For in-depth analysis on issues surrounding music downloading, tune-in to CBC Radio One on Friday, July 28, 2006 between 6:00AM – 9:00AM (EST) to hear commentary from Digital Journal Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Hogg. Or, log-on to cbc.ca/listen and listen live over the Internet. Beginning at 6:00 AM (EST), Mr. Hogg can be heard in the following cities/provinces: Ontario, Quebec City, Montreal, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Calgary, Victoria, Regina, Whitehorse and Vancouver.
Digital Journal — Bye-bye, Kazaa, it’s been fun. Today’s settlement practically spells the end of the file-sharing service that was made the whipping boy of the music recording industry. Sharman Networks, the owner of Kazaa, agreed to pay more than $115 million (US) to settle lawsuits filed by Universal Music, Sony BMG, EMI and Warner Music Group in Los Angeles and Australia.
Once in the crosshairs of music industry executives, Kazaa is now playing teacher’s pet — the Sydney-based company promised to join fellow industry pariah Napster as a fully legal download site. Under the terms of the settlement, Kazaa must introduce filtering technologies so its users can’t swap copyright infringing files.
Of course, the music industry is twisting its nipples in delight. The settlement will undoubtedly cripple Kazaa — already hated by users frustrated by the software’s spyware bundling — and frighten other file-sharing sites into going legit. Labels also stand to profit from this decision, since Kazaa’s future legal downloads will shuttle money to the label, songwriter, producer and artist.
For online music junkies, the payout is a harmful roadblock to a sweet future for illegal downloads. When Napster went straight, at least MP3 fans still had Kazaa and LimeWire. Now with one of the stalwarts groveling at Big Business’s feet, the paid sites — like iTunes and PureTracks — will try to attract music pirates to their services. Should anyone pay even $1 for a new 50 Cent track? Will freedom of choice start to wither as record execs look to recoup their losses from the past five years?
If you work in the business side of music, Kazaa’s settlement will delight you beyond belief. But if you enjoy everything that makes the Internet democratic and free, then you’re frowning at the thought of having to pay for music you downloaded free. And if you’re a musician, you likely have mixed feelings about today’s thundering announcement. Sure, you’d like to get paid for your creativity but spreading MP3s around the world is smart publicity, plain and simple.
Just ask the Arctic Monkeys.
For in-depth analysis on issues surrounding music downloading, tune-in to CBC Radio One on Friday, July 28, 2006 between 6:00AM – 9:00AM (EST) to hear commentary from Digital Journal Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Hogg. Or, log-on to cbc.ca/listen and listen live over the Internet. Beginning at 6:00 AM (EST), Mr. Hogg can be heard in the following cities/provinces: Ontario, Quebec City, Montreal, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Calgary, Victoria, Regina, Whitehorse and Vancouver.
