Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Napster's Learning Curve

Posted by Zonk on from the you-lose-you-learn dept.

Chabil Ha' writes "CNET News is reporting on Napter's learning curve. There are some interesting revelations about their dealings with the music industry." From the article: "We made one last effort to convince the labels that they should do a deal with us. A little-known underground product called Gnutella had just surfaced. It was a P2P file-sharing program that required no central server and no company to operate it. If the labels didn't do a deal with us, and instead put us out of business, then Gnutella and its derivatives would become unstoppable. If we worked together now we could convert the market to a paid-subscription model. If we didn't do a deal, chaos would ensue. The labels didn't believe us and didn't really understand what this Gnutella threat was."

4 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Misquote by Gothmolly · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What you meant to say, was:

    The more you tighten your definition of Fair Use, the more content will slip through your fingers.
    (Leia to Vader)

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  2. Re:A question for this topic by toddbu · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Agreed. But it's still human nature. In my soc class in college, they had an experiment where they'd arbitrarily break up a class into three groups: rich, middle class, and poor. According to these rules, the rich were virtually omnipotent and could make any rule they wanted. The poor had to suck it up. It was interesting to see that even in a room full of (in reality) middle to upper class kids how illegal behaviors quickly set in. In one class, the "poor" kids actually kidnapped a "rich" girl and held her down the hall for ransom.

    I'm not trying to justify anything here. It's just that you have to consider how people will react regardless of the law. Our jails are full of people convicted for the possession and use of illegal drugs. Does this mean that we're winning the war on drugs?

    --
    If you don't want crime to pay, let the government run it.
  3. Still working on it? Yup, and a long way to go. by Ahnteis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's see -- I can:

    1) Buy music from itunes. It will be in a format that only Apple players can play, will have digital restrictions, and will be at lower bitrate then some competitors. It will cost the nearly the same as the full CD if I buy the album ($14 at Walmart vs $10 on itunes).

    2) Buy music from other server. It will be in a format that can play on many players, but not on the popular Apple players. It will have digital restrictions. Quality may be greater then the Apple offering (depending on the store.) It will cost the nearly the same as the full CD if I buy the album ($14 at Walmart vs $10 online).

    3) Buy music on CD. I get great quality at a slightly higher cost, but I have to buy all the songs on a CD. I also have to travel to the store instead of sitting at home (or work). I do get artwork and physical media, but have no backup unless I make my own. Increasingly, I may be faced with attempts to block me from making a backup or traveling copy.

    4) Buy the music from a Russian site. Incredibly low price, selection of different bitrates. Artists probably won't be paid, but the RIAA won't either. Won't be sued by RIAA for illegally downloading. Morally not quite as "right" as other options.

    5) Download the music for FREE through kazaa / etc. Quality ranges, but I will likely have to hunt for a real copy of popular songs. I risk being sued by the RIAA. Morally, one of the least "right" choices.

    6) Steal the CD from a store. All the benefits of a CD without the cost. Unless you get caught. Still, you will may very well be penalized less if you get caught then if you had downloaded the song from kazaa. Morally a "wrong" choice.

    7) Make a copy from a friend. Quality ranges depending on your friends original source, but it's free and may be legal under home taping laws. Morally questionable.

    Of course, the RIAA isn't interested in choices. They're only interested in money and that's why this article is interesting. As far as I know it's not even a dupe! +1 intersting for Slashdot!

  4. Re:Still working on it? Yup, and a long way to go. by Seumas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    #7 is morally questionable? Sounds like the RIAA and MPAA are making the impression they've been wanting to make. That people would even consider two highschool buddies going home and making a copy of one's album for the other to use as being "morallyh questionable" is very sad. We might as well not even have a fair use / home copying law.