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Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:21 GMT 19:21 UK

Simple answer to a long standing Global issue.....

Make CD's cheaper, you see the % that an artist receives and you wonder where the rest goes....

Reduce the cost of DVD's, I mean £20 for a Blu Ray disc that most people watch just once and then flog for a few quid at their local Car Boot sale.

I don't download music full stop, I certainly would never dream of paying for a download and not actually owning anything apart from a highly compressed MP3 file to play on my generic player.

Steve, Isle of Man

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:19 GMT 19:19 UK

The last CD I bought I bought online from a dealer who was able to post CDs from Hong Kong cheaper than I could buy them in the UK (online or from a store).

The music industry's reaction to the increase in sales their legal products? Sue them.

Yes, they've really got the interests of the public and artists at heart.

Kwacka, Limassol

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:17 GMT 19:17 UK

Whilst I do not condone file sharing, if an ISP sent a threatening letter to a customer, the immediate response would be for the customer to terminate the contract. We need to put this into perspective, the Internet alone has been a vital tool for the economy over the last decade which far outweighs the cost of illegal downloading. The Copyright laws need updating and all those involved in music production and distribution need to make it much much more affordable, not 79p a track.

Chris Beaven, Stevenage, United Kingdom

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:17 GMT 19:17 UK

The issue with music is the greedy music cartels. If a CD cost no more than $5 us dollars you'd bring the illegal down loading to a crawl. Most people would rather pay $5 for a CD then down load a crappy MP3. CD sales would go through the roof too! For the die-hards that continue the illegal down loads, you will never stop them just like you will never stop a criminal, there will always be those around. The problem is with price pointing, take out the 1900% P&L & all will be well!

Rob Thomas, San Francisco

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:16 GMT 19:16 UK

Maybe people would stop downloading illegally if this was condemned by some of the most righteous people in the land. I am thus looking forward to MPs condemning downloading as utterly indefensible yet admitting that they employ a researcher to do their downloading and charge their wages to the taxpayer.

clive of india

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:12 GMT 19:12 UK

lol piracy? gee what kinda stuff is this, Piracy helps the music industry, not to mention its time for a overhaul of the music industry its self. Time to move away from Monetary systems and go into a collective system. no one makes money, no one profits, all is free. no need to trade, everyone does their part for society. Besides, not like we pay money to listen to the radio stations anyways. so whats the point?

Sincerely You biggest Pirate in history
Jesse E Poland
Edmonton Alberta Canada

jesse poland, edmonton

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:10 GMT 19:10 UK

Why does human do something illegal. lets find the reason for same eridicate the reason and the result will be great. Its just the attitude as money is not a major problem in developing countries. Try to change the attitude through aptitude and the problem is solved.

Rajeev Batra, Mumbai,India

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:10 GMT 19:10 UK

Fact is most films / music / TV shows aren't worth paying for, its all rubbish.

David Unseco

But you are still willing to spend time watching it.

[Corruptuser], United States

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:09 GMT 19:09 UK

Im sorry but estimation is not fact, in every piracy article i have read there is no source stated for the 'facts' used. This really has to stop journalists integrity should be on the line for publishing opinion as fact.

chris takahashi, london

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:07 GMT 19:07 UK

Nothing should be done.Indeed,if anything were to be done then I would not be able to download freely expensive computer programs, music or games and I should not be happy if that facility were to be lost. Better I think to tackle REAL crime that actually HURTS and physically HARMS people. I mean tackle properly with harsh sentences in austere conditions for the drug dealing, thieving, violent filth that wanders freely the streets of Britain.

Yes I do download and feel NO guilt or remorse!

GusG, Oxford

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 18:01 GMT 19:01 UK

How much did Prince lose by having his album given away with the Mail on Sunday??

Iain Monks, Blah! Party, United Kingdom

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 17:58 GMT 18:58 UK

It's the same with all those women who buy fake designer handbags.

They would undoubtedly have spent £1000 on an original designer handbag if the £30 fake wasn't available. Yeah right!

Michael, Bath

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 17:52 GMT 18:52 UK

I've downloaded various music albums and films. After listening/watching them once, I've realised that the quality was atrocious, and promptly deleted them. If I had bought said CDs/DVDs, I would have returned them to the shop and demanded my money back. So sorry, not every file downloaded is lost revenue. Much of it is deleted soon afterwards.

Michael, Bath

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 17:51 GMT 18:51 UK

Would anyone download this stuff if they had to pay for it.
Fact is most films / music / TV shows aren't worth paying for, its all rubbish.

David Unseco

Added: Saturday, 30 May, 2009, 17:24 GMT 18:24 UK

"History tells us that Free Public Libraries would end the publication of Books, as no one would ever buy a book.."

J Nelhams, London

over the years the RIAA/MPAA have had the exact same reaction to every new innovation in distribution. the movie studios tried to hinder the introduction of both TV and the VCR. the record companies reacted this way when recorded music began being played over the airwaves and again with the invention of the tape deck. everytime they've survived, unfortunately.

Rileyson, Toronto, Canada