Web 2.0 technologies have led to many online applications and communities that make our daily lives easier, more convenient, and much more entertaining. Most of these technologies operate within the legal guidelines of our society; however, one does not. Downloading pirated music. There are an infinite number of websites dedicated to downloading copyrighted music illegally. Basically, any music that is downloaded without being paid for is considered illegal.
I would agree that retail CD prices are unreasonably priced, usually around $15-18. In fact, it’s much easier to stay home and download pirated music than drive to the store and dish out $15 per CD. In the past, I have heard friends justify pirated music with the logic that they only buy a CD for one or two songs that they like. Therefore, why not just download the two desired songs, and save the $15 CD cost. Well, that makes sense.
Hello iTunes. Now it is possible to purchase individual songs online for only $0.99. I have been a satisfied customer of the iPOD generation for the last five years. Before iPODs were introduced I can’t remember how music was purchased on the Internet. However, I can remember downloading music and not paying one cent for it. Now that I have access to iTunes, it almost seems criminal to download pirated music when I have the option to buy my favorite songs for only $0.99 each.
I still have issues with paying $15+ for a CD, although I find paying for music much more reasonable through iTunes. I imagine that others feel the same way that I do, and that the emergence of iTunes has led to a decline in pirated music. There will always be those people who refuse to pay for music when there remains a way to get it for free. But I think that iTunes is an acceptable alternative to stealing music. The only current deterrent to downloading pirated music is the threat of a lawsuit. Although to my knowledge, no one has been arrested yet for downloading a few songs on the weekend. Not a very successful deterrent. Perhaps the only other deterrent is the threat of downloading malicious software when you think you’re getting a music file. That’s a mistake that should make people think twice before downloading pirated music again.
I would agree that retail CD prices are unreasonably priced, usually around $15-18. In fact, it’s much easier to stay home and download pirated music than drive to the store and dish out $15 per CD. In the past, I have heard friends justify pirated music with the logic that they only buy a CD for one or two songs that they like. Therefore, why not just download the two desired songs, and save the $15 CD cost. Well, that makes sense.
Hello iTunes. Now it is possible to purchase individual songs online for only $0.99. I have been a satisfied customer of the iPOD generation for the last five years. Before iPODs were introduced I can’t remember how music was purchased on the Internet. However, I can remember downloading music and not paying one cent for it. Now that I have access to iTunes, it almost seems criminal to download pirated music when I have the option to buy my favorite songs for only $0.99 each.
I still have issues with paying $15+ for a CD, although I find paying for music much more reasonable through iTunes. I imagine that others feel the same way that I do, and that the emergence of iTunes has led to a decline in pirated music. There will always be those people who refuse to pay for music when there remains a way to get it for free. But I think that iTunes is an acceptable alternative to stealing music. The only current deterrent to downloading pirated music is the threat of a lawsuit. Although to my knowledge, no one has been arrested yet for downloading a few songs on the weekend. Not a very successful deterrent. Perhaps the only other deterrent is the threat of downloading malicious software when you think you’re getting a music file. That’s a mistake that should make people think twice before downloading pirated music again.
Since I have started d/l-ing music, I find it very strange to actually see and hold a factory pressed store bought CD. While I don't think that store bought CDs will disappear anytime soon, I do know that overall CD sales continue to decline year over year. I wonder if we are at the point where there are some tech savvy kids who have never seen a store bought CD with the advent and popularity of iTunes.
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