First, an article from vnunet.com about comments by Ellis Rich, chairman of the Independent Music Group, who suggests that the music industry is making a mistake by equating piracy with downloading by peer-to-peer users.

And here are some musings from Eric Bogosian, which he kindly gave us permission to reprint:

'Last thoughts. I was listening to White Stripes and thinking about the source of their riffs, from old sixties stuff, blues, as well as great punk bands like The Stranglers, The Pixies, Oingo-Boingo, X-Ray Spex, L-7 and I think I had an epiphany. For many years I have been defensive about my own stuff getting ripped off, showing up in other people's material. At the same time I know who I've stolen from (or sometimes don't) as disparate a group as Sam Shepard, Bill Hicks, Robert Klein, David Mamet, Chris Rock, Denis Leary, Henry Miller, Bukowski, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Brother Theodore, Lord Buckley, pretty much every original voice out there that's loud and fast. And then I thought, what the fuck difference does it make? The history of art prior to the corporations is a history of sharing. Of thinking together. Everyone steals from everybody else. Artists aren't supposed to be rich. That's why they get addicted to drugs or burn their houses down. Why they die. They have too much money. Artists, in their heart, must share, that's what art is. You share with the audience, you share with each other. (Scratch each others eyes out, but about the creative stuff, not the money, money is so unimportant.) So what's the big fucking deal? Who said it belongs to you (or me)? I mean, yes, if it's a question of should the big corporation get the bread or should I, I'll always side with the artists. Everyone should get paid. Poverty sucks. But what's all this intense possessiveness about? Most of my stuff is out of print, impossible to find. My record, "Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll" as well as the film of the same, gone. I don't think "Pounding Nails" is available anymore. Shit, I hope people are bootlegging my stuff. Give it away. I like it when people hear my recordings, see my tapes. They're better than most of the crap out there.

'So, I'm not going to think when I hear someone sampling or borrowing or stealing, that they are "post-modern". No, from now on, I'll think, man, that's pre-modern. Before everyone got so possessive.'

Eric is active in many different areas of writing and things thespian, have a look at the rest of his site.

If you're puzzled by Eric's vocabulary, here's a brief which should help you understand why it's legally Ok to use the word "fuck" in the US.

If you live in a country in which you can take some part in the continuing debate over the copying of music, please take the time to read and think about these and other articles covering the subject. It seems to us that most of the mass-media present a one-sided view of things; even their continued use of the term "music pirates" presumes too much. By voting, writing letters, or just discussing the subject with others, you can make a difference in the future of artistic expression, and indirectly help with the continued expansion of the use and development of Free Software.

-Willy Smith, reporting from Costa Rica