Jon Lech Johansen, 21, was just 16 when he was prosecuted twice, charged by Hollywood production companies for helping create software that promoted copyright violation, and twice cleared thanks to Norway's laws that grant consumers considerable freedom in backing up what they have purchased.

"The recording industry as it exists today will be superfluous. Equipment to produce music of top technical quality is becoming cheaper and cheaper. Making music available for sale on the Internet is both simple and cheap. Even making music available on the large services, like iTunes Music Store, is quite simple," Johansen said.

"The problem that remains for an artist is to become known so that people will buy the music. The recording industry will still have a role in terms of marketing," Johansen said.

Original Article

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