Since 1999 illegal downloading of
music has been a problem among the music industry. While free music is beneficial to the
consumers, the music industry has lost millions of dollars. This has caused the
RIAA, record companies and musicians to try to stop illegal downloading of
music. While this has been an ongoing issue it has yet to be seen that it will
ever stop. The music industry realizes
this and continues to fight for their revenue. Record companies have done
things to try to fight the issue by lowering the prices of albums and offering
digital downloading to help ease the pain. While they have lowered prices for
the consumers, consumers still believe music should be free and have the right
to download it if they want. While some might think it is okay, it is
questioned whether this is ethical or not or right or wrong.
John Stuart Mill utility ethics asks if it
will be the greatest good for the greatest number of people. While some people
might be getting free songs not everyone is.
The people who are paying for the songs might be giving what little
money they have just listen to their favorite songs. The music industry is also
being affected because the record companies are losing millions and people
might be losing jobs. The people who are downloading the music are doing it for
themselves. If they stopped and thought it through and used the utility
principle they might realize it isn’t the greatest good for the greatest number
of people.
When approaching an ethical
situation, Sissela Bok says that there are three steps. The first is to consult
your conscience. This might be done with really asking yourself if it is right
or wrong. The second is to seek alternatives; this might be done with maybe
seeking the cheapest ways to get music maybe paying $7.99 a month to get as
much music as some music sites offer or by checking out free legal music like
iTunes free single of the day. The third is to hold an imaginary dialogue with
all parties involved and think about what they would say and if they would want
you to have their music for free since it is their professional and job.
While free music downloading may never stop it
is good to look at these situations in an ethical way first. It allows people
to truly choose whether it is right or wrong in their eyes and it might help
them choose the right decisions. While everyone might do the right thing it
will help the music industry get some of their revenue back. It will make the
person feel good that their doing the right thing.
