- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preteenagers today articles
- preteenagers today q&a
- teenagers today articles
- teenagers today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
What's the Deal on Downloading?
Saving Your Teen a World Wide Web of Trouble
By Tamekia Reece
In addition to educating consumers, some companies are dropping the prices on their products in hopes that lower prices will lead to more legal purchases. Some others are trying to make downloading and recording from their products harder.
If that's not enough to deter illegal downloaders, companies are prepared to file more lawsuits. In June 2004, copyright infringement lawsuits were filed against 482 computer users by the RIAA, and until people recognize that downloading for free is illegal, many more lawsuits are expected.
One of the most popular reasons teens give for file-swapping is that music and movies are too expensive. They wonder why they should have to pay close to $16 for a CD when they only like one song on it. The music and movie industries are listening and working on ways to bring legal downloading alternatives to consumers.
The MPAA has teamed with Movielink.com and CinemaNow.com to bring legal video downloads for only $3 to $5.
"There are a ton of legal sites to sample, download, stream and burn digital music easily, legally and cheaply," say the experts at WhatsTheDownload.com. They also suggest that teens use sites like Real.com and iTunes.com.
Even Napster, the grand-daddy of downloading, which was shut down after the RIAA filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against them, has revamped itself and is now offering downloading services for as little as $.99 per track.
Though paying anything is a far cry from getting the goods for free, here's one thing you and your teen should consider: Is burning a CD of her favorite Britney Spears tracks really worth a huge fine and even jail time? We highly doubt it.
