Comments on: Selling mp3s on an honors system http://www.onlinefandom.com/archives/selling-mp3s-on-an-honors-system/ news & perspectives on fan communication and online social life Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:03:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ted http://www.onlinefandom.com/archives/selling-mp3s-on-an-honors-system/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Ted Mon, 09 Oct 2006 01:17:34 +0000 http://www.onlinefandom.com/archives/selling-mp3s-on-an-honors-system/#comment-67 Interesting quandary. The used-CD vs. downloading is an example why the RIAA just does not get it. I have a difficult time with people who are so absolute on these issues, especially from a legal perspective. The RIAA is trying to create the impression that there is truly a clear-cut defination of what is legal and what isn't. The simple reality is that they can do this as they have the deep pockets and a stable of lawyers. However, I would submit that with a countervailing legal assualt team, the answer would be in the grey where it belongs. For example, is purchasing music from a Russsian site legal? It is in Russia. Most would say no. But what if you bought a song from EMI in the UK? Is that not the same? Should it be up to the consumer to investigate how much is going to the record/distribution company? Here is my simple philosophy which is slightly similar to yours. I have in excess of 2000 CDs and I buy many downloads from a "grey" site. However, for music that I listen to more than once I typically either buy their CDs locally OR I end up seeing them in concert which puts more money in the artists hands than a CD purchase. I feel far more comfortable in knowing that I have directly contributed to them as a band. As an attorney, I seldom find anything to be truly black and white and I think this is a reflection of our times. I find this mentality to be concrete at best and pathalogical at worst (i.e. our current political administration). I think that Hatfield's approach is fantastic and I wish more artists would follow suit. This is a great site BTW. Interesting quandary. The used-CD vs. downloading is an example why the RIAA just does not get it. I have a difficult time with people who are so absolute on these issues, especially from a legal perspective. The RIAA is trying to create the impression that there is truly a clear-cut defination of what is legal and what isn’t. The simple reality is that they can do this as they have the deep pockets and a stable of lawyers. However, I would submit that with a countervailing legal assualt team, the answer would be in the grey where it belongs. For example, is purchasing music from a Russsian site legal? It is in Russia. Most would say no. But what if you bought a song from EMI in the UK? Is that not the same? Should it be up to the consumer to investigate how much is going to the record/distribution company?
Here is my simple philosophy which is slightly similar to yours. I have in excess of 2000 CDs and I buy many downloads from a “grey” site. However, for music that I listen to more than once I typically either buy their CDs locally OR I end up seeing them in concert which puts more money in the artists hands than a CD purchase. I feel far more comfortable in knowing that I have directly contributed to them as a band.

As an attorney, I seldom find anything to be truly black and white and I think this is a reflection of our times. I find this mentality to be concrete at best and pathalogical at worst (i.e. our current political administration).

I think that Hatfield’s approach is fantastic and I wish more artists would follow suit.

This is a great site BTW.

]]>