Online Music Sales Not Likely to Soar as Users Ignore Enforcement Threats
So much for playing rough. InfoWorld reports that analysts are projecting lackluster online music sales, as the hassles of managing the obtaining of copyrights is still outweighing the benefits of going to paid music services and the threats of vigorous copyright enforcement against file downloaders are having a low-key impact. According to the InfoWorld article, only 17 percent of those surveyed in recent research say that the enforcements efforts of the The Recording Industry Association of America Inc. (RIAA) are going to change their file downloading habits. Eventually the ability of people to do things with what they download in a way that services their personal needs effectively will have to come to the forefront in this battle. Copyright enforcers need to move from a policing role to a relationship facilitating role more aggressively in defining the limits of how the creators and owners of intellectual property can benefit from their work. If it isn't easy to do the right thing, nobody will care.