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iPod Owners Not Thieves

Posted by Zonk on from the we-always-knew-it dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Remember last year when Microsoft head Steve Ballmer said iPod owners were music thieves and their iPods were full of stolen music? It turns out they're actually less likely to download music using filesharing software than owners of other MP3 players. A lot less likely." From the article: "A survey of US and UK music buyers reveals that although 25 per cent of people admit to downloading music from file-sharing services, only seven per cent of iPod owners do so. Proving that iPod users are either scrupulously honest or more paranoid they'll get sued by RIAA than owners of lesser music players."

11 of 470 comments (clear)

  1. "Lesser music players..." -- ??? by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Proving that iPod users are either scrupulously honest or more paranoid they'll get sued by RIAA than owners of lesser music players."
    Sounds like flamebait to me. Calling every other music player "lesser." Yeah, no other music player holds up to an iPod.

    In my opinion, I think there is some competition to consider before making that bold statement.
    --
    My work here is dung.
  2. Big news? by rjung2k · · Score: 5, Funny

    So Steve Ballmer is an idiot. This is news?

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    --R.J.
    Electric-Escape.net

  3. Could be that iPod owners have more... by SIGFPE · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...disposable income to spend on legal downloads than owner of lesser^H^H expensive mp3 players.

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    -- SIGFPE
  4. Good News by 2names · · Score: 5, Funny
    Dear RIAA,

    For the record, I own an iPod, so you can put me on the "Do Not Sue" list.

    Sincerely,

    Me

    --
    "I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
    1. Re:Good News by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dear Me,

      While we cannot remove you from our "Will Sue" list (We sue everybody on principle) we are however pleased to inform you that we have recalled the team of ex-deltaforce commandos we contracted to assassinate you a week ago.

      In the hope this E-Mail finds you still alive, sincerely,

      RIAA

      --
      Only to idiots, are orders laws.
      -- Henning von Tresckow
  5. Microsoft just doesn't get it ... by orangeguru · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Stever Job once correctly stated that the iTunes store has to compete with P2P services / pirating. They succeded - and it is bloody convinient too.

    The iTunes store offers so far the best online music store and player combination (software and portable). So far none of the other companies have succeded in offering a better combo. The winner takes it all ...

  6. I disagree with the conclusions. by XorNand · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Proving that iPod users are either scrupulously honest or more paranoid they'll get sued by RIAA than owners of lesser music players.
    Option C:) Apple has successfully eliminated the incentive to "steal" music by making it cheaper to buy iTunes tracks than to use alternative backchannels. We all make time/money trade-offs everyday: eating out vs. cooking our own food, changing our own oil vs. paying someone else $25 to do it, buying a Roomba or vacuuming our place more often. Buying music isn't any different. iTunes with an iPod can't get any easier and therefore saves a lot of people valuable time.

    I'm no Apple fanboy, but I give them major kudos to pull off what the RIAA and the major labels are too stupid to understand. This was a technological and economical war from the beginning. Damn them for perverting it into a legal one as well.
    --
    Entrepreneur : (noun), French for "unemployed"
  7. My guess by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you have an iPod, it's safer to get songs legally. If you play songs on a PC, it's safer to download questionable content from known criminals than it is to insert a legal Sony CD.

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    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  8. not thieves? by revery · · Score: 5, Funny

    iPod Owners Not Thieves

    Well then, maybe someone would like to explain to me why my iPod is engraved with the following:

    To my dearest Helen, I'm sorry I gave you the clap, Gerald

  9. I thought iPod was the lesser player... by SoCalChris · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not to mention that ipod has no wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.

  10. NEWS FLASH! by CODiNE · · Score: 5, Funny

    BMW owners found less likely to siphon gas than Ford owners.

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    Cwm, fjord-bank glyphs vext quiz