[LPDad]

LOL...yeah, careful Doc, I was BORN there also (while my father did a medical residency), but that is beside the point.

You are all just way too emotional about this!! You need to calmly look at and evaluate a few things that are being said...it does not matter WHO says them, it really matters WHY they are being said.

Look at it this way:

1. This really shows you just how much power and influence the recording industry can bring to bear within the government. They are putting the major screws to government officials to do something...ANYTHING.

2. The Recording Industry is becoming more and more desperate. They keep trying new things (the wrong things, in my opinion--but then they are not really concerned about my opinion) and nothing seems to be working...at least nothing that will keep the Recording Industry happy.

3. As far as the comment about "blowing up Computers" goes-- Can't you see what this is about?? this is simply saying something very outrageous (and not very practical) for a couple of reasons. The first reason is to get publicity-- bring this whole thing BACK to the public eye..and keep it there. In this, they have succeeded. The RIAA has been screaming for years, and has made little headway..nobody seems to care. Bring up "blowing up computers" and Presto.... headline news all day...now everyone is talking about what a large problem this is.
The next reason is to cause such a fuss to elicit feedback from everyone...public, private sector, Tech Sector, everyone....and they are certainly getting it now. The Gov needs this feedback to figure out what to do next.



4. Blowing up your computers....Ain't never gong to happen. You are all getting so worked up about this...just take a deep breath and think it through. The government is never going to sanction destruction of property for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that there is a little known/used law that says that if the government destroys your property you are entitled to compensation.

5. There are just too many ways to get around this. Hell, all you would have to do is set yourself up with a cheap computer and use that for your file-sharing and testing. once you have a good file, then you could move it to your good pouter. IF "they" (whoever "they" are) manage to put a virus/worm/whatever into a file that you download then only your cheap computer has it drive erased, or at the most the Bios gets erased.
Hell, I could set up a computer for just such a task for less than $50-- not that I would. This is just a simple example of what might work. People a lot smarter than me would come up with much better solutions/protection.

The REALLY big problem for filesharing will come from the big IT companies (microsoft, etc), quietly incorporating checks and balances in their future products.

AND, while with the RIAA it is mostly about GREED .(in my OPINION), put yourself into a small developer's shoes.
You put all of your time and effort into developing a product to sell, and all of a sudden everyone is using your product, but you are not getting reimbursed for all the hard work you put into it. Kind of makes it hard for you to put food on the table at your house.

This is not an issue that is going to go away. Somehow, somewhere, a workable solution will be found.
I don't really care much for the RIAA. I think they should stop spending billions in trying to get everyone, and just lower the cost of the music to where it takes more time and effort to download songs than to simply go out and purchase the music.
...well, the way the RIAA is going, that will NEVER HAPPEN.

So, think about what is being said, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHY it is being said. In this case the WHY is much more important than the WHAT. (the WHAT is just being used to get publicity and keep it)


Don't like my comments?? Hey, that's ok. All I am trying to do is to make you think a little bit differently.
We each have our own opinions--and that is what is important.