Should P2P filesharers be paid for filesharing?

Found on The Register on Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Browse Filesharing

A novel idea has been proposed to take the fight to the RIAA and the BPI. Since P2P filesharing has a discovery element which permits people to discover new music at no cost - why shouldn't filesharers be compensated for filesharing?

"Studies point to filesharing as a driver for *increased* music sales (among the heaviest downloaders). Possibly filesharers should start trying to recover promotional costs from the music industry?" asked anti-copyright campaigner Rob Myers.

Feargal's reaction?

"That's one of the most fanciful and non-practical ideas I've heard for quite some time. But God bless them for making me laugh and cheering me up today!"

What can be more palpably absurd than the prospect held out of locomotives traveling twice as fast as stagecoaches? The Quarterly Review

Well informed people know it is impossible to transmit the voice over wires and that were it possible to do so, the thing would be of no practical value. The Boston Post

Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. Lord Kelvin

There is not the slightest indication that [nuclear energy] will ever be obtainable. Albert Einstein

Radio has no future. Lord Kelvin

There is no need for any individual to have a computer in their home. Ken Olson

I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. Thomas Watson

Getting the idea?