It doesn't really hurt.

Well it seems that all those villains out there downloading free music over the internet aren't actually hurting cd sales all that much, if at all. A draft report by a couple of mathematicians analysed behaviour of downloaders and discovered they weren't going to go out and buy the cd's they downloaded - they were just attracted by the price - it was free!

I suppose that means that those downloading villains who really like a artist tend to go out and buy the cd rather than searching for the free download. Those who are a bit more ambivalent will get the download. Sort of like your own private radio - if you want to listen to it, you'll download it. But if your are a "fan" you'll buy it. When I was younger if I just wanted to listen to it, I'd either listen to a radio station that played that sort of music or get a tape of it off a friend if I could.

This report is really going to mess up a few law suits. Yes what they are doing is illegal, but no, it isn't costing the record companies much in the way of revenue.