Jail For File-Sharers Does Nothing to Increase Music Sales
Found on Torrentfreak on Sunday, 06 October 2013
One year ago Japan introduced a tough new law that was warmly welcomed by the music industry. From October 1 2012, those downloading copyrighted material without permission faced a potential two year jail sentence. But while users of Japan’s favorite P2P networks plummeted, sales have not been positively affected. Total music sales this year so far are down 7% on the same period last year, but digital sales are even worse – down 24% since the law was introduced.
“The new law has been effective in increasing the amount of CD rentals, but seems unconnected to the number of people who are actually buying music,” RIAJ chief Kenji Takasugi told NHK.
After years of crying wolf the reality has proved what was already known: pirates don't steal. Maybe people also got fed up enough from all that and changed their interests, away from music to other hobbies where you aren't instantly labeled as some evil terrorist who tries to kill the entertainment business.