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This is a fascinating example of the upside of file-sharing: Chuck D and the Fine Arts Militia release a 3-minute song and invite everyone to pass it around the Net and "view, copy, mix, remix, sample, imitate, parody and even criticize it," the Washington Post reports. The result - as with fanfiction, where people write their own stories about famous authors' characters - "has been the creation … [Read more...] about When music’s like fanfiction

It's believed to be the first criminal conviction under state law for illegally downloading music and movies. Parvin Dhaliwal, a University of Arizona student, pleaded guilty to possession of unauthorized copies of intellectual property, the Associated Press reports. He was sentenced to "a three-month deferred jail sentence, three years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and a $5,400 … [Read more...] about Teen convicted in P2P case

It has begun in Britain now too. Twenty-three file-sharers paid an average 2,200 pounds ($4,232) each to settle out of court with the British Phonographic Industry, which sued them for copyright infringment, the BBC reports. "The UK Internet users, ranging from a student to a local councillor [17 men and 6 women between 22 and 58 years of age], have admitted putting out up to 9,000 songs each for … [Read more...] about UK file-sharers sued

Kids themselves have named a new comic-book hero, Garret the Ferret, who the Business Software Alliance hopes will teach them digital copyright ethics. "That software you're copying is protected by copyright laws. What you are doing is wrong," Garret tells Shawn, a comic-book kid who's installing a friend's graphics program on his home computer late one night. They're the stars of "Copyright … [Read more...] about Garret the Ferret teaches digital ethics

The discussion about file-sharing is definitely heating up - especially in the US, where the Supreme Court will soon hear arguments on this. Today a group of prominent musicians and artists broke ranks with their industry in "urging the Supreme Court not to hold online file-sharing services responsible for the acts of users who illegally trade songs, movies and software," the Washington Post … [Read more...] about P2P: Musicians weigh in