Forget Sharing, Let's Sell Our MP3s

This is something that caught my eye the other day and I though may be of interest to some others. It is clear that the RIAA is going to pursue their lawsuits against online file sharers. Check out what some Slashdot readers had to say on the topic. And now it looks like the MPAA is going to do the same. But when I saw this, I hardly knew what to say besides...Are you kidding me? Take a look at this advertisement. I thought this was sort of funny. You don't see this type of thing too often.

Let's pretend, just for a second, that all of these MP3 files that are for sale come from legally bought cds or downloaded from a legal digital download service. As if the RIAA wouldn't be mad enough that this person were sharing them on the internet for free, this person is trying to sell them on a college campus for $25. When the recording industry figured out that it was to its benefit for people to purchase digital music files, I don't think that this is what it had in mind.

One of the interesting things about this advertisement is that the chances any legal action being taken against this entrepreneur are probably very small. Since this person is doing this the old fashion way, I guess out of the trunk of his or her car, chances are that it is not reaching enough people for the RIAA to ever find out (unless they read this blog) or even care.

But if the RIAA does want to go after this person, this person has made it very easy on them. Some courts have made it a little more difficult for the RIAA to identify the identities of online file sharers, forcing the record industry to file John Doe suits. But the work has already been done since this person has listed his or her phone number right on the advertisement (which I have blacked out for the purposes of this post).

Now, to be fair, it does appear from the flyer that most of the songs on this CD are lesser known artists who may or may not be signed to record labels. And this would be a good opportunity for some of these artists to reach new potential fans. Or maybe all of these tracks are in the public domain. Or maybe all of these artists have signed over the rights to these songs.

I guess the bottom line is that if sharing digital files is bad, then selling digital files is really bad. Remember those guys in Spain who thought that they could sell mp3s and make some money. They are $10.5 million poorer.

Comments

[David Rim]

You knew more and more people would start to sell their MP3s instead of giving it away for free through p2p. People like him just make it harder to make the case that p2 sharing does not hurt the artists and record companies financially. It also gives more reasons for the government to legislate stricter copyright laws so that things like this and what happened in Spain. All I can say to him is thanks for nothing.

[Aaron Hand]

The flyer method brings up several interesting points when you compare sharing via the Internet versus the "Sneaker Net" (walking a disk to the recipient and handing it over).

1) The sneaker net is harder to stop (you can't tell Ford to stop his car from driving like you can stop and ISP)
2) The sneaker net is harder to find (It's still hard to Google the wall of the parking structure, bathroom stall or printed underground magazine)
3) It's harder to gain evidence (try to prove how many copies of music Joe actually burned... assuming he doesn't keep detailed records of his sales... I doubt he includes a receipt)

It's definitely easier to go after the online sharing, and it likely makes a bigger impact. Joe can only sell so many copies per hour if he actually has to hand the CDs over. Leaving his PC on a p2p would certainly result in more music being traded (even though those are free).

[John Lotfi]

That is just so awesome on so many levels. Post his number.

Please.