I want to make several points: * There are many free downloads available on the Internet. This is not stealing. The artists provide these songs for free for exposure. Whether your kids who are looking for the latest and greatest would embrace this depends on the child and what kinds of music they like. * Casual copying is not the issue record companies make it to be. Out and out pirating and reselling *is* an issue, but going after casual copiers and mix makers just doesn't make sense. Remember, that sheet music publishers screamed when records were invented because the sheet music business would be suppressed, then the record companies screamed when radio developed because after all who would pay for a song, they could hear it for free. Last I heard the record companies and radio stations were still making money. The movie people screamed that when vhs tape and later DVDs developed, nobody would go to the movies. Last time I checked the movie producers were doing very well. Every time there is a technology shift, the powers that be scream and shout that they will be put out of business. Media companies have always suffered from a failure of imagination and today is no different. By embracing technology instead of fighting it, they have always found a way to make (even more) money. Movie producers often make more money from DVD sales, then they did from the original movie in the theaters. * Cassette mixes are no different than CD mixes, quality aside, the concept is *exactly* the same. Copying is copying is copying. In the 70s when I was making copies of my friends albums on cassettes or making favorites cassettes, I was doing the same thing people do with today's technology. The Internet and computer make everything easier, but the concept is no different. But when you look at the numbers that were thrown around post-Frampton Comes Alive in the 70s, you know that the records companies thrived. Technology did not kill the record companies then and it has not hurt them today as much as they want you to believe. * Finally, there are plenty of reasonably-priced legal outlets for downloading popular music, especially a song at a time. Record companies are finding once again that by embracing technology like iTunes and Rhapsody, they will find new revenue streams. The more things change... Ron Mary Malmros wrote: > ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee. > ** You too can help the group > ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area. > ** If you did, we all thank you. > > > Fred Levine wrote: >> I've also wrestled with the morality of letting my kids download for >> free. > > I wouldn't allow it. Period, end of discussion. There is more to right > and wrong than whether you get caught. >