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« on: February 21, 2008, 10:30:47 PM »
And why would I be joking?
Young children use the computer, many of whom I am sure go crazy with the peer-to-peer sharing network. Parents are not always able to spot their children's legal transgressions on the computer, arguably due to their lack of technological know-how.
Are these kids expected to understand and abide by copyright limitations? Are average Americans supposed to be able to tell the difference between public domain material and copyright material? I am not so sure.
For Example:
Friend tells another friend,
"Dude, download Metallica - Enter Sandman"
Friend responds,
"Never heard of them or that song, maybe I can find it on the limewire."
Once this person finds it on limewire (with a slighty different file name) and is unaware of any associated copyrights (since each song does not come with a blatant copyright sticker), should this person suffer the wrath of RIAA lawyers? This person does not know of the band, and is not necessarily unreasonable to think that this song may be public domain. Who knows? This person surely does not.
Ignorance of the law is not a defense, but we are discussing this issue from both a legal and ethical standpoint I presume.