Comments on: Democrats Demand Colleges Stop File Sharing

By: Wilkin

Wilkin — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:07:11 +0000

Where is this country headed?

A storm is coming... I smell a new world order taking shape.

Like the saying goes, follow the money. Big corporations will own everything... even politicians.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 06:39:49 +0000

Those detestable democrats, trying to crack down on crime and respect property rights. Where on earth do they get these crazy liberal ideas?

I thought I heard some universities were going to buy licenses to allow students to download music legally?

By: jpe

jpe — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:46:49 +0000

Both parties are, and always have been, in the pockets of the entertainment industry. It's lamentable, but you can only be surprised if you haven't been paying attention.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:49:19 +0000

So the democrats feel that protecting the music/movie industry is more important than funding college education.

I guess I just can't understand the progressive party and their ideals.

By: ConservativeKicks.com

ConservativeKicks.com — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:22:20 +0000

Democrats Demand Colleges Stop File Sharing ...

You've been kicked (a good thing) - Trackback from ConservativeKicks.com...

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:25:53 +0000

But why on earth is it the responsibility of universities to monitor how students are using the Internet?

Because it is the universities that are providing the students with internet access. As far as I can tell, the bill isn't requiring the universities to monitor student's internet use, it is requiring universities to monitor for illegal activity taking place on their network. It amounts to requiring universities to crack down (or at least monitor and report) on crime on their campuses. That being said, I think this is a stupid requirement because there are ample ways for students to avoid this detection, and would only punish universities and law-abiding students for failing to accomplish an impossible task. The RIAA's business model hasn't evolved to meet the modern world, and instead of evolving they are trying to outlaw the modern world. Record labels are no longer needed to attain wide-spread distribution. Radiohead's recent success with a "name your own price" album download is a real-world example of this. The recording industry is the new buggy-whip industry, and they can't for the life of them figure out a way to stay relevent.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:49:53 +0000

The problem, it seems to me, is that the schools are the creatures of government these days and, consequently, must dance to the government's tune.

The music and film industries have become accustomed to offloading their risks onto the artists so I guess we shouldn't be surprised that rent-seeking to further mitigate their risks is part of their strategy as well.

I find it rather sad that “entrepeneurialism” has come to mean eliminating the possibility of risk by petitioning government. I honestly don't think that that the film and music industries have thought the situation through. When they completely become creatures of the government can censorship be far behind?

By: just me

just me — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:51:00 +0000

I don't see how this is the job of the colleges to police or prevent. Sure a lot of it may take place at various colleges and universities, but it still isn't their job.

I wonder if it isn't an attempt to make colleges responsible-unlike college kids who have very little money when companies sue, colleges do have money.