Commentary, March 9, 2001
Napster, File Sharing, And The Music Industry

By Darryl Ballantyne

Almost everybody has had their say on the whole Napster issue - the topic's been beaten to death almost as much as the U.S. election was (And I'm in Canada; I can't imagine how much repetitive drivel those of you in the States got each day).

However, as many articles as I've read, none of them seem to capture the true essence of the whole situation. There are a few key points that must be realized, and a lot of common misconceptions about Napster, the file-sharing community, and the music industry as a whole.

1) Napster's $1 billion offer really deserves to be laughed at.
2) The record companies will never agree to any settlement with Napster.
3) P2P file sharing cannot be stopped.
4) The record companies must win the consumers, not the legal battles.
5) The artists aren't the bad guys.
6) The record companies (and the RIAA) are just doing their job. (NEW!)

Conclusion

Next: 1) Napster's $1 billion offer really deserves to be laughed at.