File sharing issues have seen a lot of developments recently. Last week, the RIAA unveiled software that instant messages users to let them know they are infringing. This followed shortly after a California District Court found that the popular file-sharing program Morpheus did not contributorily infringe the copyright of the works it was helping to distribute.

The motion picture and recording industries were thus having trouble going after the networks, so the RIAA went after the users instead (it all happened too fast to be an “either/or” situation of course). In nearly the same week that the DC District Court ruled that Verizon must give up the names of file sharers to the RIAA, the RIAA settled a case against four infringing university students for thousands of dollars each. Meanwhile, some RIAA members are still trying to milk an old cat; they’re suing Napster’s investors.

Finally, the NY Times reports that the record labels are developing weapons of mass destruction to infect and destroy infringing works on users computers.

File sharing is obviously a problem for the music industry, and they’ve made a strong case that it directly damages sales. Personally, I think the labels need to rethink the way they distribute, price, and even select music. (We’re finally starting to see forward bound steps in this area.) Ultimately, I’ll always be willing to pay for music if it’s good and if it’s reasonably priced. File sharing has probably not influenced how much music I buy, though it has had an effect on what music I buy (easier to find new / original music). The biggest factor effecting my buying habits has nothing to do with the music industry: my income.