:::: Apple's Genius... (Score 1)

When Apple first released iTunes 4 with its network streaming capabilities, and various Mac fan sites began posting URL's to shared music, I was taken aback at Apple's genius -- but then, as a solid Mac user, I often am. As P2P PC clients are slowly crashing and burning (although Kazaa is still running strong, one wonders how long they will be able to persist), Apple has devised a way to share free music, without placing any blame on themselves. Upon updating my system a month later, I was at first shocked to find that Apple had limited its streaming capabilities, forbidding sharing outside of the user's local network. But now I am beginning to see the whole picture, and honestly, I'm surprised few have hinted at this picture aside from myself, as there are many more proficient and enthusiastic Mac users than I. Apple has revealed a way that not only allows for integrated music streaming, but track ripping and sharing as well. They revealed their software's ability to share tracks across the internet, but only momentarily, as to provoke interest yet avoid legal consequences. If a music sharing service is going to survive, its success has to be dependent on the users, and not to the service provider. If thousands of people are writing hacks for iTunes to allow internet music streaming, Apple can't be held legally responsible, at least as far as I can imagine. And the courts will have quite some time pinning down every single copy of every single hack, and eradicating the use of them entirely. Apple has essentially created a lock-tight plan for future music sharing, and as I read all the comments about how Apple is feeding its customers shit, I am taken aback. There are various debates about the nature of copyright laws -- quoted from another /. post, "copyright protection is an unending waste of human resource, computer resource, comms resource, and slashdot posts!". Ripping songs off the internet is essentially no different than recording them off the radio, only easier, faster, of higher quality, and seemingly the most important -- more widely used. Its only a matter of time before the very nature of information sharing evolves into a higher form ... now, for the development and distribution of iTunes hacks so we can all share our music, while promoting a service that although is allowing free track sharing, is also supporting the artists whose tracks are being shared.