tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1154146541957373385.post4338870732682070857..comments2024-03-23T17:38:47.982+00:00Comments on Law Actually: Lily Allen calls it a day (… fronting filesharing debate)Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14213997438656217771noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1154146541957373385.post-10120319159489701712009-10-02T11:15:58.675+01:002009-10-02T11:15:58.675+01:00Hmm, the issue of filesharing crops up every few y...Hmm, the issue of filesharing crops up every few years... I remember doing some research on the issue about 3 years ago. Basically, my conclusion was that there is very little evidence that "filesharing is a disaster" for new talent or anyone at all. <br /><br />Whereas it is clearly an abuse of right to access information, there is very little evidence of short- middle- or long-term negative effects of filesharing on economy as a whole. Most of the numbers in billions of pounds quoted back then could not be traced back to the source or study that elaborated on them - instead, usually they just represent a highly unrealistic version of what-could-have-happened if each download corresponded to real transaction (who said anyone would have been involved in filesharing on such terms?). On the opposite, there were some studies which actually alleged that filesharing has a positive effects on economies, primarily because it provides free publicity to "new talent" (most notable effect of these studies is, what we call today, 'virus advertising'), thereby allowing better redistribution of consumer spending - it was becoming more based on merit rather than expensive publicity campaigns...<br /><br />Whereas I do agree with those who argue that unrestricted circulation of intellectual property is <b>potentially</b> bad for everyone, to this day I could not find any solid proof of that, or of that we are anywhere near such a hypothetical situation. The question should be properly studied, behavioral models prepared, pluses and minuses offset <b>before</b> we start playing around with one of the most important means of data transportation. There is a big difference between doing something that is potentially right, something that is right and something that is necessary.Michael Dnoreply@blogger.com