The+recording+companies+are+not+wrong.

The Recording Companies are wrong

Here are some links to background research: [|Wired Magaizine--Sample the Future] [|Legal Torrents]

[|Is Bittorrent legal?] [|Legal Applications of Bit Torrent] Here are my five best arguments to make my claim Here are 3 arguments that might come from the other side and what I will say to argue against it Here are some broader situations which apply to this case:
 * 1 || The fines given to the violators of copyright laws are extremey excessive, far more than any normal person would be able to pay. ||
 * 2 || The seemingly random choosing of perpetrators by the media companies is unethical. Rather than choosing those that have done the most, they just choose people out of a hat, and it's too bad for them. The system doesn't give any structure for increasing punishment for worse crimes. ||
 * 3 || As in John's case, he was not notified that he would be fined 120,000 dollars for his seeding operation - he just got hit out of the blue. In other cases, media companies may or may not provide cease-and-desist letters to the downloaders. Since it is a very inconsistent system, it doesn't provide any incentive or knowledge to stop. ||
 * 4 || The media companies have created a system that does not solve the problem. Rather than stopping it, they allow it to happen so they can just fine people for doing it. It is simply another way to make money. ||
 * 5 || 35% of data traffic occurs through Bit Torrent, and if media companies continue to fine more and more people as a way to make money, people who are clients on Bit Torrent may choose to distance themselves from it. This would effectively decrease the amount of data exchanged between clients and in terms of business, would hamper the economies of local and national governments. ||
 * || Counter-Argument || What I will Say to respond: ||
 * 1 || It is ILLEGAL!! || Despite it simply being illegal, it is an unethical law because it does not directly address the problem and fines way too much. ||
 * 2 || It encourages black markets. || While the illegal downloading is a black market, the actual goods downloaded do not pose any harm to members of society. Movies aren't guns. ||
 * 3 || Musicians lose money. || While they do lose money, the amount is negligible. They are paid small percentages of music sales, and so for each song illegally downloaded they would only lose a fraction. They already five cars anyways. ||