You know how to smoothly travel through the Internets. You know how you can watch funny videos on YouTube. You know how to manage your Facebook profile. You know which websites to go to so you can do some research for your paper that's due tomorrow. You know how to use the word processor to write that paper as well. You even know how you can download music and movies illegally.
You may scoff at this and think, "I've been doing this for years! They can't catch me!" Thus far, you may be right. However, if the fateful day comes when you hear a knocking at your door and you answer to a couple of police officers who proceed to handcuff you and read off your Miranda rights... well, you get my point.
You can get arrested and fined for downloading your favorite songs off of the internet. Punishments can include up to five years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and an additional $150,000 in statutory damages for each individual piece of work that you illegally copy and/or distribute (RIAA).
I don't know about you, but I believe that these punishments are ridiculous and do not fit the "crime." The RIAA is fighting an uphill battle. Technology had caused a disruption in the record industry and digital literacy has complicated it. This website will discuss the various cases and factors that led up to this disruption and a possible revolution in the sale of music and other products.