Three landmark cases are evidence of the erosion of individuals' rights to manipulate digital content. Time Warner president Richard Parsons certainly put down the marker this week at the Jupiter Online Music Forum. A generation ago, remarks like those of Mr. Parsons and the backing of the government would have crushed dissent or at least generated anger. The reason for that is simple, but mysterious to those who, like Mr. Parsons, don't understand the basic change the Internet has wrought. Majority rule isn't good enough anymore.
Consensus rules the Net.
As I've said before, Napster, Gnutella, and programs like them are basic protocols. You can no longer make them illegal than you can make FTP or email illegal. If music lovers are forced underground, millions will go there, and gladly. But they won't be forced into paying Time Warner one red cent if they really don't want to pay it. It will be a bloody battle companies will fail and people will go to jail because of silly men like Richard Parsons.