Editor in chief: Laura Cadiz
Editorial Editors: Bret Jacobson, Laura Lucas
Newsroom: (541)346-5511
Room 300, Erb Memorial Union
P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
E-maii: ode@oregon.uoregon.edu
Monday
May 1,2000
Volume 101, Issue 142
EffiSfaH
World Wide
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University stu
dents are very of
ten at the fore
front of the new
technology emerging in
our high-tech world. That
is certainly the case in
terms of digital music
files, most notably the
MP3 format, and the ex
tremely accessible nature
of its distribution chan
nels such as the popular
forum Napster.
But often students who
obtain their favorite mu
sic in this format do so in
a manner that is illegal,
which amounts to theft
from the very artists that
are being enjoyed by lis
teners. While many large
entertainment corpora
tions are currently work
ing to construct methods
of controlling digital dis
tribution in a way that en
sures payment for the
music, the copyright laws
should be enforced to
protect the artists and
those companies who
distribute their work.
The legal troubles for
Napster — along with
Yale University, Indiana
University and the Uni
versity of California —
came on April 13 when a
group of musicians led by
Metallica filed a law suit
7
claiming mat tne internet
forum constructed for trading MP3s
promoted piracy through the free
service where music is traded at no
cost.
There can be real consequences to
such behavior, should the piracy be
come too rampant. If the predomi
nant form of obtaining music files be
comes a system of open forums such
as Napster, artists will no longer have
any economic viability — let alone
motivation — to continue the ardu
ous and difficult process of produc
ing music.
It is completely understandable
that artists would be angered at los
ing money for their hard work. Their
long hours recording in the studio,
writing and producing all cost a great
deal of money and are a significant
investment they can currently only
recoup through the profitable sale of
their material.
The basic moral is by no means
new. Thievery is wrong and should
be punished whenever possible. Our
society maintains its peaceful struc
ture by following and holding dear
certain behavior guidelines, and the
prohibition of theft has long been one
of the pre-eminent forms of such so
cial rules. And it is only through
prosecution that laws can keep their
power to do their designed task.
For obvious motivations, large
companies are working to find safer,
more profitable formats of distribu
tion. This will make theft less acces
sible, in theory, and will continue the
economic viability of music produc
tion. Sony already has a site that di
rects users to sites where they can
find songs in several formats, listing
songs as either purchasable or free on
the various sites. By using services
such as that offered by Sony and oth
ers, users can find their favorite mu
sic and keep their consciences clean.
The industry reaction every time a
new format has offered consumers
more freedom has been to panic ex
cessively, though this time the Inter
net and Napster could prove to be a
real problem that deserves all the at
tention they’re currently receiving.
The Internet has proved to be a real
revolution in communications and
could pose a new threat to the old
style of music distribution.
The legal and monetary rights of
artists such as Metallica and rapper
Dr. Dre, who has also threatened legal
action, should be protected while the
music industry slowly catches up to
current technology, ensuring that all
college students enjoy oontinued re
leases from their favorite artists.
This editorial represents the view of the
Emerald editorial board. Responses may be
sent to ode@oregon.uoregon.edu.
Letters to the editor
President clueless
I would like to respond to the arti
cle that reveals student reactions to
the Worker Rights Consortium/Nike
CEO Phil Knight situation (ODE,
April 25). The first quote that really
bothered me was from ASUO Presi
dent Wylie Chen. He essentially says
that Knight’s withdrawing his $30
million donation is not a big blow.
Academics will stay the same. Then
Chen says, “It’s sad that people are fo
cusing attention at one person’s mon
ey on campus.”
Sorry, but what is really sad is that
our ASUO president does not under
. stand the benefit that this onegeuer.-.
ous person brings. What is sad is that
he believes that losing $30 million
will not be a blow to students. I am
glad Chen has so much money that
this “pocket change” means little to
him.
The issue isn’t that money should
not be more important than human
rights. Nike seems to have worked
diligently to improve conditions over
seas.
There is also the quote from Presi
dent-elect Jay Breslow that says the
loss is not crippling and is not tragic. I
want to know why losing $30 million
is not crippling. Just because it is ear
marked for athletics doesn’t mean that
the future revenue won’t get pumped
into academic departments. And it’s
not even that sole donation. How
much money have we lost in future
donations.hy. signing .with an ocgani-.
zation that is standing on wobbly
knees? The answer to that is truly
crippling, Mr. President elect.
Nick Haselwander
pre-journalism
Minority rules
I guess in this case, the minority
rules. It is extremely unfair that a
small group of liberal-minded stu
dents should be responsible for the
withdrawal of our largest fthancial
contributor. I do not blame Nike CEO
Phil Knight for angrily denying the
University any further donations. I
would do the exact same thing.
Why should Knight, after all the
monetary gifts he has bestowed on
our school, continue to give us more
money after University President
Dave Frohnmayer has signed on with
POJ?ppQSiDgJ3Cgaui^aUQii; the Worker
Rights Consortium?
Apparently some people feel that
we have lost nothing and in turn
gained personal morality by joining
the WRC. In response to this naive
view, I ask: Are you blind? Do you not
see that if it were not for Knight, we
would not have the Knight Library or
the new law center? Not to mention
that our athletic department has been
generously supplied with top-notch
athletic apparel and equipment.
Unfortunately, because a small
group of protesters decided to lie
around in front of Johnson Hall and
trample the grass with their brand
name tents (which I am quite sure
were made in unsatisfactory labor
conditions), our largest benefactor has
cut his financial ties with our entire
University.
Connie McMurren
English
Thumbs
* tfik
To abitmore
pride
Asian Pacific
American Heritage
Month got under
way Wednesday
with this year’s cel
ebration theme,
“Take YourShoes
Off! Come into Our
House and Learn
about America.”
The Asian Pacific
American Student
Union also spon
sored a fashion
show, auction and
dance.
To putting them
to work early
After the first Take
Our Daughters To
Work Day came
into existence
eight years ago,
the event was once
again celebrated
on campus Thurs
day. About 100
middle school girls
participated in a
wide range of
workshops includ
ing genetics, clay
art and neuro
science.
To a big bill
come due
The Oregon Uni
versity System as a
whole has accu
mulated $420 mil
lion in repairs,
with the University
coming in second
on the dubious list
at $98 million
worth of deferred
maintenance
costs.
To silencing
reform voices
There we re 16
more pro-reform
newspapers shut
down in Tehran,
Iran, last week by
conservatives op
posed to reform
ideals of President
Mohammad
Khatami. Though
also a Muslim cler
ic, Khatami has
openly endorsed
religious pluralism
and free press.