I've read articles. And I know why they're afraid. The record and movie industry that is.

But there's more to it. Napster died last week, and that hit me kinda hard. I always liked napster (rather KNapster), and was sad to see it go. And when you really think about it, what's going on with the file sharing is nothing new. Who doesn't remember making or receiving the fabled mix tape back in the day? I don't remember the record companies wanting to patrol the corridors of our schools to prevent this activity.

That's because they couldn't really see it. With (insert your choice of P2P software here) they can *see* what's going on. They can set up a client with a (fake) Britney Spears mp3, and see 23 people download it over the weekend. That's 23 cd sales they won't get. (By the way, I made that 23 number up. I'm too lazy to actually do a test for something like that).

Or so they say. But of those 23, how many of those people are really stealing it? How many already own it? I know I've downloaded Mp3s of songs I already own. Sometimes it's just easier, especially if the CD is in your car, which is in the next parking lot, because there were no free spaces in yours when you got home at 2am on a sunday morning.

How many people just want to hear the song before they buy the CD? That's fair isn't it? You can try a clock radio before you buy it, and they're cheaper than CDs (and isn't that sad). Had I been a little smarter, I would have probably downloaded some of Radiohead's Kid A before I bought it, and decided it was a steaming pile of shit compared to "The Bends" and "OK Computer" and not bought it.

And I'm sure there are a few people who just want the song to burn to a CD so they don't have to buy it. Those people have always existed, and they'll always find a way to get their ware(z).

I've also been led to believe that the motion picture industry is pissed because you can get full length movies online. And it's true! Yes, if you want, you can download a blurry, shot-with-a-shaky-camcorder version of "Spider-Man" from a 14.4 dialup in Kurdistan. And in 3 weeks, if all goes well, you'll have a copy that you can watch on your monitor. Or, even, burn it to a Video CD and watch it on your TV!.

Puhleeze. Think about it. The guy who actually goes to the effort to download Spider-Man right now is probably going to buy the DVD when it comes out. They're called "fans". Say it slowly. 'Cos they're the guys who paid to see the movie 3 times in the theater, and will pay thru the teeth to buy the DVD at Best Buy, and just can't wait to get a fix. You can argue that if they have the video they won't buy the DVD, but you're probably wrong. It's just not the same. I know it, they know it, and the industry probably knows it.

What it all comes down to is we're breaking free of the existing distribution methods, and we like the new ways. The record/movie industry just hasn't figured out how to get in on the action yet. But they will. And it's going to ruin the computer as we know it. And that's pretty f'ed up.