Napster: The Copyright Battle

In the past, Web sites provided free music through peer-to-peer file sharing. This is a new technology for the general public, for several reasons. The price of home computers drops dramatically, and many people can get it now. Due to affordability, many people who have never used a computer have suddenly put themselves in the midst of new media. People will be able to use all the various applications that can send e-mails, create documents, play games and share files with others.

Napster accountability has become a serious discussion by providing users free access to music file sharing. Currently, Napster is accused of serious legal dispute as it violates the Copyright Infringement Act. The American Recording Industry Association (RIAA) represents five major record companies including Bertelsmann. Bertelsmann believes that the service of Napster is illegal because there is no charge for their use of music. However, Napster believes that it is protected by the "Safe Harbor" provision of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which means that if the users they provide violate copyright law, the Internet service provider is responsible I do not. Napster does not store MP3 files, but as Napster allows users to exchange files between members, Napster claims that the site is protected by law. On May 5, Napster's motion to renounce the renunciation of the case by RIAA has been dismissed, and the fate of Napster and the fate of the digital music industry will now be decided by the court.

Recently, Napster's ability to help users violate musicians copyright law was a continuous battle. Around the same time last year, the American Recording Industry Association (RIAA) sued Napster for violating federal and state laws through "common and alternative copyright infringement". Cary Sherman, senior vice president of RIAA, said in a statement on the prosecution's decision, "This also proves that the rules on this road are the same both on-line and off-line, giving strong messages to others Napster obviously elected to crack down on the lawsuit and the court insisted that he did not recognize the evidence that the site may actually promote sales in the music industry.This additional funds are: It is used to pay for the use of music and royalties protected in the past in the past for future use.

The core of battle is conflict of intellectual property. By making it possible for users to exchange music recordings for free, users of the Recording Industry Association of America have violated the copyright laws of Napster's services and are illegal in music by providing people with illegal means of exchanging music They claim to promote copying. (Http://www.e-business.com/napster.htm) Musicians and record companies are angry because Napster does not offer them any royalties when playing music. According to the Recording Industry Association, Naptser caused sales losses of over $ 300 million in the music industry. The problem is that music, words, ideas - all intellectual property - are considered worthy of protection, like real 'things' like diamonds and things.