Society is changing. We are constantly figuring out new ways to connect to one another and share information.
The new Sidekick II from T-Mobile allows users to text message even more quickly.
Cell phone technology is constantly finding new ways to connect people faster. The newest development from Cingular is the Motorola ROKR phone with iTunes.
People from all around the world, especially college students, like to take their music with them wherever they go.
Many students across campus download music files everyday — illegally.
Most of us are criminals. Some get caught, others don't. Either way, students are breaking the law, even though it has become almost commonplace.
It's easy to get music over the Internet, mostly because it's hard to regulate. Enforcement happens infrequently, and when regulations are set, it isn't long until new technology comes out to get around it.
To try to solve the problem, MSU has introduced an alternative to the illegal downloading craze.
It's called Ruckus. And it's free. For now.
It seems like a great solution. Give students free music and illegal downloading will stop.
The only catch is students aren't allowed to burn CDs or put it on mp3 players without paying a fee. Ruckus allows users to listen to music on their computer, but they can't do much else with it unless they pay to do so.
What student has the luxury to sit at his or her computer all the time, even if it is a laptop? Isn't that why CD players, iPods and other mp3 players were created?
This inconvenience is the difference between providing an alternative and providing an obstacle.
Technology is continuing to prosper and students are becoming more and more Internet savvy. Someone, somewhere will figure out how to get around the regulations set on the files.
And maybe regulations shouldn't be put on downloading. Since people all over the nation illegally download without batting an eye, maybe laws on intellectual property and copyright material need to change.
There isn't an easy answer at the moment.
Although the effort is appreciated and MSU is definitely on to something, this isn't a solution. To make CDs and transfer files to portable players, students will still use illegal means.
Better luck next time.
