STAFF EDIT: Fighting A Losing Battle

Napster is finally making its comeback. By charging an as-yet-to-be-determined fee, the music file-swapping software will once again make itself available to users, two years after being sued by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, since it was shut down, Napster has been replaced by a number of new programs that have further expanded the world of file-sharing. This has made it even more difficult for record companies to control Internet music and has drastically decreased the number of people willing to pay for a Napster subscription.

When Napster closed down, software like KaZaA, Morpheus, Lime Wire and Aimster gained great popularity as alternatives to the fallen giant. However, the other programs have gone beyond even Napster’s capabilities, as they not only contain music files, but several also include videos and computer software. With these new programs in place, record companies must accept the fact that overcoming file-swapping is going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

By getting rid of Napster, the industry only stopped one program, and users weren’t about to let that stop them from getting what they want. As the record companies work to stop the programs in place, new and better programs will inevitably be created, only continuing the sharing process. It would not even be possible for record companies to minimize file-sharing by restricting it to pay services — users will find a way around paying. Current users already have hundreds of files on their computers, and through programs like AOL Instant Messenger and email, they are able to exchange them with others with the click of a button.

The RIAA must come to realize that nothing is going to stop the illegal sharing of files between computer users. It’s better to embrace the new technology and rework the industry’s infrastructure than to keep fighting a losing battle.