Downloading music. Persuasive essay that agrees downloading music is right and shouldn't be restricted.

Essay by daiquirikissHigh School, 11th grade February 2004

download word file, 3 pages 4.1 3 reviews

In 1999, an 18-year-old college drop out named Shawn Fanning invented the program that was Napster. Almost instantaneously upon its release its popularity grew, making the small building located in Redwood City, California an instant controversial interest across America. Napster was an Internet based program that allowed users share and download media files for free. Since Napster didn't hold the files and they originally belonged to the users, it was difficult for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to file a case against them. Eventually, at Napster's peak in 2001, it was shut down. Nonetheless, new programs rose to take Napster's place. There are two that still exist and are the most popular, Morpheus and Kazaa, which are used most frequently by the youth of America. Since 2003, the RIAA has found a new way to end file sharing: suing any individual found with an excessive amount of illegal music and charged at an average of $12,500 to $17,000.

The prices these kids have to pay are ridiculous and the fact that they are being sued in the first place is an outrage. Because they download music, innocent parents must pay the price. Downloading music for free is easy and convenient and may encourage the user to buy a full album.

The main issue is that sharing music is right. Most of the file sharers are middle class teenagers who would rather listen to that one song instead of buy the whole album. Many teenagers do not have a monthly income to buy albums with that one song they want. Some feel that buying the whole album isn't worth the money as the prices have recently increased within the past few months. Increased album prices only encourage file sharers to share more music more often than before. Even before...