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To Download or Not

I've never been a music file swapper. In fact, with the slow processor in my old computer and the little space in my hard drive keeping music files was not a great option. I did have a few I downloaded once and then a friend copied them into a CD (in mp3 format). Now I have this powerful computer that comes with a CD-writer unit (I even can make DVDs!) and I decided to burn those mp3 files into a real CD I can listen to in the car and around, then I went looking for more music using Kazaa Lite K++ so I could finally have those songs I like so much without having to buy a whole album. In less than a week my computer had around 400 MB of music (adding the new and the old ones), but yesterday it hit me: "Isn't there a big thing going on with the RIAA giving subpoenas to people for this?" - I got scared and immediately removed all the files.

I don't know how it works here in Canada, but according to these two articles, if you follow certain rules, it's kind of legal here in Canuckistan to deal with music files. I have no idea how it works and I still have to read the articles carefully, but I just wonder... why do normal people, the users, have to deal with legal stuff when the companies that create the file sharing software should be the ones paying the artists. Probably they already do, but you don't give people the technology to get music for free (instead of over-paying at the music store) and then tell them it's illegal. I'm all for buying a CD, you can come and check my collection, but sometimes you just don't have the money or simply don't want to buy the whole album and you ABSOLUTELY want that song.

I'm sure there's a better way to get artists paid for their work without having to hit the user. I think the whole menacing with legal actions just makes part of the current terror campaign against American people who are always treated like criminals in their own country (just check the controls at the airports, ugh!). I hope organizations like the EFF can find a way to end up this madness, so people can enjoy their favorite music, while the artists get what they deserve for their creations. Meanwhile, even if there's not a big thing going on here in Canada my computer is clean of mp3 files, but I don't guarantee I won't download more to burn them in a CD; I just keep the sharing option closed.

What are your thoughts?