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The File Sharing Database
Nuclear Elephant writes "The File Sharing Database is an online record of things users wouldn't have bought if they hadn't downloaded it (or part of it) first, and therefore tracks sales as a direct result of file sharing. The RIAA and MPAA claim that file sharing hurts sales, but some recent figures show that file sharing works FOR the industry. This database sets out to prove it once and for all. So if you've ever bought something you downloaded, roll on over and add it to the database."
At least where I live (Norway), downloading music and movies is perfectly legal.
"Oppression and harassment is a small price to pay to live in the land of the free." -- Montgomery Burns.
Not much text on the page, so maybe it will survive a slashdotting. I'm 100% positive the amount spent will skyrocket.
Here it is:
The file sharing experiment is an attempt to catalog some financial figures about how much revenue the industries backing organizations such as the RIAA, MPAA, and software manufacturers have gained by file sharing. The file sharing database consists of a list of items and prices which contributing users have both purchased, and would not have purchased if they hadn't first downloaded/shared identical or related files.
It has always been my belief that various industries have actually earned more revenue as a direct result of file sharing, and that file sharing works FOR the industry. Recent figures such as the music industry's latest earnings report have proven this. So if you would like to contribute, click submit above. Post your merchandise, how much you paid, and why you wouldn't have bought it if you first hadn't downloaded something. No IP addresses or personal information is logged.
Statistics
These statistics are updated periodically throughout the day.
Total Items Recorded: 10
Total Dollar Amount: 712
Music (RIAA): 51
Movies (MPAA): 520
Software (SPA): 141
Other: 0
Last 10 Submissions:
Value Category Title Reason for Purchase
$17 Music E.S. Posthumus - Unearthed Listened to a few tracks, decided that it was worth it to support this group and their wonderful work.
$13 Music Alanis Morissette - So Called Chaos I downloaded the music, and then I wanted my own copy of the cd because I liked it.
$15.00 Music Howie Day - Australia loved the mp3s, loved the album even more
$16 Music evanescence I heard a snip of the song on the radio and downloaded the full mp3 - loved it and tried a couple more songs. Loved those and went out and bought the cd.
$140 Music A complete Stereolab CD collection I discovered Stereolab by downloading files on WinMX... The next week I bought all their CDs
$40 Movies Invader Zim finally realeased on DVD!
$40 Software OpenBSD firewall
$22.95 Other Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom Read the first chapter online. Liked the book.
$30 Software NAT32 Great product, better than MS ICS, it really was worth the money.
$15 Music Atmosphere - Overcast! I downloaded the album and was eventually forced to order it online because no retail outlets around here had it or would order it.
All Website Content © 2004 Jonathan A. Zdziarski. All Rights Reserved.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
I wait for the third version of the database: what customers have bought (without knowing it) and didn't wanted (like Microsoft Windows and all those free anti-viruses pre-installed on your computer).
Hi,
Sorry about any initial problems with the numbers - the catalog was working, but the script to tabulate totals had a couple minor bugs. Everything has been corrected and the logs are being totaled properly now. I've added a few filters to filter out the bogus entries, and had to put in a 2 minute delay between submissions to spearhead flooding. Anyway, all is now up and running =)
And let's not forget about copy protected CDs (which are more and more prevalent), that don't even PLAY in a Linux computer or let you burn them 'white noise free' to your computer from your data CD drive. I know several people who have purchased the latest Hoobastank, Norah Jones and Velvet Revolver CDs, to name three, only to be forced to go out and download the .mp3 files so they can listen to the music they purchased on their systems...