Cons of File Sharing

[Rand Dusing]

I'm doing a debate either tomorrow or Wednesday and my team is against downloading music on the internet. I asked him if this was only downloading copyrighted music or just music in general and he said all music. So If the other team brings up the point that it isn't copyrighted then I'm kind of stumped. Does any have some links or ideas on why downloading music is bad?

I have so far:

It's illegal to download copyrighted music illegaly.
Stealing is bad.
You are taking money from people.
Against the law.
Possibly could indirectly raise the cost of your internet. (If your ISP refuses the RIAAs subpeonas, they have to pay the lawyer)
It clogs the internet. (Downloading all this music could affect your internet speed)
Artists go out of business.
It makes spreading virii easier.
It spreads crappy music like Pop and Rap.
It's against the ten commandments to steal.
It is a waste of energy.

[Epidemic]

But it is my right as an american to steal whatever I can.

I decide how much things are, and if you try to sell them for more than I deem fit I will steal them. A product of ME ME ME generational thinking.

Pirate logic above.

My logic below.

It is stealing.
It robs small store owner of revenue on their investment.
It takes money out of RIAA and Software developers hands Illegally.
No matter how you slice it, IT IS WRONG.

Either you pay for it or you are stealing it.

the only exception to it is shareware and freeware. If they put it out for you then more power to ya.

[Gomer]

Unless you listen to it on the radio... What the radio gets paid (illegally) to play anyway.

[Rand Dusing]

But doesn't the radio pay royalties to the artist(s) when they play their songs.

[Mike]

YGPM Rand Dusing.

[Gomer]

The radio only pays royalty to those who wrote the song, not the performer nor the producer.

[RedFury]

It's funny you never heard them complain when people started having stereo equipment that could record a broadcast signal to tape ( Ollllld technology )

You've got no retort to non copyrighted music because there is none. You don't have to make that argument as this discussion is obviously about copyrighted music that artists still make money on ( even Elvis' estate ). You would argue that point as a counterpoint to their non copyright point, since their point is moot to the discussion.

It's a good point to debate though ( just wish you were on the "why it's okay to download music" side )

just FYI file sharing is not against the law, it can be used to share out legit shareware software (linux), game patches and personal music created by people who just want to share.

i think the number one problem is this:

its a breeding ground for virus's. many people on a dialy basis download britney spears- hit me baby one more time.exe and infect their computers that attack outlook email sending out to other slowing down networks and infecting other peoples computers and creating a domino effect


as for your other example

It spreads crappy music like Pop and Rap.

that is your personal opionion and not a valid arguement.

and i dont see how waste of energy fits in there. are you trying to say that file sharing some how increase the amount of power you use in your house or something?

[John Prophet]

just find the RIAA's website, do a little reading, and I am sure you will find plenty of ideas, lol. (or read any courtney love interview)

while she is under the influence John? wait thats all the time