[Ecommerce] FYI: p2p myths: examination of Canadian experience by M. Geist

[Manon Ress]

Piercing the peer=96to=96peer myths: An examination of the Canadian
experience by Michael Geist

Abstract

Canada is in the midst of a contentious copyright reform with advocates
for stronger copyright protection maintaining that the Internet has led
to widespread infringement that has harmed the economic interests of
Canadian artists. The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) has
emerged as the leading proponent of copyright reform, claiming that
peer=96to=96peer file sharing has led to billions in lost sales in Canada.

This article examines CRIA=92s claims by conducting an analysis of
industry figures. It concludes that loss claims have been greatly
exaggerated and challenges the contention that recent sales declines are
primarily attributable to file=96sharing activities. Moreover, the article
assesses the financial impact of declining sales on Canadian artists,
concluding that revenue collected through a private copying levy system
already adequately compensates Canadian artists for the private copying
that occurs on peer=96to=96peer networks.

http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue10_4/geist/

--
Manon Anne Ress
manon.ress@cptech.org,
www.cptech.org

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