Universities are hubs for file sharing, and it could be the gateway to find the primary copyright law abusers.
By Erica Randall
Staff Writer
Part of becoming an adult means taking responsibility for your actions.
Record labels are issuing subpoenas to universities and college students regarding the illegal download of copyrighted music. This is the right step to reduce and eventually stop unlawful downloading. The Recording Industry Association of America has begun a campaign focusing specifically on individuals, already suing more than 250 people in its fight to end piracy.
Downloading copyrighted music is stealing, something that both the Bible and society heavily discourage. By warning individuals – universities and college students in particular – record labels are only trying to end a mass wave of music theft that has been going on far too long.
Why college students? With limited income and unlimited access to high-speed Internet services on campus, these pop-culture crazed individuals are understandably the prime suspects in RIAA’s massive campaign to end the out-of-control trend that is slowly deteriorating the industry.
Of course, the music industry generates billions of dollars worldwide each year, but they are also losing billions of dollars because of piracy. No one ever has the right to steal what belongs to someone else. You can never get something for nothing, and the recent actions of the RIAA justify this principle.
An estimated 60 million Americans engage in file-sharing networks, downloading free music from any artist within minutes, according to the CNN Web site. However, “the RIAA is offering an amnesty program for people who admit they illegally share music, promising not to sue them in exchange for their admission and pledge to delete the songs off their
computer.”
The technology-savvy younger demographic has been chiefly to blame, but many have met these accusations honorably. A 12-year-old girl, sued by RIAA for illegally sharing music, agreed to pay $2 per song she allegedly shared, admitting that she was sorry for what she had done. If a 12-year-old girl can admit that she was wrong, others should take responsibility for their own unlawful actions as well.
I am not saying, however, that every college student in America who has downloaded copyrighted music for free should turn himself or herself into the RIAA. But admitting personal responsibility for contributing to piracy and deleting all the illegally shared songs on the computer is vital in ending this unlawful activity.
Several Pepperdine students have been proactive instead of waiting for an RIAA subpoena.
“I deleted KaZaa from my computer as soon as I heard about the lawsuit,” said Jasmine Sanchez, a junior business major. “I love music, and I don’t mind buying the CDs to the songs I love.”
Purchasing CDs can put a strain on college students’ pockets, but after Universal Music recently lowered CD prices, it appears other labels might follow. Whatever the case, sharing CDs without copying them and paying to download music online are cheaper alternatives to buying an entire CD. Besides, record artists will thank their fans as they buy their music, noting how many dedicated supporters they have and wanting to continue to perform for them.
Coming down on college and university students, among other individuals, is the first step in rectifying this unethical movement of illegal downloading of copyrighted music. Getting something for nothing is, most of the time, a welcome and pleasing experience, but not when it involves engaging in an illegal act by taking something that belongs to someone else.
And with subpoenas having been recently issued to UCLA, USC and Loyola Marymount University, it appears Pepperdine may be next on the RIAA’s list. Perhaps students should learn from the lawsuits that are already pending and free themselves from any potential blame.
It is time to delete KaZaa and other file-sharing networks from the computer, delete downloaded songs, and begin to save enough money to buy that treasured CD. It is time to take personal responsibility for one’s actions and abide by the copyright laws being enforced at long last by the RIAA. All in all, it is time to be an adult.
September 18, 2003