Why the monetization of music file sharing is good for me if I am an Internet Service Provider:

1. Monetization will dramatically lower ISP bandwidth costs. Once file sharing is an authorized activity, ISPs can establish their own proprietary servers to service the bulk of file sharing activities. Since users would access the most shared songs on this “internal” system, it would lead to a dramatic reduction in the need for bandwidth to the world wide web, and a considerable cost saving to providers.
2. Since unauthorized file sharing would be virtually eliminated, notice and notice provisions as contemplated under Bill C-61 would be reduced or eliminated along with associated costs to the ISPs.
   
3. Creators and rights owners would be in a position to offer ISPs an administration fee. Some percentage of the collected licence fee would go to the ISPs, making them in effect the creators and rights owners business partners.
4. Once music file sharing is monetized, other new business opportunities will present themselves to ISPs, such as the development of proprietary portals for music file sharing that would lead to ancillary advertising and other revenues.

Why the monetization of music file sharing is good for me if I am a Consumer:

1. Guilt free, low cost access to the world’s entire repertoire of music. Users of file sharing networks will know they have done the right thing by supporting creators in their work by paying a small licencing fee.
2. Clean virus free files. Bringing file sharing into the full light of day will eliminate many of the problems these files create for consumers.
3. Access to tens of millions of songs, many of which are not found in digital stores or anywhere else. Even the most obscure titles can be found on peer to peer networks, in fact the internet has become the greatest living repository in history for all kinds of music. Consumers will have unlimited access to all this music and more to come in the years ahead.
4. Consumer can opt out. By signing a sworn statement stating they will not do so, individuals who do not wish to share music will not be required to pay the licence fee.

Why the monetization of music file sharing is good for me if I am a Creator:

1. Creators will finally be paid for this new and growing use of their work. Like everyone else, performers and creators of music have the right to be paid when their work is used, and music file sharing eclipses all other uses, including iTunes. In fact, an enormous number of the songs on iPods today came from some form of music sharing. After ten years of receiving no compensation for this new use of music, performers and songwriters will finally be paid for their labours, so they can continue to do what consumers want them to do: create music.
   
2. The monetization of file sharing will create a low cost distribution system with equal entry for the works of creators at all levels. Very few artists are fortunate to be signed to recording contracts and fewer still are ever front racked at HMV or Wal Mart. Authorized file sharing would offer a conduit to the world for aspiring creators and compensate them for their efforts.
   
3. Fair distribution of the licencing fee “pool”. Third party companies such as Big Champagne gather file sharing data that would be applied to the pool of money created by the licencing fee. This ensures that the monies received by creators and rights owners would directly and accurately reflect how often their music is file shared.
4. Once music file sharing is monetized, other new business opportunities will present themselves to creators.
   

Why the monetization of music file sharing is good for me if I am a Rights Owner:

1. Rights owners will finally be paid for this new and growing use of their catalogues. After ten years of receiving no compensation for this new use of music, rights owners will finally receive compensation.
2. Increased value of catalogue. Much of what is file shared is catalogue music that may have represented little value to rights owners in the past. Current works would also increase in value.
3. Record labels and Music publishers will have the funds needed to develop aspiring artists and songwriters.
   
4. Once music file sharing is monetized, other new business opportunities will present themselves to rights owners