Yeaaaaargh, maties, that not be true. But piracy of the digital music variety does appear to be. When I was in college, the free illegal version of Napster was on every desktop and the school computer network was clogged with DVD and CD rips. Now, when I mention how I got an unreleased album or a strange remix, I get a look of mild moral repugnance when I mention that not all of my music sources are legit.
Is it the ease of using iTunes?
Is it because my friends are a bit older and now have some more cash to spend on music?
Is it because I don't go to school with a bunch of computer nerds anymore?
Perhaps I should just grow up and start buying CDs again.
Maybe its because you're surrounded by students of law. My moral repugnance still runs countercurrent to the trend you've mentioned; save for a handful of artists I choose to support because I know how they earn their keep, I haven't bought legitimate music in almost five years. I use eMusic preferentially to iTunes when I do pay, and I'm much more savvy about my software and networks. Maybe the piracy is simply less ouvert.
The online options do seem to suck now. I've been sharing with external drives. No bandwidth issues and no worries about Verizon selling me out.
And the selection is much better. Instead of thirty versions of Metallicas latest ode to a mid-life crisis I can get all the Dead Kennedys organized by release date.
Did these law students ever share music *before* RIAA claimed it was bad bad and naughty?
-PNG
Uhhhh, I hate to break it to you, but sometimes, law students do illegal things!