A few months ago, the National Assembly in France passed legislation that could force Apple Computer and other companies to make songs purchased on the Web downloadable on any MP3 device. While Apple
considers shutting down all operations in France, a new movement riding on a similar tide of open-access-for-all is taking shape in the country: they're called "Audionautes," which sort of translates
into "audio surfers," and they advocate criminal piracy, offering legal assistance to those accused of illegally downloading music. The group is headed by an 18-year-old high school student who many
officials in France believe represents the new generation of online consumers. Aziz Ridouan travels around the country telling politicians, audiences and the media what kids his age are downloading on
the Web today; some say Ridouan has a better understanding of copyright law than French officials. He admits openly to downloading music and movies on the Web, saying Apple and other media sellers on
the Net set prices at levels that include the cost of making and shipping CDs and DVDs. "You can be certain that the money they saved is not going back to the artists," he says. Instead, Ridouan
advocates a system that would wipe away wasteful costs and compensate artists based on the popularity of their works, similar to the system used by radio stations. "The Internet serves my generation
the same role as the library did for previous generations," he says.
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