Napster Controversy Sparks Reader Response

Mon., July 10, 2000

Two weeks ago, Our Generation ran an opinion column from a teenage writer about the Napster controversy. Kev Vorhees, who’ll be a sophomore at St. George’s this fall, argued in support of the computer program that allows users to download MP3s — electronic versions of songs — from other users’ computers. Many in the music industry claim Napster violates copyright laws and hurts their profits.

The column prompted several responses from readers. Here are a few:

“Piracy always has been illegal though never a problem. Napster changed all that by linking all those bootleggers together. The question isn’t whether it IS illegal but SHOULD it be.”

—Taylor Marr

lewis & clark junior

“I think (Napster) is great.”

—Chris Rodkey

freshman at the University of Montana this fall

“Just because you can download music without properly reimbursing the artist, does that mean you believe that it is all right to walk in the nearest Kmart and walk out of the store with a new MP3 player or a new CD without payment? I don’t really think you would see it that way, but what is the ethical difference?”

—Donald Capstick

semi-retired computer systems administrator

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