The Napster Debate Essay, Research Paper
The Napster Debate
The Napster software (napster), established in May of 1999, allows Internet users to share and download MP3 files directly from any computer connected to the Napster network. The software downloads a client program from the Napster site and then connects to the network through the software. This allows sharing (uploading and downloading) of MP3 files between all users connected to the network. Napster also allows users to speak to one another by ways of instant messages, chat rooms, and Hot List user bookmarks. Napster does not condone copyright infringement, but leaves no opportunity in the software to stop this from happening. Napster also does not provide artists with royalties for their music. People can now download music for free in their own homes and artists can release their music themselves. This could mean the end of record labels and other associated companies, causing artists and record companies to worry. Napster challenges the music industry’s monopoly on distribution
Unlike similar file-sharing software such as Gnutella and Freenet, Napster limits users to uploading/downloading of MP3 files only. (gnutella.wego/) and (freenet.sourceforge/) MP3 files approximate one-tenth the size of the corresponding wave files and can be close to CD-quality. This reason causes many artists, record labels, and other music industry stakeholders to be concerned by MP3 file formats like Napster that simplify the sharing of copyrighted material.
Other file formats commonly used on the Internet do not seem to be a threat to the recording industry primarily due to the reduced quality of the recording. Real audio files have reduced sound quality, as compared to a radio, and usually stream over different protocols. This allows people to listen to songs without having to download the source files. Midi, another music file format, can be commonly found on the Internet. These files pose no threat to the music industry. The files send a set of instructions to the computer communicating which sounds to play, not recorded music since there is no way to duplicate vocal tracks. Use of the Midi format has decreased causing the software to become outdated.
The reaction from artists, record labels, and other music industries varies, although reactions have been primarily anti-Napster. The first action to be taken against Napster was by the band Metallica. (salon/tech/log/2000/05/10/napster_metallica/index.html) In April of 2000, Metallica sued Napster Inc. for copyright infringement. (usatoday/life/cyber/tech/review/crh499.htm) Napster banned some 300,000 users who allegedly downloaded Metallica songs to settle the case out of court. (theregister.co.uk/content/archive/11131.html) Napster Inc. was sued again in June 2000, for copyright infringement by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade group representing the US recording industry. The RIAA alleged, “Napster is… enabling and encouraging the illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted music”. (riaa/About- Who.cfm) Napster claims the Audio Home Recording Act permits copying of material for personal use, allowing users to exchange MP3’s. Napster further claims immunity by defining the company as an ISP under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. (theregister.co.uk/content/archive/11750.html) The RIAA unsuccessfully applied for an injunction to stop Napster’s operations until after the court case in September. (usatoday/life/cyber/tech/review/crh428.htm)
Other artists and record labels (napster/speakout/artists.html) and (napster/speakout/labels.html) have reacted to the advent of Napster and similar software in a positive way, embracing the new technology rather than rejecting it. On the Offspring’s website, the band said, “MP3 technology and programs such as Napster [are] a vital and necessary means to promote music and foster better relationships with our fans.” (offspring/napster.html) The Offspring’s last album, Americana, before commercial release became available illegally online, yet it is the band’s best-selling album to date. A number of surveys have proven that Napster users buy more CDs after sampling songs online (theregister.co.uk/content/1/12093.html). This issue builds the core of the RIAA lawsuit, whether or not Napster and similar applications will mean reduced CD sales. Napster does challenge the traditional distribution of music, but whether this should be viewed as a threat or a new medium the music industry can exploit creates another issue. Some record labels, notably Epitaph (epitaph), partnered with sites like e-music to sell full albums and single songs in MP3 format over the web. In this case, the record company gained a new distribution method rather than seeing it as the “enemy”. The record company still gets a cut of the profits, while the artists’ whose songs are downloaded through Napster don’t.
Napster creates a free and convenient way to get music compared to visiting record stores, making it appealing. Napster also facilitates international distribution for unsigned artists, threatening record labels. Previously, without being signed to a record label an artist could not get the exposure to make a living as a musician. The Internet allows sites like mp3 and Napster to aid struggling artists.
The music industry’s response to Napster compares to the response to the introduction of cassette and VHS tapes. The technologies allowed people to record and duplicate copyrighted information, and at the time these were seen as threats to the respective industries. Time has proven that tape recordings are no substitute for professional, commercial recordings. The same can be said for Napster. Songs can be downloaded but do not produce CD quality and complete albums can rarely be found on Napster. After downloading an MP3 it can only be listened to on a computer or a walkman-style device, such as RIO. Compact discs can be listened to almost anywhere; on a computer, stereo, Walkman, car, and etc. MP3’s can be written to compact discs but the level of expertise required to create a CD’s results in it being easier to buy a commercial CD.
