zanf said: "You cant really compare the two models of intellectual property theft ['stealing' a digital copy of something] and actually trafficking real people."

xtobal said: ""Recorded music sales fell by more than a third internationally in the last six years, and independent studies show that a major factor in this decline has been internet users accessing peer-to-peer networks to steal music online."

Independent studies? Well I did an independent study myself, and concluded that another major factor in this decline has been the fact that too much music being released these days is absolute shit."

soch said: "I see what you're saying about spreading a little fear in the minds of average-joe-interweb, but I have a hard time believing anyone using a site like oink was average Joe-interweb-user who figured it was legal and/or risk free."

cbit said: "sure, but if sites like oink were _never_ closed down and the idea spread that illegal dloads were officially illegal but in practice tolerated--then there'd be an increase in 'joe-interweb-users' who did start using equivalent services. A 'bust' sends a clear message to joe interweb that this stuff is still regarded as illegal in the full sense, which will discourage a big group of people from using the sites."

djugel said: ""They have noone but themselves to blame for alienating their whole user base."

what's that mean? explain??"