Suggestions I have heard or conceived all revolve around two specific additions to the system: pervasive disclaimers and possible flags for copyrighted material, enabling the system to block those files when identified.

I do believe that the burden for providing those IDs ought to be on the copyright holder; the RIAA and MPAA ought to be able to identify the items on which they make inordinate profits while the artists mostly just get by. No, I have little to no sympathy for their position; study after study tells us that filesharing increases, rather than decreases, purchases of music and movies. Otherwise how do we explain things like the low percentage of songs from ITMS on iPods?

A good analyst on the subject (being one of the attorneys involved peripherally with Grokster, and directly with the even worse Brand X decision) is Harold Feld, who writes Tales from the Sausage Factory at Wetmachine. I know he’s got some stuff going on that distracts him from focusing on his writing, but when he does, he’s among the best.

I know how I enjoy music. I make it. I listen to it. And I ignore pompous windbags who make money out of others’ creativity.