The biggest problem with the "file sharing = theft" stance, I think, is that it is too black and white.

Say I rip a friend's CD to my iTunes 'cause he says I should check it out, but then I never get around to listening to it. Is that bad for anyone involved in the creation of the CD?

Or what if I listen to the whole album exactly once and then delete it because I don't like the music. Is that bad?

Or maybe I'll listen to the album five times and then love it so much, I'll happily pay $60 to see the band live. Is that bad?

Ask these questions to "normal" people (i.e. those who are neither musicians nor copyright experts) and they will most likely answer "no" three times in a row.

Jim Offerman ~ inspirational pop music
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