| It seems only a few years ago that the thought of trading music with people from all over the world in a matter of minutes was beyond any technology we had ever imagined, or hoped to see. Thanks to Shawn Fanning, this vision has become a reality. To do this, Fanning had to learn UNIX and Windows programming. His vision was so strong, he dropped out of Northeastern University in Boston, and moved in with his uncle. Afraid someone else had his idea, Fanning sometimes worked for sixty straight hours on his notebook computer, stopping only to eat every now and then. The program was complete nearly 3 months later, bringing an entirely new experience that would forever change the way we think about music: Napster, a peer- to- peer file sharing community with over 38million members. This program allows anyone can share music files via the Internet, without having to go through a centralized file server or middleman. Napster allows fans to swap music over the net quickly and easily, so that practically any tune you want can be yours in a matter of minutes, all free of charge. Napster has been awarded various industry awards for technology: In October alone it won several Wired Magazine Readers Rave Awards, including Best Music Site, Best Innovative Start- Up, and best Guerilla Marketing. It is ranked among the greatest Internet applications ever, up there with e- mail and instant messaging, and yet, it is also one of the most controversial.
The music industry is suing Napster for copyright infringement. It is illegal to copy and distribute other people's work in a way that deprives them of income, no matter the form nor whether it is online or off. While this is true, the US copyright law also allows„fair use, which states that a user can make a copy of a copyrighted work for personal use. Napster is not buying and selling music illegally, and when artists like Metallica and Dr. Dre have requested it, Napster has kicked members off their network for trying to download their music for free. It is left to the courts to decide whether Napster should be punished. No matter the verdict, there will always be others like it and ways to get around restrictions.
Napster provides people not only with commercialized music, but also with the opportunity to distribute their own music. People no longer need a huge music company behind them to get the music to the public. This gives everyone's music a chance to be heard, and in fact, may bring to the surface a lot of hidden talent that wouldn’t usually be heard because of the think that this may cause a bit of a disturbance with the major music companies because they are being relied on less. Other industries are also becoming worried from this new technology. The entertainment business believes it is only a matter of time before people begin sharing books, movies, and anything else copyrighted. Movies are already showing up on the web before they come out in theatres. Then again, the production of the VCR lead to a similar uproar, with companies saying they would contribute to piracy and put them out of business. Instead, it has provided them with another market. Despite the increase of online trading of digital files, their businesses are making more money than ever, and piracy does not have a significant impact on their profits.
In order to have the lawsuit withdrawn, Napster has recently created an alliance with Bertelsmann AG. This joining of forces will result in Napster community members getting high quality downloads and providing payments to rights-holders, and Napster will have full access to BMG's music catalogue. After seeking support from others in the music industry, Napster will be established as a widely accepted membership based service. They will invite any bands, companies, and industry members to participate in this secure service, but this change will take time to happen. Until then, Napster functions the same as it has all along, and promises to inform members in advance about any change in its services.
Bibliography
Entrepreneur Magazine, Dance To The Music: Napster Leads the Entrepreneurial Way With New Technology, November 6, 2000;
Time Magazine, Meet the Napster, October 2, 2000;
US News, Is It Sharing or Stealing?, June 12, 2000;
Bertelsmann Online, Bertelsmann and Napster Form Strategic Alliance, October 31, 2000, <http://www.dealinfo.com/BeCG-Napster/>;
<-- Back to Santa Monica Students
<-- Back to LA Students |