When a consumer purchases a CD, they receive extras such as artwork, lyrics, pictures and other liner information, making the CD more valuable. New advancements in multimedia components for computers allow video footage, photos, games, and etc., to be included on the CD. Just as people still purchase and rent videos even though they can record movies from TV, people will continue to buy CDs, encouraged more if prices are reduced and extras given away with the music. Then Napster could be seen as a “try before you buy” application for the music industry not an enemy.
Bibliography
Brown, Janelle. “Napster throws Metallica a curveball.” (2000). 13 Mar. 2001
(salon/tech/log/2000/05/10/napster_metallica/index.html)
Clarke, Ian. FreeNet Page. 17 Feb. 2001 (freenet.sourceforge/)
Fanning, Shawn. Napster Page. 17 Feb. 2001 (napster/ company)
Kohn, Robert H. E-Music Page. 17 Feb. 2001 (emusic/)
Moinvvaziri, Nathan. Gnutella Page. 17 Feb. 2001 (gnutella.wego/)
MP3. MP3 Page. 17 Feb. 2001 (mp3/)
The Offspring. The Offspring Page/MP3 Technology and Napster. 19 Feb. 2001
(offspring/napster.html)
Rosen, Hilary B. RIAA / Who We Are Page 17 Feb. 2001
(riaa/About- Who.cfm)
Rosen, Hilary B. RIAA / FAQ on Napster and Digital Music Page. 17 Feb. 2001
(riaa/Napster.cfm)
Smith, Tony. “Napster exiles 230,000 more alleged music pirates.” (2001). 18 Feb. 2001
(theregister.co.uk/content/archive/11131.html)
Smith, Tony. “MP3 Fans buy more CDs than non-fans – survey.“ (2001). 18 Feb. 2001
(theregister.co.uk/content/archive/12647.html)
Smith, Tony. “Napster Details Copyright Case Defence.” (2000). 18 Feb. 2001
(theregister.co.uk/content/archive/11750.html)
USA Today. “Napster not Protected by Copyright Law.” (2000). 14 Mar. 2001
(usatoday/life/cyber/tech/review/crh499.html)
USA Today. “Napster claims Injunction Unwarranted.“ (2000). 14 Mar. 2001
(usatoday/life/cyber/tech/review/crh428.htm)
Другие работы по теме:
Napster Essay Research Paper The problems faced
Napster Essay, Research Paper The problems faced by Napster and how it affects us. INTRODUCTION Shawn Fanning let his closely cropped coiffure grow a bit shaggy, so his friends started calling him “nappy.” That evolved into a new nickname, “Napster,” which became the Internet handle he used in chat rooms.
Cyber Battle The People Versus Napstercom Essay
, Research Paper Napster is a music search engine founded by Shawn Fanning about a year ago. It is a software program that allows individuals to search for their favorite music selection by connecting to millions of other users around the world. Napster is basically the simplest way to find MP3?s that you want anytime and the same time be able to share the selections with the world?s largest community of music lovers.
Go Napster Essay Research Paper Shawn Fanning
Go Napster Essay, Research Paper Shawn Fanning, a freshman in college, launched Napster in the beginning of 1999.Napster allows Internet users to share and download MP3 (music) files directly from any computer connected to the Napster network, which could be hundreds of thousands of people.You can use Napster by downloading the software from the Internet site, and then connecting to the network using this software, which allows the sharing of all your MP3 files with anyone else on the network.Unlike many other file sharing networks, Napster limits their users to only download MP3 files.The advantage of these files are that they can be very close to CD quality and are one-tenth the size of a wave file.This is the main reason that many artists and record labels are concerned with the MP3 file format and programs like Napster that makes it very easy to share copyrighted material.The fact
Napster Controversy Essay Research Paper NapsterWhat is
Napster Controversy Essay, Research Paper Napster What is the big deal with the whole napster controversy? All it is is a network, which allows millions of people to share files, which are already available on the Internet.
Napster Essay Research Paper Ruling could doom
Napster Essay, Research Paper Ruling could doom Napster A federal court ruled yesterday that Napster must stop allowing users to swap copyrighted music. Napster officials said they would keep operating while they fought in court. Napster was created by a teenager in 1999. Napster’s software lets computer users trade audio files by connecting with one another.
