The Austin American-Statesman reports that rapper Chuck D told the Congressional House Small Business Committee Wednesday that major record labels are getting a deserved comeuppance from those who facilitate to free exchange of music over the Internet.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the rock group Metallica, are suing MP3-swapping software developer Napster for alleged copyright infringement and racketeering.

However, Chuck D told the congressmen that "For a long time, it has been a one-sided system," but "now the audience has gotten to technology before the music industry so the industry is asking Congress to bail them out."

Chuck D warned that times are changing in the music business far beyond the online sharing of MP3s, and explained how 1,200 artists now distribute their own music through their own Web sites on his Website, Rapstation.com. He asserted that shutting down Napster wouldn't change much, because change is coming too fast and too broadly for the existing music industry not to be overwhelmed.

Gnutella, a new file-sharing software, has upped the ante, since Gnutella works on a peer to peer network, has no centralized server (unlike Napster), and can transfer files of any type, size, or origin.

Because of these characteristics, Gnutella has as yet unsurpassed potential for free exchange of information. Gnutella cannot be blocked by the traditional means used against Napster. Each user is connected to other users, who in turn pass along the other hosts on the network. It is far more versatile than Napster, since it can transfer .zip, .mpeg, .asf, .mov, .qt, .hqx, .exe, .jar, .sit, or any other type of file users put online. Every user is both a host and a client. Because of this, it is near impossible for ISPs, lawyers, governments, or hackers to disable the network. There are no passwords, no fees, and no rules. Each GnutellaNet client can share files, search for files, and download files from any other user.

"You can't stop technology or the people who want to use it," says Grant Keely, Ringmaster/Web Administrator of the Boise Musician's Web Ring. "What will truly be fascinating is how these record company fat cats eventually start coming around to the new ways and find ways to make it work for them. Artists like Chuck D, Limp Bizkit, and Ice-T are the smart ones because they've recognized the potential in these new mediums and found ways to use them to their advantage. How long before RIAA posterboys like Metallica tire of fighting and follow suit? After their next album tanks from irate fans not buying it in retaliation for the band's actions? Interesting times are ahead of us on this front, to be sure."

For more on this topic, visit:

Why The MP3 Lawsuits Threaten Things A Lot More Important Than Music Piracy

Copyrights And Copywrongs

When Copyright Is Wrong

Charles W. Moore

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February 09, 2010