These are ideas that direct the strategy here suggested for Midwest University. Accordingly, key terms which will be considered in the proposal are those of 'file-sharing,' 'intellectual property,' and 'online piracy.' In the current online file-sharing context, everyday university students have essentially become bootleggers, according to legal research and assertion by both the music industry and the United States Congress. These are sources which appear to favor the music industry institutions, but in actuality, take a narrow perspective that is damaging to compromise for all parties. The program proposed here will be informed by a desire to overcome this hindrance to cooperation through a carefully constructed mediation whereby the university determines the best possible way to initiate an ability for students to continue to download music for free without sacrificing a relationship to industry and law. Namely, this process of information gathering and research examination will require a consultation with the music industry in particular.

The music trade, represented by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has insisted that downloading communities are costing the industry millions of dollars in declining sales. Since the inception of the Napster online music swapping forum in popular culture, there is a broad awareness and exploitation of new and limitless internet resources for the acquisition of free music, with millions of American students logging on everyday to take part in the newly proliferated field of bootlegging.

If one is to take the music industry as a case study of the changing nature of commerce with the integration of internet technology, there may be evidence to suggest that the retail approaches traditionally taken by many industries may be subject to extinction. This is a fact that informs the focus of the study on the best way to court...

The University will investigate the potential for partnership with such services, making one or multiple downloading sites accessible to students as a part of the university enrollment package. The research process will therefore be structured around a correlation between the apparent downloading practices of students, which can be considered by way of a thorough literature review on current university piracy patterns, and the various terms upon which music industry players are willing to participate in programs which increase user access across university settings. One expected challenge in this research process is the likelihood that gatekeeper-based file downloading programs will not offer a sufficient alternative to many students who already enjoy the benefits of peer-to-peer trading. This is an issue which inclines us to enter the proposal with an intent to evaluate and promote the distinct benefits of legal downloading where both options are available to individuals at no cost.
Appendices

The task schedule will be centered on the start of a new fall semester, with the summer months employed to gain the partnerships needed to implement a trial program for incoming students.

Bibliography

Borland, J. (April 9, 2003). Music Industry: Piracy is choking sales. CNET News. Online at http://news.com.com/2100-1027-996205.html.

Vargas, M. (2005). Cyberspace vs. Parking Mall Space. About the Retail Industry. Online at http://retailindustry.about.com/library/weekly/aa001101b.htm.