The Music Fans vs. The Music Industry

Is downloading songs off of Napster morally acceptable? I. Utilitarianism II. Deontological The court ruling violates Napsters First Amendment right of free speech. An order to shut down Napster would "silence the entire Napster community", violating the users free speech rights as well. Napster has not violated any laws. "Users are not direct copyright infringers because they are covered by the immunity granted by the AHRA, Audio Home Recording Act." This act explicitly allows unlimited …

…Disputes Continue in the Aftermath of Recent Court Rulings." UCLA Online Institute for Cyberspace Law and Policy. 10 Aug. 2001 <http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/iclp/napster.html> Borland, John, and Cecily Barnes. "Judge issues injunction against Napster." 26 July 2000. CNET News.com <http://news.com.com/2100-1023_3-243698.html> Picker, Randal C. "Copyright as entry policy: The case of digital distribution." Antitrust Bulletin. New York: Summer 2002. Vol 47, Iss 2/3; pg 423.