File Sharing Should Not Be Illegal - 1611 Words

Technology, now incorporated into almost every aspect of life, is constantly evolving. Technology being so incorporated in daily life has caused some issues to come up in the past; one of the most controversial uses of technology is file sharing. File sharing is the exchange of files over computer networks. These files include all types of media, software, and books. While some file sharing is legal, there are illegal downloads of copyrighted property widely available; there are intense debates about the level of protection of intellectual properties that should be used for these files. The increase of sharing copyrighted media over the internet has led to many lawsuits and court battles (Oberholzer†Gee and Strumpet). The sharing of files†¦show more content†¦The music businesses succeed in these courts because federal judges reject that these sites are protected by the digital copyright law (Alexander 152). However, where one is brought down, many more will soon fill its place. It will be a never ending pattern of legal action taking a step forward to stopping copyright infringement and then taking a step back once new file sharing sites pop up. Recording companies were quick to assume that file sharing was to blame for the decline in sales, so they began to sue the thousands that took part in illegal file sharing (Netanel 2-3). While copyright laws may protect music in the United States and some foreign countries, what about all the other countries? Most countries do not extend copyright protection to foreign works. So the downloading of copyrighted music is legal in those countries, making it easy for these illegal downloads to make their way back to America. Copyright industries’ desperate attempts to shut down peer-to-peer file sharing sites are just becoming ineffectual and costly (Netanel 8). Protection of intellectual property is thought to be necessary to ensure innovation. While that is accurate for many industries, innovation in the music industry will not decrease with weaker property rights (Oberholzer†Gee and Strumpet). Many people remix, cover, or even choreograph copyrighted music; this boosts creativity in the industry. Stricter copyright laws would undoubtedly lead to a decrease in self expression