In his column "Steal this MP3 File: What Is Theft?", Gorry tackles the issue of copyright infringement on the digital music age. In this discussion with his students, Gorry comes up with many interesting dilemmas. For example, is it stealing if I do not take something physically from you, but copy it? What if I get a copy from a friend as a gift, but they did not pay for it? However, some of the students believe that information seeks to be free, and the technology exists to liberate it - the students then argue that the solution is for the economics of the music industry to change to accommodate this change in morality. Creating a greater emphasis on digital media and developing new relationships with consumers is the way to adapt and grow with the changes in the music industry, according to Gorry. In order to gain the trust of consumers, they must not treat them "like thieves."
Personally, I very much agree with Gorry and his students in that the existing music industry practices are outdated and untenable. There is simply no way to effectively regulate the music industry to effectively prevent file sharing and downloading - the policies and practices have not changed quickly enough. The music industry still holds on to the old business model of treating music like physical media. The overt attempts to legislate and prosecute file sharers just puts people off music executives further, and are more inclined to pirate in lieu of giving them their money.
Works Cited
Gorry, G. Anthony. "Steal This MP3 File: What Is Theft?"
