A Fogging of Basic Values: Behavioral Analysis of Online Downloading

The online music revolution has brought the weakness of the law to the forefront. Anonymous theft, with little risk of criminal prosecution and practically no societal censure, tempts those who would never dream of shoplifting a CD from a music store. The RIAA has sued middle school students, high school and college students as well as grandparents, some of whom honestly believed they were doing nothing wrong. Even professors of the law argue over what behavior is permissible and what is not. This ambiguity holds back the advancement of legitimate uses of technology while doing nothing to stop those who would steal regardless of the consequences. A Fogging of Basic Values critically examines what has occurred within music and other societal venues where behavioral boundaries have blurred.