"Since the adoption of the internet by the masses, music companies have done the modern equivalent of trying hide the entire music industry in the virtual sand. Basically, their goal was to do everything and anything possible to restrict the flow of downloadable music (whether legal or illegal) and maintain the status quo of "you'll buy what we want you to buy." That which we do not understand, we fear. It is a fear borne out of a mindset that music can only money while under tight control. Basically, they don't believe in the free market. Worse still, they don't trust us. It is easier for them to create and market an artist than to research and discover good music and promote it."Pauric from LIVEdigitally weighs in on the broken state of the music industry. He has some interesting ideas, but I think "ripping" music from audio streams is no different than downloading them from KaaZaa. If you don't pay for the music, you don't have the right to take it. Period.