Napster Essay Research Paper Napster is an
Napster Essay, Research Paper Napster is an integrated browser and communications system provided by Napster, Inc., to enable musicians and music fans to locate bands and music available in the MP3 and WMA music formats. The MP3 and WMA files that you locate using Napster are not stored on Napster’s servers.
Is Napster Illegal Essay Research Paper Is
Is Napster Illegal Essay, Research Paper Is Napster illegal? Tough question… Actually, the issue really isn’t whether Napster is legal or not. The corporate suits and rich-bitch musicians would argue so, but it’s just a cover for their fears. They’re basically afraid of Napster because its done something that hasn’t happened in a while, but so desperately needed to happen.
Napster Essay Research Paper NapsterWhat would you
Napster Essay, Research Paper Napster What would you do if had a access to all the music that you wanted and it was free? Well, in the age of the internet this situation is possible with mp3 s. Mp3 s are compressed digital audio files which has near cd quality sound. It was developed by a German engineering form called Fraunhofer IIS in 1987.
Napsters Problem Essay Research Paper The Problem
Napsters Problem Essay, Research Paper The Problem with Napster The sole reason behind anybody’s discrepency with Napster is because there is a group, maybe even the majority its users abuse what it is capable of.
XNapster Essay Research Paper XNapsterThe infamous Napster
X-Napster Essay, Research Paper X-Napster The infamous Napster under attack for it s pirating of music from famous musician s needs to be shut down. Piracy is a major issue of moral standards, right, and wrong in the entertainment world. Napster is well known for it s sharing of MP3 files through the Internet; taking, receiving, and bootlegging.
Legal Vs Illegal Essay Research Paper Legal
Legal Vs. Illegal Essay, Research Paper Legal vs. Illegal (Napster vs. Music Industry) The issues that will be slugged out in federal district court in San Francisco sound a little too pop culture to be all that serious. How many music CDs are people buying these days in record stores throughout the nation because of Napster? Is the technology that Napster uses legal? Napster is, of course, the wildly popular file-sharing service whose 20 million users have downloaded some half a billion songs–most copyrighted for free.
Dark As Hell Essay Research Paper The
Dark As Hell Essay, Research Paper The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is suing Napster for allegedly enabling music piracy through its proprietary MusicShare program. MusicShare allows music lovers to open up their stores of MP3 files to all other Napster users. Whenever a user is online, his MP3s are up for grabs, with the only stipulation being that users upload a file for each one that they download.
Napster And Musician Rights Essay Research Paper
Music copyright is something that will always be in question. Many people believe that music is for all to hear and should not be restricted on how we obtain it. Napster is the greatest controversy in the United States at current. Many musicians and people believe others should have free access to all music.
The Federal Reserve System Essay Research Paper
Should Napster be prosecuted? Napster a free music sharing software is in the mist of being sued by many music corporation for copyright infringement. Napster users download and upload copyright music without the permission of the copyright owners which is illegal. People who write, perform, and produce the music don’t even recieve a royality from there work which is considered stealing.
Shutting Down Napster Is Not The
Solution Essay, Research Paper Shutting Down Napster is Not the Solution Almost everyone has heard of Napster and its long debated issue s of file swapping and sharing. Considering Napster s short-lived existence of about a year and a half, they have certainly opened many people s eyes. Some say the file swapping that Napster allows everyone to do is illegal; others says it s just another thing to do on the internet.
The Great Napster Essay Research Paper THE
The Great Napster Essay, Research Paper THE GREAT NAPSTER Napster is innovative file-sharing software that lets an online community of music lovers trade MP3 files free of charge. You search for a song by name, and a list of people who have it pops up and you can choose whomever you want to get it from, and in addition, you can see and download any other songs that they may have in their files.
Abortion Essay Research Paper wwwpottersschoolcomabortionIs it right
Abortion Essay, Research Paper www.pottersschool/abortion/ Is it right or is it wrong? Is it murder or is it a woman’s choice. There are so many conflicting views, but who is right? The debate over abortion will probably never be settled in my life time. As with many computer literate people, the author of this site gives us an objective view on abortion.
Rogerian Argument
– Pronapster Essay, Research Paper Simple Solution for Napster Lately, there has been a significant amount of concern regarding software programs that promote the sharing of songs at a minimal cost to the consumer. These networks allow users to swap computer files in the form of MP3s among one another via the World Wide Web.
Napster Vs Riaa Essay Research Paper Napster
Napster Vs Riaa Essay, Research Paper Napster vs. Music Industry Napster is an ongoing controversy on the Web. Napster is a software program that allows anyone to find their favorite music by connecting them to the computers of millions of other users. It is the simplest way to find the MP3s they want, whenever they want, and share them with the world’s largest community of music lovers.
