Read other letters about this article
I've always loved the rationalization that people use to steal music. "I'm not stealing from the artist. He's got a shit deal from the record label anyway. I'm just ripping off The Man who deserves it". BUT - I've understood that U2 has a quite equitable contract -always have. So it's OK to rip them off, too - after all "They're effing rich already". Look, when are we going to admit that we're going to pilfer all of the music we want, regardless of whose pocket is getting picked? None of this has anything to do with "promoting a new distribution paradigm" or any other such nonsense. It has EVERYTHING to do with getting something for free. If people can rip it off, they will. Hell, I'm no different from the rest, but I'm not covering my actions with so many layers of bullshit that you couldn't cut through it with a chainsaw. I'm just not going to pay for something I can get for free. Let's not try to make like it's some sort of noble cause.