ETHICS

1. Yes, I think music sharing severely harms CD sales, and legal downloads also (to an extent). Now you don’t need to go to a store and buy a CD while you can download for Free in a matter of minutes. Music sharing does result in higher sales, if done legally. For example, through an authorized online music provider, such as iTunes or Amazon mp3. However, because illegal methods of downloading exist, such as frostwire, overall, music sales are harmed. While the music industry is very greedy, I believe its complaints here are justified, because there is not much being done about unauthorized music providers sharing music is very prevalent.

2. Its “ethical” do so, if you are doing so in a legal way. If its unauthorized, it’s unethical… It is definitely 100% ethical to make copies for yourself, for instance if I bought an album on iTunes and wanted in on CD format to play in the car or something. Now for a friend…. if you think about it, illegal downloading is only hurting the people in the record industry, the artists themselves aren’t being harmed- they generate most of their revenue through touring, and album sales, while having declined, are still pretty stable. It’s a question of, “Do I want to support this?” Its up to the buyer I suppose. The industry can install all the software they want to CD’s etc, but people are always going to find away to get around it.

3. Noooo. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Cash all the way. Nobody can hack your cash. If you loose it the only person to blame is yourself. No need to “guarantee” anything on cash.  Now if these so-called “smart cards” became common use in the ‘states, I wouldn’t object, just wouldn’t