The Future of the Digital Content Revolution

Following our look at MP3.com (MPPP Quote) Monday, and Napster and Gnutella Tuesday, where are we headed in this copyright dilemma?

If the content-protection landscape looks messy -- well, it is messy. It's clear that major changes are underway, if less obvious how these issues will be resolved. Let me venture some thoughts on some of the most likely outcomes.

First and most important, this is not a problem -- a problem for content owners, that is (eager Napster and Gnutella users would say, "What problem?") -- that is going to be resolved by fiat. People who have grown accustomed to looking first on the Web for their music -- and usually finding it there -- rather than flipping through the bins at Tower Records are not going to stop because society says tsk-tsk. ...