Oct. 9, 2000
BYU was home today to one of the hottest ongoing political, ethical, and legal debates in America.
Should you be allowed to download music for free, from popular websites like Napster?
Or, should music be bought and sold at the record store?
News Specialist Scott Light reports.
Napster founder, Shawn Fanning, got an ovation when Utah Senator Orrin Hatch introduced him at a Senate Judiciary meeting at BYU.
Fanning speaks matter-of-factly about his company being an asset to the music business.
He says parents are able to see what music their kids are downloading, and that Napster is committed to helping undiscovered artists and musicians.
Shawn Fanning/Founder - Napster: "MOST NOTABLY NEW ARTISTS AND FEATURED MUSIC PROGRAMS, WHICH HELP USERS TO FIND NEW ARTISTS AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ARTISTS TO REACH A BROADER AUDIENCE."
From what Senator Hatch had to say, Napster has a friend in the judiciary chairman.
Hatch called Fanning a remarkable young man and lauded the exposure opportunities for talented unknowns.
Senator Orrin Hatch, (R) Utah: "THAT'S HOW TOUGH THE BUSINESS IS. YOU KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. THERE ARE SOME GREAT ARTISTS IN THIS WORLD WHO WILL NEVER GET A CHANCE."
Although music was center attraction, Hatch did hear from others about what's called peer-to-peer technology.. the ability for internet users to download files to each other without a middleman.
Napster provides that technology with music.
Hatch never did say whether he thought Napster was treading a fine legal or ethical line.
He only called the entire subject "a tremendous set of issues."
The others who spoke said they certainly had ethical concerns about internet downloading of copyrighted material. That's the exact reason the Recording Industry Association of America is suing Napster and trying to shut it down.
