Is this warning sent out by the recording companies too harsh?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071005/ap_on_hi_te/downloading_music

She is a single mother and she didn't intentionally share her songs.

Answer 1

It's a desperation move from an industry that knows its market model is doomed. It's sad that Ms. Thomas is having to bear the brunt of it.

Traditionally, music and movie producers have been able to drive up the price of their products artificially, by monopolizing the means of distribution. This tactic will simply not work in an information economy. The market will dictate the value of information, not the manufacturers. Movie, music, and software producers need to realize that, or they will die out.

EDIT
@newyorkgal:
That's a ridiculous analogy. Theft is criminal because you deprive the owner of something when you steal it. When Ms. Thomas copied files onto her computer, she didn't take that information away from the owners. They still own it and own all rights to it. This is NOT stealing. It is intellectual trespass. She misused someone else's property without their permission, but she did not steal from them.

Answer 2

No, it's NOT harsh enough. She got off to easily.

She knew the consequences when she downloaded illegally. You can't take another person's intellectual property and use it as she did.

People have to learn they cannot steal from the web, even if they think no one will notice or fine them.

She should have gotten off her butt, gone to the music store and purchased the recordings she wanted.

People think they are not stealing, but, it's the same as breaking into a house and eating the food in the fridge, because it was "there!"

Answer 3

Copyright laws exist for a reason. Further, there are too many legal ways to get music. It's over the air and Internet for free from radio stations. Just don't copy or share it. People who don't know the law or their rights will lose. As the saying goes, "If you don't know your rights you don't have any". That goes for record companies as well as individuals. Protect yourself or get badly burned by someone else.

Answer 4

Of course it is. It's the recording companies fault. For years and years they have been ripping off people by overcharging for cds and for failure to keep up with technology. I don't buy any of their excuses or reasons. This woman should be off the hook. The recording companies should clean up their act.