by Thu Nguyen

Created on: August 16, 2010   Last Updated: August 17, 2010

About a decade and a half ago, nobody knew what MP3s were. Encoding these files took awfully long and those who did distribute it were on underground networks who pirated more than music. They also distributed applications, games and whatever they could get their hands on. It was the driving competition among teams back then that made it possible for the mass sharing of pirated information online.

Today, not a lot has changed only the software which allows piracy to be mass distributed have become much more faster. The strange thing is they are seen publicly each day yet the belief which they have survived attracts users to support them more. Thus, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) cannot be quick enough to shut down the number of homes which download music by the millions every day from these file-sharing sites.

These networks have cleverly disguised themselves as a certain type of marketing model which enables users to make money online per download of a link shared. Others put on the forefront searches, categories and current hot trends. That may sound fishy but the reality is, these models work. Up until a certain extent that is.

Filepump which was recently seized by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appeared in the news and all over the internet. Plastered on the site was a big banner with the badges and code of violation the site has broken. In the description of the seize, you see:

‘It is unlawful to reproduce or distribute copyrighted material, software or games, without authorization.’

Yet the computer which are distributed today to consumers have integrated into their operating system a suite of tools to help us encode music and videos for our own personal use. Believing in the good of the public that something like piracy won't become mainstream has stretched our actions a bit too far.

That's because we take advantage of the ability to share music freely and in turn look for sites which does the same. Not only that, those who have become creative has sought for ways in which they can make money from selling these creative property to their local community. Thus, this has brought on the emergence of peddling mix cds and full albums for cheap.

The sad part is none of the money which these pirates make goes to the original artist or do they even know about it. When they do find out, it’s reflected in the album sales and suddenly artists left and right are being dropped from their record labels because

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