Measure makes sharing online services a crime

Found on Knoxnews on Wednesday, 01 June 2011
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State lawmakers have passed a groundbreaking measure that would make it a crime to use a friend's login - even with permission - to listen to songs or watch movies from services such as Netflix or Rhapsody.

Stealing $500 or less of entertainment would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,500. Theft with a higher price tag would be a felony, with heavier penalties.

The music industry has seen its domestic revenue plunge by more than half in 10 years, from $15 billion to $7 billion, he said.

Perhaps the industry should ask why their revenue goes down, instead of simply blaming filesharing and sueing their customers. I will never hand over a single cent to support their current business model; besides, the curent music and movies are so bad that they are not even worth sharing.