforded by the technology to test songs before purchasing CDs or cassettes. Source: PC Data Online News Release, 27 July 2000 CONTROL OF MUSIC DOWNLOADING BEYOND INDUSTRY CONTROL Despite all the media attention given to the Napster case, the Gartner Group (http://gartner11.gartnerweb.com/) believes that music downloading via the Net will prevail. Gartner suggests that it would have been more strategic for the RIAA to find a c...