When Creators, Corporations and Consumers Collide: Napster and the Development of On-line Music Distribution

The Internet is often depicted as the ultimate arena for unfettered capitalism, erasing geographic boundaries and barriers to entry while providing a plethora of goods and services to consumers. This article traces how public and private reactions by the five major record companies to new Internet distribution technologies have undermined this popular myth. We use a political economic approach to examine the case of A through format changes and setting standards for other technologies; and through lobbying and legal activities.