[HANASHIR:4127] Desirability of Illegal Duplication

[Adrian A Durlester <durleste...>]

Judah:

The Jewish music market is so small, that I am not sure that the 
macroeconomics that make illegal duplication and distribution a 
"useful illegality" in the commerical music world are applicable.

I agree that eliminating illegal copying may be impossible. However, 
I would remind you that Rabbi Tarfon omer "lo alecha hamlecha ligmor 
v'lo ata ben chorin l'hibatel mimena." (The rest of you can look that 
up for yourselves!)

Adrian


> I also want to mention one other thing, just to throw a curve into present
> conversation:  it is pretty commonly known (and documented in several
> cultures) that "illegal" copying and distribution of copyrighted music is
> a major factor in establishing an artist's popularity--and, interestingly
> enough, in spurring the artist's album sales.  Major record companies
> themselves encourage such wholesale "piracy" among certain sectors of the
> population:  DJs, for example, often receive free copies of a label's
> latest songs with the tacet expectation that the songs will be frely
> sampled and distributed on the DJs mix albums.  In a way, it's like free
> publicity, especially for those people who have not ben exposed to the
> music or the artists before--and this seems to be a particularly pertinent
> case among Jewish populations, who have little to no radio outlets or
> other methods to receive samples of Jewish musical styles without
> actually laying out money for what many would consider an unacceptable
> risk. In other words, and here I stick my
> neck
> out: "illegal" copying, in certain cases, may actually be an important
> part of sustaining the
> Jewish
> recording industry.  To try to eliminate copying, or see it as an
> unabashed form of stealing is, in my opinion, unrealistic.  
> 
> Judah.



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