I’m trustworthy, but someone better keep an eye on that guy!

http://anarchyinyourhead.com/2009/06/24/top-10-causes-of-minarchism-8/

The guy who does this comic is a champion, check out his site

Single mother fined $2.4 million for ‘pirating’ 24 songs

Jammie Thomas-Rasset fined $2.4 million for pirating 24 songs in RIAA Kazaa case

Music pirate fined $2.4m

This is a clear example of rent seeking caused by state provision of intellectual property. I think those record companies are just using state provision of IP to try and hold on to their profit margins without actually doing innovative work to provide a service for their customers. Notice how the technology for creating music and producing the actual CD has become so much cheaper and more accessible over the last 10-15 years, but the prices haven’t dropped that much? That’s because the state grants monopoly protections to these record companies. It has the effect of restricting competition in the business, so that these record companies and associations have free rein to go and bully people. The legal system is set up in such a way that it is very expensive, which once again favours these corporations at the expense of average people.

A much better way to conduct business is where the company/artist tries to actually connect with the consumer and give them a reason to want to pay for a product. Look at Trent Reznor for example, the case study link is actually a very interesting video, I highly recommend watching it.

Michael Masnick The Trent Reznor case study
Trent Reznor To Fans: “Steal, Steal and Steal Some More”

Even if you do accept (I personally don’t) that Intellectual property is a valid form of property right, how is a fine of $2.4 million justified for ’stealing’ items that would sell in the store for about $50?