A Mac Mini Enthusiast Network

What to do about the many young people in our colleges and Universities who insist on file-sharing with their friends? Nothing? Oh, okay. But the RIAA really do want to do something about it, and their solution, predictably, involves nasty letters, courts and big fines.

The RIAA’s sue-happy approach doesn’t seem to be working for them, though, and a new approach is being used. Obviously encouraged by the RIAA (with a stick rather than a carrot, I guess) learning institutions are encouraging their students to forsake well functioning and popular applications like Ares in favor of Ruckus, a music-downloads service.

I can see – and I think they probably can too – that this isn’t a like for like swap. File-sharing is the sharing of files whereas Ruckus allows students to download DRM-protected music. That’s like offering a skipping rope instead of a PS3. An easy choice for many. Filesharing is endemic in our colleges and universities and it will take more than this lame attempt to shift the thoughts of those involved.