I've been following the posts for a few days by now - and I really don't see many in favor of Metallica. Still their point seems very clear (and right) to me. I know there have been many many discussions about this, but Metallica is NOT releasing their music under the GPL! I don't really think it's about the money either - cmon think about it! They have been one of the most successfull bands in the last 15 years and they must be so rich by now it can't matter that much. Besides, selling a CD doesn't deliver Metallica that much since most of it goes to taxes and other instances. What it IS about, in my view, is that it's their work being copied so easily. It's like having worked for 20 weeks at some difficult project for your University and then simply seeing it copied by many other students to do their advantage with it. Would you like it? I certainly wouldn't, cause I spent a lot of time and energy in it and others take advantage (in the Metallica case that's financial advantage). It's not that much about the advantage the others have, but the feeling your hard work is simply copied. The same way it is with Metallica: They don't care about the financial advantage others had, they simply feel that the hard work they have done was somehow for nothing. Music IS an art, and Metallica's is even a beautiful one. They put their whole life in it. I hear you all say: I bought all the CD's. Well, Metallica is NOT attacking the people who owe the CD's, but the ones who don't and use Napster to copy songs. If you do have the CD's, there is NO reason for you to share your songs on Napster (Well I guess there are for some of you). I will continue to support Metallica and buy their CD's - cause even though their expensive (And that's not even because of Metallica), I think they are worth it! You say they betray their fans. If you are a real Metallica (stronger: Music) fan, you don't use Napster!
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I'll add this one to my Bastard Operator From Hell "Excuse of the day" calendar!
I've been following the posts for a few days by now - and I really don't see many in favor of Metallica. Still their point seems very clear (and right) to me. I know there have been many many discussions about this, but Metallica is NOT releasing their music under the GPL! I don't really think it's about the money either - cmon think about it! They have been one of the most successfull bands in the last 15 years and they must be so rich by now it can't matter that much. Besides, selling a CD doesn't deliver Metallica that much since most of it goes to taxes and other instances. What it IS about, in my view, is that it's their work being copied so easily. It's like having worked for 20 weeks at some difficult project for your University and then simply seeing it copied by many other students to do their advantage with it. Would you like it? I certainly wouldn't, cause I spent a lot of time and energy in it and others take advantage (in the Metallica case that's financial advantage). It's not that much about the advantage the others have, but the feeling your hard work is simply copied. The same way it is with Metallica: They don't care about the financial advantage others had, they simply feel that the hard work they have done was somehow for nothing. Music IS an art, and Metallica's is even a beautiful one. They put their whole life in it. I hear you all say: I bought all the CD's. Well, Metallica is NOT attacking the people who owe the CD's, but the ones who don't and use Napster to copy songs. If you do have the CD's, there is NO reason for you to share your songs on Napster (Well I guess there are for some of you). I will continue to support Metallica and buy their CD's - cause even though their expensive (And that's not even because of Metallica), I think they are worth it! You say they betray their fans. If you are a real Metallica (stronger: Music) fan, you don't use Napster!