WinMX

[Liar]

Considering how rightfully upset we get when our copyrighted stories are copied elsewhere, I'm surprised this topic was raised here.

Aww, come on. Double standards are sexy.

Besides, the only thing I dowload these days are TV shows when I miss the regular programming and PD soundbanks.

It's not because I have morals, but because I live two doors down from a guy with a DVD collection the size of the Library of Congress. So I don't hafta.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Considering how rightfully upset we get when our copyrighted stories are copied elsewhere, I'm surprised this topic was raised here.

Having had stories pirated, I appreciate laurel's agressive defense of us. However, to my knowledge, Laurel has never tried to have every other story site shut down, reguardless of their content.

P2p has legitimate uses. I have never violated a single copyright held by the Riaa. Not once. Not ever. Using political clout, Money, Lawyers and heavy handed strong arm tactics to deprive everyone of p2p networks, reguardless of their usage is what pisses me off.

Everyone has a right to defend themselves from theft, but making P2p providers responsible for the content swapped by users is like making the gun industry responsible if someone uses one of their products in a crime. The software providers are completely incapable of such policing and they don't have the money needed to fight lengthy court battles. That kind of abuse of the leagal system has always put a burr under my saddle.

If you have read anything on the subject you will know the president of the Riaa went so far as to say listening to music on your computer isn't a right. Last I heard, if I purchase a CD, I'm entitled to put that music into whatever format best suits my listening needs. Just as making tapes of my collection for road trips is permissible, ripping songs to mp3 format to listen to as I write is no different. I paid for the rights to listen to that music as I choose.

Like any tyrant, the more heavy handed and abusive they become, the more people will resist. It's human nature. Or, if you prefer a military analogy, if you attack on a broad front, you will inevitably harm people who had no quarrel with you. Those people, feeling themselves the agrived party, will become your most dangerous and implacable foes.

I'm not a music pirate. I'm not going to become a music pirate even in my anger. But my sympathies will now lie with anyone who is sticking it to the Riaa, be that through litigation, legislation or direct action.

 

[Guest]

Actually, I'm not trying to incite a debate--p2p, and the RIAA heavy handedness has been heavily debated and well documented (see slashdot.org). I was just pointing out how astonished I was to see it openly discussed here. Its sort of like discussing which McDonald's burgers are best on a Vegetarian Dating site.

Using political clout, Money, Lawyers and heavy handed strong arm tactics to deprive everyone of p2p networks, reguardless of their usage is what pisses me off.

It's the golden rule : those with the gold make the rules. Never more so in these times of no-bid contracts, Joe Allbaugh connections for sale etc.

 

[R. Richard]

The issue is not a simple one.

Like Colly, I have music on my computer and it is almost all from purchsed CDs. However, I like 50s and 60s music and some of it I have ripped off because I can no longer buy the music and P2P is the only practical way I can get it.

I have dealt with people who have every current popular music CD there is pirated and available for download; some of them even sell copyrighted music. That is not only theft, but the kind of theft that leads to artists being unable to make a living because what the creat is ripped off. I do not support theft.

If someone has a pirated TV show DVD and that is theft, what about the guy who records the show from the original broadcast?

It is not a simple issue.

 

[tolyk]

There are tons of programs you can use to replace WinMX anyways (though that's what I used also, and always enjoyed the layout).

I hear a lot of good things about limewire, edonkey, morpheus, and others... for the really hardcore people, you can also try IRC... can get almost anything if you find the right server there.

 

[Liar]

Considering how rightfully upset we get when our copyrighted stories are copied elsewhere, I'm surprised this topic was raised here.

Hey look, I thought of a serious reply too.

I'll gladly let people copy stories for personal, non profit use, although that's pointless since they are available for free for everybody here. My stories are, if you will, available as Freeware. But not as Public Domain.

It's when my copyrighted stories are commersially published (or non-commersially, without crediting me as the author) that I object.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Hey look, I thought of a serious reply too.

I'll gladly let people copy stories for personal, non profit use, although that's pointless since they are available for free for everybody here. My stories are, if you will, available as Freeware. But not as Public Domain.

It's when my copyrighted stories are commersially published (or non-commersially, without crediting me as the author) that I object.

Exactly. I... this guy I know, I mean... downloads music, and no it's not legal, but it's hardly harmful to the people in question. The artists really struggling to make it... Their music is hardly common. It's not as though it's being made as available as a Britney Spears CD or a 3 Doors Down CD. Those groups, the ones most taken advantage of, can make a living and a half just on live performances. I, on the other hand, would be broke, and other than quality, I don't see much difference in downloading online and copying from the radio, which I don't believe is illegal (though I'm not staking on it my reputation--cuz we all know I'm so very well-respected ).

Like Liar said, they can read my work, and duplicate it, and send it to thier friends. I don't care. It's sort of like Stephen King complaining that libraries offer his books for free reading when patrons thereof could buy a copy instead. Honestly, a lot of struggling artists might find the net and P2P sharing uselful. If someone hears a song by some new group and it's a good song, and tells me, "hey, listen to this new song by _______," I just might download it for free; I won't buy it. If not for the download, they might be out a fan (who very likely will buy the new album for the sake of getting all the music instead of just one more popular song, or older albums that got less exposure, like Superstar Carwash, which I can't find locally, and will have to probably order online ).

Oh, and I went with Ares. Would like to get WinMX back up, but didn't have the patience to mess with it just yet.

Thanx, everyone.

Q_C