The Mp3 Controversy Essay Research Paper A
The Mp3 Controversy Essay, Research Paper A major news item lately has been what is called The MP3 Controversy. It is based on the free trade of music files known as MP3s, which are small enough to be easily downloaded but have the same quality as a compact disc. Computer users are able to download these files from the internet and then burn them onto CDs that can be played in any regular CD player.
Debate On Napster Essay Research Paper
NAPSTER: BREAKING THE CONSTITUTION The Napster software, which launched in 1999, allows people to share digital music files (MP3) between each other. This Internet program has sparked a historical debate about
Napster Debate Essay Research Paper Napster DebateFor
Napster Debate Essay, Research Paper Napster Debate For a project in college eighteen-year old Shawn Fanning wrote a program for a way to download music off the internet. He later put the program on the internet and Napster was born. Napster is a program that allows you to download music on the internet. Since this program is free, many people have downloaded Napster.
Napster1 Essay Research Paper Napster The Napster
Napster1 Essay, Research Paper Napster The Napster Controversy In the controversy against Napster, many supporters fight to keep their freedom alive. This case is about whether the plaintiffs can use their control of music copyrights to achieve control over Napster’s decentralized technology and prevent it from transforming the Internet in ways that might undermine their present chokehold on music promotion and distribution.
RIAA Vs Napster Essay Research Paper The
RIAA Vs Napster Essay, Research Paper The debate over whether or not Napster Inc. is in violation of existing copyright infringement laws is a complex issue. Napster?s defense attorneys
Napster Essay Essay Research Paper Who wouldn
Napster Essay Essay, Research Paper Who wouldn t want to get free music off the Internet? I know I would jump at the chance to be able to get all the music I ve ever wanted for free. This is what the program Napster has attempted to do. But, you have to as yourself, what about copyright laws? What would happen if everybody stopped buying albums because they could get it for free? Napster has broken copyright laws, and album sales have decreased because of Napster.
Napster
’S Upshot Essay, Research Paper Napster’s Upshot Bickering, oh the endless bickering! It seems like that has become the pastime of the record industry and the estimated 32 million Napster users. All this frustration was brought about when Napster revolutionized the use of person-to-person file sharing over the net.
Napster Essay Research Paper The Napster RevolutionHave
Napster Essay, Research Paper The Napster Revolution Have you ever listened to your favorite song on the radio and recorded it? I remember when I would sit next to the radio and listen to it for hours at-a-time, just so that I could record my favorite songs off the radio. Now with computers and the Internet, I would go all over the Internet to look for songs, but only some of the time I was successful.
Napster Essay Research Paper There are many
Napster Essay, Research Paper There are many different controversies when consulting the topic on Napster. Napster is a computer program that lets people download mp3 music files from other people with the program. Lots of people and music companies believe that this is bad and Napster should be stopped or should charge people.
Napster Essay Research Paper Napster is continuing
Napster Essay, Research Paper Napster is continuing to comply with the District Court?s injunction and to prevent the record companies from shutting down file sharing. In the process of doing so, we have implemented a range of filters designed to remove from the Napster service all copyrighted works for which we have received notice.
Napster Essay Research Paper For many years
Napster Essay, Research Paper For many years the record companies have fixed record prices to avoid competing with each other and to maximize their profits. Currently, the record companies are collaborating in order to force Napster to shut down. The record companies are claiming that Napster is breaking copyright laws.
Mobile PhonesInternet Essay Research Paper MobileCell PhonesMobile
Mobile Phones/Internet Essay, Research Paper Mobile/Cell Phones Mobile phones have changed the way the world communicates. With the invention of the cellular phone service in 1983, personal telephones no longer depended on wires. In the 90’s it was now possible to connect to the Internet from virtually anywhere in the world from your cellular phone using satellite services.
Napster Essay Research Paper Napster By Alexis
Napster Essay, Research Paper Napster By: Alexis Alexis Frank IST 333 August 9,2000 Napster In less than one year Napster has become the hot application that has some 20 million users running to their computer. Napster is currently fighting for its life against a court ordered shutdown, but it seems that people will find a way to share and downloud on line music no matter what.
Napster Company Meltdown Essay Research Paper Napster
Napster: Company Meltdown Essay, Research Paper Napster: Company Meltdown? A nineteen-year-old entrepreneur, named Shawn Fanning, created Napster in 1999 as an elaborate plan to download music better from the Internet. Since its creation, Napster has caught on in the cyber world like wildfire. Ask any college student if he or she has heard of this company and you will hear a resounding YES! .