Read this. Then come back.

Now that you're back, here's what I think.

I work for a textbook publisher. Whether or not I have a job is commensurate with the sale of books. It's not within my best interest for a school to purchase a textbook and then photocopy it for all of the students. In fact, it is illegal for them to do so because it would entail distributing copyrighted material without the consent of the copyright holder.

Does that mean that book publishers should work to ban photocopiers? Of course not. It is legal, for example, for the teacher to make a photocopy of the book to keep for themselves as a backup.*

The publishing industry has it easy right now. It's a scientific fact that people read 25% slower on computer screens than they do on paper (read Designing Web Usability by Jakob Nielsen). EBooks are not catching on for that very reason. When everyone has 300dpi LCD screens on their PDAs, then perhaps publishers will be in the same boat as Hollywood and the recording industry.

Which brings me to Hollywood and the recording industry. I agree with the protection of copyright. I also believe in fair use. If Hollywood and the recording industry want to make DRM a reality, then go for it. The market will respond. When a device can't play a CD that you spent your money on, when you can't fast forward through commercials anymore, when you can't use your favorite sound editing software because it employs codecs that are also used to play rights-managed files so it assumes that the LEGAL work you are doing is ILLEGAL -- I guess you're just going to have to get a different product.

I like CDs and seeing the design of the liner notes and reading the lyrics. It provides the music with context, a visual connection to the music. I'd guess that most people have the same feeling. Let's face it -- downloading an album may be convenient and free, but it's also cold and empty. Not like removing the cellophane and looking at the liner notes. Why do you think box sets are so popular. It's all about adding value. What the entertainment industry has to do is add value to their products so they are worth buying.

Look at DVDs. You can't copy them and retain the same picture quality (well, not yet). You can't copy all of the special features. That's added value. Plus, DVD's are relatively affordable these days, compared to CDs, especially, for what you get for your money.

Which is the other thing the entertainment CEOs need to do: they have to lower their prices. $10 for a movie ticket plus $5 for popcorn and $3 for a pop -- per person. That's ridiculous, especially if it's a movie like THE HOT CHICK. I'll pony up for HARRY POTTER because I want to see that larger than life -- that's added value. THE HOT CHICK -- I don't want to see it, and if I did, I think my TV would suffice.

And $18 for CDs? Even when DVDs are typically only $25, and then you're getting visual stimuli and bonus features? Lower CDs to the price they are worth ($10, tops), and maybe more will sell.

In the United States, we're supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Increasingly, we're assumed guilty. What year is this, 1984?

*For the record, it's legal to redistribute up to 10% of a copyrighted work for educational purposes only without the copyright owner's consent.