[Cyrien]

My own views on this are mixed.

However I do believe that the RIAA is fighting a losing battle. Modern security and encrytion methods are available that can stump the NSA and CIA. Once advanced encryption becomes widespread it will become impossible for anyone to crack down on it.

Quite simply the old business model and crime prevention models for these people are dead. Instead of trying to bring it back to life they need to move on and come up with something else that will still let them make money. What is that? I don't know. It isn't my industry. Anonymous and encrypted peer to peer file sharing will spell the end for several standard business models in easily movable data. Primarily music, movies and games... Why not books? Simple. Most people still prefer a solid hard cover that they can easily carry around. Why E-books still aren't that popular. Maybe in time it applies to them as well.

PS: Last I checked the number of peer to peer music/movie pirates was estimated at several million not several hundred, in the US alone. The real damage isn't being done by a few people offering a lot of files it is by a lot of people offering a few.
If the RIAA even tried to sue several million people assuming they could make that list and track em down they would bankrupt themselves in the effort alone. Imagine the legal costs! Imagine the firestorm of bad PR! Oooo boy.

Try it out. Download E-mule or some such, connect and use the built in search feature to search for whatever movie/game/music you can think of. I bet you find it, despite 200+ people offering thousands of files for download being forced to stop.

PS: Please note that the RIAA amnesty offer only applies to lawsuits they themselves would enter into. It does not say that they won't give your name upto some other interested party and that that party won't sue you. BEWARE!!!

[ September 14, 2003, 03:06: Message edited by: Cyrien ]