HOW TO BEST ENSURE REMUNERATION FOR CREATORS IN THE MARKET FOR MUSIC? COPYRIGHT AND ITS ALTERNATIVES

The focus of this essay is to examine the market for copyrighted works with a particular emphasis on the sound recording market. This market is currently in a state of flux, some would say disarray, due to the ability of the Internet to lower transmission costs for both authorized and unauthorized copies, with the latter being, at this time, far more prevalent. In this essay we discuss the intent of copyright, the role of copying and file-sharing, and some alternative production/consumption schemes meant to strengthen or to replace copyright. Copyright 2006 The Authors Journal compilation © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.