On SOPA

I have refrained from posting about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) because, frankly, I do not have either the time or expertise to make sense of all the legal details.  Proponents argue that we need it to deter theft of intellectual property; others say it goes too far and holds companies liable for actions over which they have no control.

Yesterday's WSJ ran an op-ed by UT-Dallas economics professor Stan Liebowitz who, sometime co-authoring with my NC State colleague Steve Margolis, is one of the country's leading experts in the economic issues associated with digital property rights.  Liebowitz' research shows that music sales (both CDs and online) are down 50% since 1999 and that the main reason is theft (aside: you may call it downloading, but it really is theft.) 

Contrary to an often-repeated myth, providing consumers with convenient downloads at reasonable prices, as iTunes did, does not appear to have ameliorated piracy at all. The sales decline after iTunes exploded on the scene was about the same as the decline before iTunes existed. Apparently it really is difficult to compete with free. Is that really such a surprise?

Closing thought: it is one thing for the U.S. to pass a law banning and punishing online piracy, another thing to enforce it.  Chasing and punishing digital thieves overseas may be like whack-a-mole.