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Shawn Fanning's Account Of Napster

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the folks-who-know dept.

ttol writes "Take a look at this speech Shawn Fanning did to the Congressional Committee on October 9th. He explains how Napster came about, what his visions of the digital future will be, and how everyone can be involved. It's a good read."

5 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. The Underpants Gnomes' School of Business by Admiral+Burrito · · Score: 4

    What kind of business model could be implemented here?

    They can just use the standard dot-com business model:

    • Phase 1: Collect underpants.
    • Phase 2: ?
    • Phase 3: Big profits.
  2. Re:I'm sure he's a good programmer, but... by stevarooski · · Score: 4

    Ok.

    In reply to everyone who is looking down the end of their noses at Shawn due to his age:

    SHUT UP.

    Shawn Fanning is young, sure. But at the same time I know hundreds of adults--including professors at this institution--who would not and could not handle themselves with the same control and poise as he has.

    I'm not supporting his ideas (thats for other posts), but I am going to defend attacks on his ability through his age. Senators seem to be taking him seriously--can't you too? Instead of making snide remarks about how 'kids like him' need to go out and play, think about how, despite the handicap of being a 'teenager' in a society conditioned to look down on young people, he has managed to become on of the most influential people in two spheres of computing.

    -s

    --

    - - - - - - - -
    Don't worry, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep in a giant blender.
  3. Webcast of the field hearing... by flagrass · · Score: 4

    can be found her e. It was an excellent hearing, and Shawn did a good job of explaining his position.

  4. eloquent, informative, WTG Shawn! But... by falloutboy · · Score: 4
    Fanning has written a really excellent piece here, and hopefully it will not fall on deaf ears. The only flaw in the writing is the following:

    When Napster is able to implement a business model, there will be other benefits for artists as well, including payments to rightsholders.

    This is vague, at best. At worst, its a good reason for Napster to be shut down until the business model is a reality.

    What kind of business model could be implemented here? Royalty payment to the copyright owner for each instance of a song being downloaded? Ambiguous filenames could be a big problem there. What if the file is the song name, and happens to be the same as a song by another artist? Who gets paid?

    Anyone know a better way?

    1. Re:eloquent, informative, WTG Shawn! But... by John+Jorsett · · Score: 5
      This is vague, at best. At worst, its a good reason for Napster to be shut down until the business model is a reality.

      Actually, shutting Napster down would remove a lot of the pressure on the industry to get off the dime and make online music distribution a reality. Given their druthers, they'd just as soon keep everyone buying CDs from stores until there's ice-skating in hell. If Napster went away, even thought there'd be alternatives, I think the industry would breath a big sigh of relief and then take their sweet time about implementing their own scheme.