Copyright Law

Interesting article, "The Future of File Sharing"

By Ty Rogers and Ray Beckerman

Interesting article appearing in "Intellectual Property Watch" by Bruce Gain:

Special Report: The Future Of File Sharing
By Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch

Digital content owners continue to emphasise enforcement and protection of intellectual property. However, the impact that litigation and legislation have had with the purpose of limiting illegal file sharing remains questionable, thus setting the stage for new economic models and approaches that could serve as a remedy.

Recent aggressive attempts by a government to limit file sharing include France?s HADOPI law, which is heavily criticised for being unenforceable and could possibly violate constitutional protections. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and affiliates? litigation campaign in the United States, which has gone on for five years and led to over 30,000 lawsuits, has hardly deterred illegal file sharing. Despite other initiatives around the world in addition to actions taken in France and in the United States, artists or music companies are paid for only about 5 percent of all music files that are downloaded worldwide, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Content owners of video, games, and other digitised media also share the same plight.

In many respects, the RIAA?s litigation campaign and other more aggressive copyright protection and enforcement measures may turn out to be just a blip in new media?s history. Instead, new distribution models are likely to emerge that appease both content owners and consumers while replacing established commercial channels, such as CDs and even more modernistic online music sales.

Keywords: lawyer digital copyright law online internet law legal download upload peer to peer p2p file sharing filesharing music movies indie independent label freeculture creative commons pop/rock artists riaa independent mp3 cd favorite songs intellectual property portable music player

Full post as published by Recording Industry vs The People on June 03, 2009 (boomark / email).