Napster is calling on its user base to assemble in Washington next week for scheduled Congressional hearings, in a show of support. This strikes me as a chilly turn in their demeanor of late. I wonder how many supporters will show up? Are you going? Would you go if the rally was to be staged in your town?

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

Answers

Since I haven't ever used Napster (though I am tentatively pro- Napster) and I don't like crowds, I probably would not participate.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

I've always wondered if marches actually accomplish anything in this day and age. It just seems that everyone is protesting something in D.C. every day, and I doubt that the congressmen and senators pay attention anymore. I would think that a letter writing campaign to your local representative would do more.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

I've never used Napster either, but I bet a bunch of you young puppy, idealistic types will show up.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

I use Napster. I like it, but I don't think I'd participate in a march. I'd rather watch it on tv than be part of a big mob.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

It's gotten to the point that, here in Denver anyway, protests are coordinated with the police department ahead of time so that there are enough paddy wagons and plastic handcuffs to haul them all off to jail, which is their stated goal. They show up on the day of the protest, the police are there because they know the scheduled date and time, the protestors are there long enough to get their faces and banners on TV, then a signal is given, they're all peaceably arrested, and everyone goes home. That's kinda weird.

Anyway, I'm not going. I'm really curious how many people will show up. Napster's site says there's a free concert for the first 1000 people who sign up, but they don't say who the artist is or which club. I wonder how many people such an enticement will actually draw? I guess we can be fairly confident the mystery act isn't Metallica. :-)

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

I hope they don't get a big turnout. The stealing of intellectual property is a bad thing. I am not for multi-millionaires complaining that they are not getting their 17% royalty rate on pirated albums, but the distributing of intellectual/copyrighted property without paying for it, sets a bad precedant. In addition, Napster was given a 'loan' in excess of $60 million to develop a business model for their service by a major record label. The idea is to come up with a valid business that would include repertoire from all the major labels. People pay $20/ month for AOL or even join Porn sites under a subscription model. I think 'owning' music is a far more valuable commodity than those things. If Napster develops a successful business model they don't have to pay the loan back. They become equity partners with the major label that lent the $. Give me a break! It is a great idea and amazing technology but Napster needs to stop playing around.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2001