Lessig

I am not necessarily opposed to this kind of sweeping action, nor am I unsympathetic to the plight of genuine artists and creators of all sorts. Practically speaking, though, I think it’s somewhat disingenuous for record companies, to take a single example, to complain bitterly about copyright infringement. I read recently that Tom Waits has had to take his company to court because they are insisting that downloads of his music are “purchases” rather than “licenses” – this in direct contrast to what they typically argue about digital music because Waits’s contract states that “licensing” his work earns him a much bigger percentage of the profits. Consider as well the fact that distribution costs for music downloads are essentially nothing, and you begin to realize that the companies aren’t out to protect the artists. They are, in fact simply trying to control the download market so that their price margins can rise even further.