Re: MP3 file sharing vrs public libraries

[John LeBlanc]

"Tom Paul" > wrote in message
om...
> Aren't authors of books getting screwed by public libraries' sharing
> thier works just like musical artists get hosed by file sharing? I
> wonder if this was or is an issue with literary authors. Is there an
> organization that libraries pay, like BMI, that gets some funds to the
> authors?

The comparison between unauthorized downloading and library loans seems, on the
surface, a natural comparison, but it's not the same. You have to go to a
library and check out the book, only one person may have that book at any one
time, and it is impossible to make an identical copy of a loaned library book
(paper, anyway) from which other identical copies may be made, and so on and so
on. Also, library loans have the implicit approval of the copyright owner.

None of those things can be said for unauthorized music downloads.

John

[area242]

"John LeBlanc" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tom Paul" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Aren't authors of books getting screwed by public libraries' sharing
> > thier works just like musical artists get hosed by file sharing? I
> > wonder if this was or is an issue with literary authors. Is there an
> > organization that libraries pay, like BMI, that gets some funds to the
> > authors?
>
> The comparison between unauthorized downloading and library loans seems,
on the
> surface, a natural comparison, but it's not the same. You have to go to a
> library and check out the book, only one person may have that book at any
one
> time, and it is impossible to make an identical copy of a loaned library
book
> (paper, anyway) from which other identical copies may be made, and so on
and so
> on. Also, library loans have the implicit approval of the copyright owner.
>
> None of those things can be said for unauthorized music downloads.
>
Good points. But, you can also check out CD's, DVD's and VHS tapes. And,
you can make an identical copy of those easy enough. So, I'm wondering how
the authors/artists feel about that...and if/how they are compensated.