Not counter hegemony but understanding technology.

I would like to suggest that rather describing those individuals that participate in “illegal” downloading of files over the Internet as counter-hegemonic, but rather suggest that these individuals are simply taking full advantage of what the Internet offers.

Record companies have blamed the fact that they are increasingly loosing money on the account of people downloading music, but as discussed in tutorial when CDs first came out people would have bought what they already had on vinyl or cassette that in tern achieved high levels of revenue for record labels. Now that people have done this it is not surprising that sales have dropped.

The internet has provided many positive outcomes in regards to better customer services for business, new businesses developed, the development of community groups and so on. No doubt record companies have benefited from the Internet also.

File sharing is such a small aspect of what the internet can provide. People have been copying things ever since it became possible. Wether it be VHS movies, mix cassette tapes or CD burning. What’s so different about the Internet then.

Thoughts?