Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ College Pact a Fresh Start For Napster

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
Students feel betrayed by Penn State administration, and with good reason. The university will begin offering the students free access to music through the revamped (and now commercial) Napster service. There won't be an extra cost (for now) - it will be paid for from the existing technology fee (begging the question: what was it being used for before?). Students are outraged. "The money I pay could go to much better things such as rebuilding the network or better lab equipment," wrote Penn State senior Joe Jarzab in an e-mail to CNET News.com. Some people suggest the students should be grateful. But suppose you were a journalist and you discovered one day that your money was being spent to support censorship of the press. This is much how the students feel. After treating their customers like criminals, the music companies are actually being rewarded. With the students' money. Oh, for a transcript of the deal that must have been reached. "Penn State President Graham Spanier and Recording Industry Association of America President Cary Sherman are co-chairs of a joint industry and university committee that is scrutinizing the possibility of putting legal music services on campus." Yeah.CRLF The Register comes up with a good name. Pigopolists.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
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Last Updated: Dec 26, 2024 8:53 p.m.

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