Legalise file sharing, says editor
25th July 2008
Legalise the practice of file-sharing for the good of the music industry, says the editor of one popular UK publication.
Following the move by six major broadband providers to sign an agreement with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) signalling a clamp down on users illegally downloading songs, editor-in-chief of Stuff Magazine, Tom Dunmore, is sceptical over whether new measures will be effective.
He told Reuters: "The new policy of sending a letter to people suspected of illegally downloading music isn’t going to save the music industry overnight."
Mr Dunmore went on to suggest: "Rather than fighting against music sharing, the music industry should issue licenses that allow royalties to be collected every time a song is shared."
The media man then went on to suggest adding a "small tax" onto broadband, with the extra funds collected being channelled back to the music industry.
Among the methods of discouraging subscribers from illegally sharing files discussed by the BPI and the six major broadband providers were slowing down connections and promoting more legal music download services.
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