Copyright and the Media CD Industry
During the turn of the new millennia, the media CD industry experienced the peak of its economic activity. It was during this period when music fans obliged themselves to purchase albums of various solo artists, boy bands, and group performers. Yet, just when the media fever reached its heights, the following years showed CD sales to be flat. It is also highly noticeable that though the unit sales of music CDs fell, its price per raw unit failed to drop likewise.
The failure of raw CD price to fall in a ratio that is sensitive to the drop of music and media sales contributed to the popularity of alternative music sources. Several other entertainment options such as online download, podcasts, rapid file sharing, and pirated CDs have been the resort of most music fans. Sales in the media industry, nevertheless, were greatly affected by the wave of mushroom music pirates.
It is in this light that the benefits of copyrighting provide exceptional support to the media CD industry. Copyrighting, in its nature, is designed to provide an exclusive right in carrying out certain economic and social activities to its holder. Generally, across other government laws, there are seven elements in a successful and strong copyright. This includes the author, the output, its exclusive ownership, copies and forms, recordings, and publication. It is then through these elements that the right to copy, publish, and duplicate any media output can be carried out either by its holder or to any duly authorised party. It is through this effort that the media CD industry can be protected, and distributing copies can be legally carried out.
