Mon November 17, 2003 08:17 AM ET

By Keith Girard, Billboard Editor in Chief
NEW YORK (Billboard) - When the Recording Industry Assn. of America launched the first wave of lawsuits against illegal downloaders, it indirectly raised an important question: Where were the parents?

It quickly became apparent that in many cases, they were nowhere to be found. It seems as though computers had become to the 21st century what TVs were to the 1950s -- high-tech babysitters.

You know the old adage, out of sight out of mind? Well, many parents seemed to take the attitude, "If it keeps the kids out of my hair, all the better." As long as they were glued to the video display screens in their room, what possible trouble could they get into, right? As it turns out, they could get into quite a bit.

The RIAA legal campaign revealed a serious disconnect between kids and their parents. There's not much new about that. The generation gap is probably as old as civilisation itself. But the lawsuits served as a dramatic wakeup call.

The Internet is a wonderful thing, but it's also a lot like the Wild West. We're still on the frontier of the Information Age, and it's pretty much a place where anything goes.

In its effort to rouse concern about illegal music downloading, the record industry discovered that kids were exposed to a lot more potentially damaging material -- such as child pornography.

The good news is that in the wake of the RIAA's campaign, at least some parents are taking more responsibility for what their children do on the Internet.

In August, as many as 1.4 million families in the U.S. deleted all of their digital music files, according to research firm NPD Group. What's more, the company attributed much of the trend to the RIAA's lawsuits.

It also claimed that the number of households downloading peer-to-peer file-sharing software had declined by 11% from August to September.

Now for the bad news. It appears that illegal file swappers are heading underground. According to one university professor, trading on open P2P networks may be declining, but private file-sharing systems are on the rise, using everything from specialised software to Microsoft Messenger, which is free.

So while the RIAA may be putting a dent in mass file sharing, it's facing an ever more difficult problem -- and technology won't make things any easier.

For one, the storage capacity on computers is growing. The newest personal computers come with 100-gigabyte hard-drives. But it's possible to get them with up to one terabyte (1,000 gigabytes) of storage. And by 2008, experts say 15-terabyte systems will be common. That's enough to hold every song ever recorded -- about 5 million tracks -- using today's MP3 format.

That means the RIAA had better be ready to carry on its legal war indefinitely. Or how about this: Find a way to harness that technology. You know the old saying: If you can't beat 'em, step in and take away their market.

posted by riaaposterchild

now what did that grandfather who was sued have to say about this? "my grandkids dont care if i play bingo or watch Matlock all day so i just play on the computer"

I think some parents knew what was going on, and they liked to listen again at music they had played when they were kids themselves. Songs you can rarely find these days on the shelves of your local record store. I also think that it may have awakened the older generations ears once more, not in itself a bad thing. ho hum, as riaaposterchild says it will only go underground so wake up grandpa RIAA.

"In August, as many as 1.4 million families in the U.S. deleted all of their digital music files, according to research firm NPD Group. What's more, the company attributed much of the trend to the RIAA's lawsuits."

I don't believe that for a second. I will believe, however, that many people moved many files out of their shared folders. They will never stop filesharing. Just like 0hz said, it will only go underground. And what's worse is, even if people stop downloading, they won't go buy all the music they were listening to. They will only be exposed to less music, and buy less tickets, shirts, etc. Bye-bye RIAA!!!!

-My mom always taught me to share.

it indirectly raised an important question: Where were the parents?

This is the best thing against the RIAA, where were the parents, well I bet a lot more will start checking the music thier kids listen to a see on T.V. and will be disgusted with the porn like qualities of a lot of the artist, and will stop their kids form listening ir viewing. Silly Butts geez when will they learn that we are in control now of what we will or will not listen to.

Where were the parents? What a bunch of self-righteous drivel.

Like the recording industry really cares about children, except for their money.

They love kids. They love you. The will shake your have and tell you how much they do while they kiss your baby for public TV. They do it all just to get in your pants. Your pant pockets that is. If they could make a pill they could slip into you drink to get there they would to that too. Thats buisness. Its all about the rape. Unlike real rape its rewarded with "merry bushels of cash".

Right on, George!