I have used many peer-to-peer networks. In fact I have been using Napster-like networks for over thirty years!
I don’t need a computer and they are available just about anywhere.
They are also legal.
I am in a coffee shop. I want to read a newspaper. I don’t have to buy one; there is always somebody that will give me their paper when they are done with it. When I finish reading it, I give it to someone else. Some people even leave their copies on the table when they leave.
What do I do when I finish reading a good novel? I pass it on to a friend. They do the same when they finish that book. Others pass on books to me. I also go to the library where I can borrow books, CDs, videos and DVDs.
Many people sell used books and CDs at yard sales. There are also many used book and CD stores.
I buy new and used CDs. I listen to them at home, in my car, on a portable CD player, and so on.
However these everyday activities take on a different set of rules in cyberspace. Does this make sense?
I respect the copyright laws and believe the concept of copyright is necessary. I make my living as a writer, musician, and photographer. I lose when people don’t respect my copyrights.
However, the concept of usage and copyright must adapt as technology evolves.
I believe that legally purchased MP3s may be played on as many different devices as necessary. That person also has the right to make as many copies as they desire for their personal use.
Quite simply, if somebody plans to illegally distribute copyrighted materials they will. They will find a way to bypass the copy protection scheme.
Don’t penalize the innocent. They outnumber those that break the law.
The same concept applies to eBooks (digital books). There is no reason why I can’t read one version on my desktop computer, laptop, and handheld computer. Heck, I will even let someone read an eBook on my laptop as I read it.
I use the Creative Commons licenses (creativecommons.org) to protect my works. This organization provides me with a variety of licenses that give people more flexible use of my works. For example, one license I often use allows people to reproduce my work as long as they agree to 3 requirements:
1. They credit me as the author
2. They do not change or modify the work
3. They only reproduce the work for noncommercial uses
Creative Commons offers other licenses in addition to the traditional copyright.
Digital technology profoundly affects creative works. Not only does it change how we create, but how we distribute and use these works. Our laws and philosophies must also change.