UW students raise the black flag

An interesting piece ran in today's Daily Cardinal, documenting the saga of a University of Wisconsin student who has been sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for illegally downloading music. The story makes for an interesting read because it serves to bring the RIAA's ongoing exercise in tort law a lot closer to home, while also revealing some of the arguments for the continued theft of copyrighted material – absurd as they may be.

The article's protagonist, Melissa (not her real name, we're told), has an interesting attitude:

You hear about this happening ... But you don’t know one person who hasn’t downloaded music before.

Sticking with the musical theme of the piece, I am reminded of The Cranberries' classic album title, “Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?” A perfectly ludicrous argument on its face, and yet apparently enough for legions of college students – supposedly including the entirety of “Melissa's” social circle – to throw reckless abandon to the law of the land.

For some reason you never quite hear that excuse when people get caught shoplifting albums from Wal-Mart or Sam Goody, yet too many people have adopted it with frightful ease when it comes to perpetrating the same theft online. Has Generation X somehow become convinced that the true value of a CD lies within the gem casing and metallic disc itself?

Worse yet, the article visits Justin Reynolds, another UW student, who was previously sued by the RIAA. Has a combination of this legal experience and the moral character of Madison led Mr. Reynolds to Napster, iTunes or any of the other legal services available online? No. He still rips songs.

And “Melissa” seems to be equally self-righteous. The Cardinal quotes her:

Britney [Spears] doesn’t need any more cash.

I'll avoid delving into the nuances of how easily this statement turns into “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” But suffice it to say that the connection is frightening at best – and such is to not even begin a discussion of how music doesn't quite seem to be a “need.”

As an iTunes customer who enjoys free podcasts, $0.99 songs and $1.99 television shows, I hope Melissa spends the next several years of her life paying off civil damages and legal fees.