As many governments harden their laws against online piracy and the entertainment industry sues thousands of internet users, a band of economists are preparing to bring balance to the debate over digital copyright. So much balance, indeed, that the music industry initially objected strongly to its conclusions. On June 13th, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will publish a report on digital music that dispels some myths about the music industry and file sharing. Importantly, it argues that the debate should go beyond just the music industry and the health of record labels, by involving far bigger industries such as telecom providers and computer companies that also contribute to national economies. The report will be used as the backbone of national laws that try to mediate the interests of the groups that depend on digital music, ranging from companies to artists and consumers.
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